1969 El Camino SS396

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-dr coupe (13437) and 2-dr sedan (13427).

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 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 or the appropriate DuPont mixing formula.

The only way to truly document a 1969 El Camino 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 build sheet, 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 last 8 characters of the car's VIN.

The 1969 SS396 option was available on the Custom El Camino (13680) model and the 396 cid Mark-IV engine was the base 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.

All SS396-optioned El Caminos 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 El Caminos 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 section with SS396 badging centered between the backup lamps.

The 1969 SS396 came standard with special 5-spoke SS wheels and shown here with optional red stripe tires.