I need to know what car i have with vin #
 

this is my 69 Chevelle and i was wondering if anyone knows if this is a true ss.I have a good feeling that it is. when I restored it there were no side moldings and if it wasn't a true ss, someone did a lot of work to clone it before I bought the car. I cant get any vin reader web sight to work. any help would be awesome.. I have pic of the car and the tag

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I think the vin should start with 138 to be a true SS ,136 will be Malibu .Someone will correct me if Im wrong.Nice car either way .

I'm with Flash. Pretty sure that in '69, the VIN would begin 138... if it was an SS optioned car. A lot of work has been done to many cars to make them appear as SS cars. Boxed control arms, sway bars, dash, trim, badges, etc.. can all be swapped over.

68 SS was a separate body style, VIN#, not so in 69. 136 is correct for a 2 door coupe, 8 cylinder. No way to tell from VIN if it is a factory SS car in 69.

EDIT: See my reply in Chevelle General Talk regarding decoding the Trim tag and please don't post the same topic in multiple forums, thanks.

I stand corrected ,thanks.

It's about time someone put you in your place.:p

Hank is correct, there is no way to tell from the VIN alone... there is one thing that I've heard, but have no way to "prove" on Kansas-built cars (which yours is) that SS cars had the "L" below the paint code, and plain Malibus did not.

Yours has it, which is a pretty good indicator that it is in-fact an SS car.

I first heard about it here: http://northstarchevelles.activeboar...picID=37078046

Also, I'm sure you're aware that your trim tag has the incorrect rivets... that will raise some flags for sure. Here's a pic of the trim tag from my '69 SS car.

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/z...S/CowlTag1.jpg

My Kansas-built SS has the "L" and my Kansas-built Malibu does not... my cars seem to support the theory.

Well there you have it. Bunked and debunked. Thanks Hank and Derek.

I've heard about the "L" on Kansas cars, forgot all about it. As Derek said it's a good indicator but no way to prove it.

I have been debunked by the wife a few times.

I agree the trim tag is a flag with the incorrect rivets in it. It has been removed at sometime or it may not be the trim tag for that car.

And probably will be many more times as will I .

I am bunked as I type.

I noticed the rivets on the trim tag when I first saw the pic. Since you can't prove anything from a trim tag I didn't pay much attention. Could have had the cowl replaced or repainted at some time. That's not the first place I would be looking for clues.

The VIN is on the frame, was at one time on the engine in front of the head, may still be. May also be on the side of the block. Date codes on the drive train may help. Power disk, F41 suspension, motor frame mounts, fuel lines. All stuff that can be changed but if they're wrong that's a clue.

F41 was very rare in '69... It didn't become standard on "SS" cars until '70.

Sorry about that, you're right, it was still an option in 69. Hard to remember all those details, especially since I don't even have a 69.

Yeah Hank, the book of knowledge known as Derek69SS has left me feeling like I shouldn't have even posted here. :D

Yea, if someone asks about suspension, my reply is "I hope Derek shows up soon."

Thanks guys... I'm lost when it comes to the early cars though.

thanks
 

hey thanks guys. i know the rivets are not correct. it fell off in sand blasting. so i put some normal ones on.just so i didn't loose it. i just didn't know if there was a for sure marking on the car that would say it was a true ss. either way i still love her.. thanks again

I have one build sheet for my car that say's it's an SS. It matches whats on the trim tag but honestly, I really don't care. I beat on it and just enjoy driving and owning it.

Does the stamping on the engine match the VIN of the car?