The Chevy Chevelle bowed in August of 1963 for the 1964 model year. It was built on General Motors’ A-body platform, and intended to be direct competition for the Ford Fairlane. The Chevelle name has an uncertain lineage, but seems to have come from either the French or Hebrew word for “beautiful and bold.” An instant success, the Chevelle sold 338,286 copies in the first year.
1968 brought all-new sheetmetal to the Chevy Chevelle. With a body featuring sculpted lines and a more rounded beltline, the 1968 Chevelle coupes and convertibles rode a slightly shorter wheelbase than the previous year, shrinking to 112 inches from 115, and the tire track grew by an inch both front and rear. The roofline flowed into the rear deck, giving the new Chevelle a more fastback appearance. Concours and SS trims had Hide-A-Way windshield wipers, a feature that would eventually be added to all models.
Available as a coupe, convertible, sedan, station wagon, and pickup (El Camino), the 1969 Chevy Chevelle was advertised as “America’s most popular mid-size car.” Few changes were made to the Chevelle for the 1969 model year. The headlights had a chrome bar connecting them across the ABS plastic grille, and the front bumper was slotted to accommodate the parking lights. Taillights were larger. The side marker lights were slightly smaller, using the same units from the Camaro. It is estimated that total 1969 Chevelle production was near 455,000 units.
The Chevy Chevelle Super Sport option netted the buyer a 396 cubic-inch, 375-horsepower Big Block engine, blacked-out grille with “SS” emblem in the center, a blacked-out rear panel, and a double-domed hood.
Our feature 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS convertible was owned by rock legend Bruce Springsteen from 1981 to 1987. That Christmas, Springsteen gifted the car to recording engineer Toby Scott who had mixed over 18 of Springsteen’s albums. The car had a decades-long restoration, spanning from 1988 to 2020, building the car to match the lyrics of the Springsteen song “Racing in the Street.” The Chevelle was displayed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame beginning in August 2020.
Returned to the original Le Mans Blue with white side stripes during the restoration (Springsteen had painted it black), the Chevy Chevelle sports a white convertible top and white vinyl interior. It is powered by a 396 cube Big Block backed by a four-speed manual gearbox with a Hurst shifter. The Chevelle rides on Cragar SS wheels shod in raised white-letter BFGoodrich Radial T/A rubber. Power disc brakes attend to stopping duties. The sale of the Chevelle includes a signed letter from Mr. Springsteen detailing his ownership of the car and other verifying documentation.
This 1969 Chevy Chevelle convertible, previously owned by Bruce Springsteen, will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Indianapolis, Indiana event taking place May 12th through the 20th.
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Comments
How many times was Bruce told that the 396 did not have fuelie heads, even though he incorporated those lyrics in Racing In the Streets.
My guess is porcupine heads did not sing as well as fuelie heads.
Just imagining the sound of those headers scraping on the ground makes me cringe.
Very nice, correctly detailed description by Brett Hatfield. He knows that a coupe has only two doors.
Either the nose is too low or back-end is too high?
It is called a “California Rake”. Love it or hate it.
Deuce Springsteen…..I’m surprised it doesn’t have a 305.
I thought That was the East Coast Rake , California rake was low in the back raised in front ?