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1969 SS 396

Body Styles

The 1969 model year saw minor changes from the 1968 model year.

The SS 396 was dropped as a separate series and now became an option under RPO Z25. The SS 396 option was available with the Malibu sport coupe, convertible and sedan pickup. For 1969 alone, the SS 396 option was also available with the 300 Deluxe coupe (13427) and 300 Deluxe sport coupe (13637).

The base engine for the SS 396 Chevelle is a 325-hp 396 cid V8; two optional 396 cid engines were available as options, RPO L34 rated at 350-hp and RPO L78 rated at 375-hp .

Chevrolet described the Malibu sport coupe and convertible body styles as 5-passenger capacity; three in the rear and two in the front and the sedan pickup with a 3-passenger capacity. The same 5-passenger capacity was shown on the two 2-door 300 Deluxe models.

The SS 396 Chevelle hood continued the faux hood scoop theme and were very much like the 1968 with faux openings in the rear of the bulges.

The 1969 SS 396 continued the theme of a blacked out grille with minimal brightwork along with a blacked out rear panel. The lower beltline trim of the Malibu was removed on the SS 396. RPO D96 “Wide Paint Stripe” was optional on all five Z25 body styles/series. The stripes run along the upper belt line to the rear tail lamp with a wide center section outlined by two narrower bands. The D96 option box was checked off 37,280 times at a cost of $29.35 by the 86,307 SS Equipment option buyers; only about 11% of them.

The SS 396 option used front fenders from the 300 Deluxe series and it's base L6 side marker lamp without engine size bezel and lack of the headlamp molding extending to a lower body molding.

Production Numbers Of All Chevelles

The production numbers shown above are what was reported to GM for final assembly. Just how many SS 396 Chevelles that were built at individual plants is an unknown figure.

There are no known number of what specific engines or transmissions were installed in the three SS 396 body styles. All three 396 cid engines were available as an option regardless of body style.