Question on the trim above the window on a 69 SS

[69chevelless]

My 69 SS does not have the chrome above the window currently and I don't know if it was because of the ding dong painter that painted over it or was it even a standard option? A friend who's working on my car who's an Oldsmobile guy said it was an option for olds and not standard. I told him I thought it was standard on chevelles because I haven't seen one without it. So who's right, I need to know this cause I'm restoring my car.
BTW I'm talking about the roof rail trim.

[fleming23]

The chrome drip rail was not an option and was standard on all models best I recall. It should be present on your car and would be pretty obvious if it was painted over by looking at the back side to see if it was clipped around the drip rail.

[69chevelless]

I now have some people telling me that it was an option for the 300 deluxe. My car also has a 300 deluxe grill and the rear tail is not blacked out. Is there a way I can tell If it's a 300 deluxe SS 396?

[fleming23]

I cannot confirm whether that was an option for the 300 deluxe without finding a build sheet and noting the buildsheet code. I don't think I have ever seen a 300 deluxe without the drip rail trim though.

I'll see if I can do some research and find a more definitive answer for you. I am far from knowledgeable on the subject and have never owned a 300 deluxe to speak from experience.

[69chevelless]

Ok thanks, BTW it has the moulding it's just not chrome, looks like somebody painted over it.

[carpoor]

Your car is a hardtop, correct? All 300 deluxe were post cars, not hardtops. IMO - it should have that trim.

[69chevelless]

It's a hard top, so it shoul have the chrome, correct?

[carpoor]

Yes, my 69' SS 396 absolutely had the trim. I bought it with 87K original miles in 1993. The car at the time retained all of it's original exterior trim. I have never seen a 69' SS 396 hardtop w/o that trim unless it was removed.

[69chevelless]

Ok thanks. My car had 73k original miles when I bought it and it had one repaint, a lousy one, and I think they just repainted over them. Thanks for your help!

[carpoor]

Mine had a bad repaint, ametuer interior resto, and a non matching # 396 all apart in the trunk. I miss that car bad, sold it in 1996 after I shattered my femur in a car accident. (Dec. 95') Was afraid I'd never be able to drive a manual again after the accident and got rid of the car.