And now we know the "REST of the story!" SARGE
-----Original Message----- From: rocky hill [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 3:48 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Chevelle-list] 1964-72 Chevelle Seat Upholstery/John Nasta Is Correct >From 1969 on, the SS was no longer a separate model. Instead, it was now an "SS" option package added to a 300 Deluxe model, Malibu model, or El Camino Custom model. 1969 was the only model year that the SS package could be ordered on the base model Chevelle 300 Deluxe (as a 2-door coupe or a 2-door post sedan). The only SS option in '69 was the "Z25" SS-396 package. The '69 and up cars are harder to authenticate because the VIN can not be used to confirm if the car is an SS. There were two colors that were exclusive to the '69 SS. "Monaco Orange" (code 72) and "Daytona Yellow" (code 76). If either of these paint codes appear on the cowl tag (and the cowl tag is genuine) then that would prove the car to be a genuine SS. If someone had a nice '69 Malibu, and a rusted out '69 SS, it would be easy for them to simply move the SS equipment over to the Malibu. As long as they did not alter or move the VIN plates or cowl tags, this would be perfectly legal, and since the VIN tag doesn't tell you much, there would be almost no way for you to know. >From '69 on, single-piston disk brakes were STANDARD equipment with the SS package. These brakes are easier to find parts for than the earlier four-piston disk brakes. Chevrolet literature indicates that the only way to get a 396 was with the SS package. However, there appears to be at least one late-production Chevelle that was built with a 396 and all the required SS equipment, but the "Z25" SS-396 option was not listed on the car's build sheet. It is believed that this car came from the factory with "SS" emblems, but that is not 100% certain. Again in 1969, the only available SS engine was the 396 (in the same flavors as in 1968). In 1969, however, it was possible (if you knew who to talk to) to order something called a COPO 427 Chevelle. COPO stands for "Central Office Production Order". The COPO program allowed dealers to order equipment that was not usually available (such as special paint, special engines, etc.) Unlike the '68s, the '69 Chevelles had their 427 engines installed at the FACTORY, not the dealership. This makes the '69 427s more legitimate in the eyes of collectors today. You didn't necessarily have to go to Yenko or some other special dealer in '69 to get a 427 Chevelle. Your local dealer could usually get you one if you filled out the right paperwork. While the '69 COPO 427s had basically the same equipment as the SS-396s, they were not generally considered SSs because they did not have any external "SS" or "427" identification. They were the ultimate sleepers. Any genuine '69 COPO 427 Chevelle is quite valuable today. There are also unconfirmed reports of a '69 COPO 427 El Camino. In addition, there was an "L89" aluminum head option available for the '69 375 HP 396. Few were ordered. 1969 SSs had "SS/396" emblems on the front, back, fenders, door panels, on the dash above the glove box, and on the standard SS steering wheel. The '69 SS also had the twin-bulge hood like the '68s, but the bolt holes where the hood hinges attached were slightly different. The '69 SS came with 14" SS wheels with "SS" center caps. The '69 SS stripe option consisted of a black, white, or red stripe which ran along the upper body sides. There are also reports of a few '69 SSs with dealer-painted hood stripes, similar to the stripes used on many '70-'72 SSs. Another rare car, produced only in '69, was an SS Chevelle built on the 2-door post sedan, the "Chevelle 300". This was the only year that a 2-door post sedan SS was produced. Most of the '69 SSs, and all the '70-'72 SSs, were built upon the 2-door Malibu pillarless coupe. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- --- John Nasta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Scott, > > Well, I sure wouldn't rip up "mint" original seat > covers just to find a > build sheet that may not even be there. > > In 1969 there was no way to tell if it was a true SS > by the VIN number. > > The build sheet could be anywhere or nowhere. There > was no set standard > about leaving them anywhere, but often the assembly > line people did leave > them in the car. Other common places to check are on > top of the gas tank and > under the carpets, but like I said, I wouldn't go > ripping things up just to > see if there is a build sheet or not. > > JMO, > John Nasta > Old Car Network > http://oldcarnetwork.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 5:15 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] 1964-72 Chevelle Seat > Upholstery > > Hey John, > I may have to buy a set of seat upholstery > from you. The pisser is, > my upholstery is in practically mint condition. I > just aquired my '69 > Chevelle SS 396 after 20 years of waiting (it was my grandfathers car, > he died in 1983). My dad inherited it and did > absolutely nothing with it at > all, but was nice enough to sell it to me after all > these years. Anyway, I'm > franticly looking for the build sheet and I'm told > that inside the seats is > one of the likely locations. This is why I may have > to gain access to the > inside of the seats and may need new covers. I'm > actually looking for your > input on build sheet locations. I'm new to this and > just got on this mailing > list but see your name and letters in here all the > time. I figured you might > not mind giving me some input. Like I said, I'm new > to this and some of the > VIN # breakdown info I have gotten contradicts that > my car is indeed a > genuine SS which is why I am hell bent on locating > the build sheet. It would > be quite a mystery if this car was not an SS. My > grandfather bought it brand > new in 1969 and it was sold as an SS. I also have > quite a bit of > doccumentation on the car, as well as the protecto > tag. The only way I can > think of that this car isn't a true SS is if the > dealership "cloned" it in > 1969. Do you know of any instances of this > happening? Anyway John, I just > wanted to introduce myself (I'm Scott by the way) > and see if I could pick > your brain a little. Any input you may have would be > greatly appreciated. > Thanks. > > Scott Jackson > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Chevelle-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://chevelles.net/mailman/listinfo/chevelle-list_chevelles.net _______________________________________________ Chevelle-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://chevelles.net/mailman/listinfo/chevelle-list_chevelles.net
