From the age of 5, Steven’s had fond memories of this 1969 Chevelle that his father purchased. By the time he was 13, they had begun a frame-on restoration project on the car.
The Chevelle was not quite that far gone yet, so major repairs were not necessary at that point in time. The pair had put new GM quarter panels and fenders on the body and rebuilt the tired front suspension with new bushings and other components. They gave the original 396/350 horsepower big block a mild refresh as well, so that it would be ready to perform on a regular basis.
This Chevelle was well optioned from the factory, with the aforementioned L34 396 paired to a Muncie M21 4 speed transmission. Other notable features include console gauges, factory air conditioning, and the elusive code U46 Vigilite light monitoring system that very few cars were optioned with.
The Vigilite system was used to monitor the functionality of the vehicle’s lighting system remotely, so one would not have to exit the vehicle to check on them.
This 1969 Chevelle has a special place in Steven’s heart, as it not only been in his family’s possession for over 45 years, but some of his earliest memories involve being around this Chevelle. It has turned into a family heirloom in his mind, and his father passed it along to him a few years ago.
“It’s been in our family for so long. It’s a Chevelle and a blast to drive.”
Steven
Steven took the opportunity, now that the car was his own, to perform a more in-depth frame-off restoration to bring the Chevelle up to modern specs. He tweaked a few things to suite his personal preferences, such as adding an aftermarket intake, but whatever original component that had been removed or replaced is now safely bagged and categorized in storage.
Having a chance to drive the Chevelle rather than wrench on it is something that Steven is looking forward to. He plans on enjoying car shows and cruises with his family and friends now that the car is essentially complete for the time being. After all, the best part about the restoration process is finally being able to enjoy the end result when it’s all done.
