Chevrolet’s SS396 package was a popular one in 1969, and the company built many of them in a variety of configurations. However, few can match the originality, optioning and backstory of this example. This Chevelle was ordered new and purchased by a Fremont, California, GM assembly plant employee named Thomas Drake, who would own it as a treasured possession from 1969-2007. This documented history begins when Central Chevrolet Co. in Fremont, California, took Drake’s order with his employee discount. Drake’s boss, E. Bettencourt, gave him a scheduled production letter on February 7, with production scheduled for Tuesday, February 11, 1969, and the car was subsequently delivered new as No. 657 to dealer stock February 13, 1969, for Drake’s imminent purchase. Most importantly, Bettencourt provided Drake with no less than five build sheets for the car’s construction. Today, this car retains its matching-numbers 396/325 HP V-8 Turbo Jet engine, complete with a 4-barrel carburetor, chrome dress-up parts, oft-missing California SMOG equipment and dual exhaust. This was backed by a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission and Positraction differential, and power steering and brakes are here as well. Drake had obviously given great consideration to the car’s appearance, as it came with a special-order Rally Green exterior with stripe delete, a black vinyl top and a white bench seat interior. The paint has been metered, showing one repaint since new, and the interior remains original to this car. The special instrumentation includes the tachometer and clock, while this Chevelle also got the premium AM radio with 8-track player, heater/defroster, tinted glass and a Muncie-engraved floor shifter. Of course, the exterior has the SS performance hood, SS callouts with engine displacement, chrome exhaust tips and script Chevelle emblems. Riding on factory SS wheels with upgraded BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, provenance here will include all five build sheets, the original window sticker, the factory Protect-O-Plate, original California registrations from 1969 and the 1970s, and a set of spare keys.
