1969 Chevelle SS396

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Any comments/corrections/additions please send them to me and be sure to specify which year.

In 1969 the SS396 as a series was dropped and the 396 engine was relegated to being part of the RPO Z25, SS396 option. The 1969 model year is also the ONLY year to offer any SS Equipment option on anything other than the V8 Malibu sport coupe, convertible, and El Camino. For 1969 ONLY, the Z25 option could be ordered on the V8 300 Deluxe series 2-door coupe (13427) and 2-door sport coupe (13437).

Since the SS396 was relegated to an option and stopped being a separate series there is nothing on the Fisher Body Number plate nor the VIN to indicate the car was born with the Z25 SS396 option with one exception. Two exterior paint colors coded "72" for Monaco/Hugger Orange and "76" for Daytona Yellow were paint choices ONLY when the SS396 option was ordered. These two colors were certainly available on other 1969 Chevelles but did require option ZP3, special paint, to be ordered. When this was done, the trim tag would not show the "72" or "76" paint code but rather would show a dash character (-) in the appropriate lower or upper paint code position.

The only way to truly document a 1969 Chevelle as having the SS396 option, aside from the two paint codes mentioned above, is with some sort of paperwork showing the option itself or the engine suffix code and the car's VIN. Examples would be the buildsheet, Chassis Broadcast Copy sheet, warranty card protect-o-plate, or an original factory stamped engine where the partial VIN stamping is a match to the car's VIN.

The 1969 SS396 option was available with the V8 300 Deluxe 2-door coupe (13427), 2-door sport coupe (13437), V8 Malibu sport coupe (13637), convertible (13667), or pickup (13680) models and the 396 cid Mark-IV engine was the base engine. As with all years of Super Sports, the VIN only depicts the base engine and does not indicate any optional engine. The base 396 engine was the (L35) 325hp engine with two optional 396 engines, the L34 350hp version and a L78 375hp version. Since the SS396 option was just that, an option, the VINs on series & models that could be ordered with it simply show a V8 engine.

Contrary to popular belief bucket seats, gauges, and 4-speeds were not standard equipment. A front bench seat, no gauges (except speedometer and fuel gauge), and a 3-speed heavy duty floor-shifted transmission were standard with the RPO Z25 SS396 option.

The Special Instrumentation option (RPO U14) was available on any SS-optioned Chevelle as well as any V8 Malibu sport coupe, convertible, or pickup.

The standard instrument cluster consisted of the speedometer/odometer and fuel gauge; note warning lamps for generator, oil pressure, and water temperature.  The shift pattern in the center also indicates this was a column shifted 3-speed automatic. If there is no shift pattern indicator the Chevelle would be equipped with a manual transmission or a floor shifted automatic transmission.

Two examples of the Special Instrumentation option are shown here. Note redline for tachometer is based on the engine ordered; 5500 rpm on the left (L34 & L35 396 V8) and 6000 rpm on the two below (L78 396 V8) and a 3rd redline (5000 rpm but not shown) was used with 307, 327, and 350 V8 engines. The warning lamps for generator, oil pressure, and water temperature have been replaced with an ammeter for the battery and gauges for oil pressure and water temperature. Not shown here, but the electric clock was also part of the Special Instrumentation option and would occupy the center pod in the cluster shown above the shift pattern indicator.

 
Note the circuit boards on these two units. The one on the left with the circular board is an original GM unit while the one on the right with the rectangular board is an aftermarket unit. Nothing wrong with an aftermarket unit but you can see the difference.

All SS396-optioned Chevelles came with a 12-bolt rear end but Positraction was still an option; an open rear end was standard. However, a 12-bolt rear end, as well as Positraction, was available on non-SS396-optioned Chevelles as well so the presence of a 12-bolt (with or without Positraction) is not an indication of a 1969 SS396-optioned Chevelle.

The RPO Z25 SS396 option included the 325hp, Turbo-Jet 396 V8, black-accented grille, special hood, ornamentation and suspension plus sport wheels and wide-oval tires white lettered tires, power disc brakes, and special 3-speed manual transmission. RPO D96 side stripes were optional and came in black, white, blue, or red and the stripe color were dependent on the color of the car, on in the case of a convertible or vinyl top option, the convertible's top color or sport coupe's vinyl top color and interior colors. See Exterior-Interior Combinations/Seat Belts/Stripe Colors for more details.

Blacked-out grille with single bright horizontal bar and SS396 emblem centered in the grille and SS396 badging on the rear of the front fender.

Blacked-out rear cove with SS396 badging centered between the tail lamps. See more about the tail lamp bezels below.

The 1969 SS396 came standard with special 5-spoke SS wheels and shown here with optional red stripe tires. The SS396 option also removed the engine size from the front side marker found on all V8 Chevelles (and the optional 250cid L6-equipped Chevelles) and now displayed the SS396 emblem behind the front wheels. The remaining front side marker is the same that came with all base 230cid L6 engines.

Another trim difference appears on the 300 Deluxe series Chevelles when ordered with the SS396 option. This is sometimes found on buildsheets as RPO T93, Deluxe Tail Lights. Just what are "Deluxe Tail Lights?" The Malibu series got these deluxe tail lights where the 300 Deluxe series did not. However, when a 300 Deluxe series coupe or sport coupe was ordered with the SS396 option, these deluxe tail lights were included. Basically the difference is in the bezel itself as you can see from the photos.

This is a non SS-optioned 300 Deluxe.

This is a 300 Deluxe coupe (13427) SS clone; note tail lamp bezels are the same as the 300 Deluxe in the above photo even though it has the blacked out cove, SS396 emblem and cove trim.

This is a non SS-optioned Malibu sport coupe.

This is SS-optioned Malibu; same tail lamps as the non SS-optioned Malibu sport coupe above.

Finally, a true SS-optioned 300 Deluxe coupe.