The 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle is one of the more desirable model years of Chevrolet's popular early midsize cars. Riding on the A platform which was a novelty back then, the Chevelle had set the tone for every General Motors muscle car moving forward, especially when the Chevelle SS 396 was released to the public. Of course, these are out of production already, but there's one out there looking for a new owner in a condition that's best described using the lyrics of a song from this car's previous owner "Racing in the Streets".
Take A Gander At This Pristine Chevelle SS 396
If the song sounds familiar to you, that's because what you're seeing here is a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 that was actually under the possession of famous rock artist Bruce Springsteen. He owned the car from 1981 until the Christmas of 1987 when the car was gifted to Toby Scott, who has worked as a recording engineer for more than 18 of Springsteen's albums.
But why is the car in such a nice condition? This Chevelle underwent an extensive restoration process from 1988 until 2020 when it was delivered to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio in August of the same year. It was exhibited with the surfboard that Bruce would put in the back when going to the beach in New Jersey.
The Chevelle actually was painted in Midnight Black under Bruce's ownership, but during the restoration, its LeMans Blue paint was brought back. Complementing the blue paint are era-appropriate white elements for the convertible top and side stripes, and Chrome Cragar SS wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires with white lettering.
Slightly Tweaked For The Modern Era
In its restoration process, the 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 also underwent a degree of modernization. For instance, the car now comes with a painless wiring hardness and MSD tachometer adapter, power disc brakes on all four wheels, along with a modern but period-appropriate radio that's already installed in the interior of the Chevelle SS, but not yet hooked up to the car's electronics.
Speaking of the car's interior, this car also gets a white interior to match the white trims on the exterior. Extensive rework has also been done inside the Chevelle to bring its condition to an almost brand-new status, and it even comes with a Hurst shifter for its manual transmission.
Even the drivetrain wasn't left untouched during the restoration process. The "396" part of the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 denotes that it has a 396 cubic-inch big-block 6.5-liter V-8 that produces 325 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque that is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual.
Today, it most likely does not produce the same horsepower as when it was new, but as part of its restoration, the drivetrain got a new electronic ignition system, a new serpentine belt with a polished alternator and water pump, ceramic-coated Hooker headers, and a new dual exhaust system.
It's A Muscle Car For Rock Fans
The bidding for this 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 is not available unless you're a registered bidder. Apart from the privilege of owning a muscle car that used to be owned by one of the icons of American rock, the car also comes with a signed letter from Bruce regarding his ownership of the car, a picture of the license plate that the car had under Bruce's registration, as well as a document from Bruce's mechanic describing acquiring the car from Bruce. It's not just a Chevelle for fans of the model, but a Chevelle for fans of an American rock icon.