Possible L78 VIN identification help.

[ZR1guy]

As I’ve posted in the technical area before I discovered this area, I’ll repost my request for assistance.

I believe my brother has located & purchased a very original L78 Chevelle out of a garage in Pennsylvania.

The VIN is 136379Z356459.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[bugsy]

if so congrats. ask him to post a few pictures if possible.

[WILMASBOYL78]

I'm sure the Chevelle gurus will chime in...but, I believe in 1969 the VIN did not indicate the SS396 option...

What color is the car..??

-wilma

[Mr70]

The cowl tag possibly could,post it.

[Lee Stewart]

In 1969 the SS396 as a series was dropped and the 396 engine was relegated to being part of the RPO Z25, SS396 option. The 1969 model year is also the ONLY year to offer any SS Equipment option on anything other than the V8 Malibu sport coupe, convertible, and El Camino. For 1969 ONLY, the Z25 option could be ordered on the V8 300 Deluxe series 2-door coupe (13427) and 2-door sport coupe (13437).

Since the SS396 was relegated to an option and stopped being a separate series there is nothing on the Fisher Body Number plate nor the VIN to indicate the car was born with the Z25 SS396 option with one exception. Two exterior paint colors coded "72" for Monaco/Hugger Orange and "76" for Daytona Yellow were paint choices ONLY when the SS396 option was ordered. These two colors were certainly available on other 1969 Chevelles but did require option ZP3, special paint, to be ordered. When this was done, the trim tag would not show the "72" or "76" paint code but rather would show a dash character (-) in the appropriate lower or upper paint code position. Be alert for fake trim tags that may have one of these two paint codes added to "prove" the car is an SS.

The only way to truly document a 1969 Chevelle as having the SS396 option, aside from the two paint codes mentioned above, is with some sort of paperwork showing the option itself or the engine suffix code and the car's VIN. Examples would be the build sheet, Chassis Broadcast Copy sheet, warranty card Protect-O-Plate, or an original factory stamped engine where the partial VIN stamping is a match to the car's VIN sequence.

http://chevellestuff.net/1969/69ss.htm

[ZR1guy]

Thank you for the help and responses. I have many pictures that I can post, but I’m having issues posting them. Could anyone here post them for me if I emailed the pictures to them?

[ZR1guy]

I'm sure the Chevelle gurus will chime in...but, I believe in 1969 the VIN did not indicate the SS396 option...

What color is the car..??

-wilma

The car is in black primer now, but the original color is a dark green. It shows thru where the primer is faded.

[WILMASBOYL78]

The car is in black primer now, but the original color is a dark green. It shows thru where the primer is faded.

Well, that rules out the yellow and orange paint possibilities...so, as mentioned original driveline and/or paperwork is needed to verify the SS option and engine.

-wilma

[ZR1guy]

Well, that rules out the yellow and orange paint possibilities...so, as mentioned original driveline and/or paperwork is needed to verify the SS option and engine.

-wilma

Yes, the car has about 95% if it’s original components and they are untouched. The build sheets are completely eaten up by mice, but every paint mark and bolt on most of the car is original. Including the engine, 4spd trans and rear end...the cowl tag is also in place.

[tunes]

Find the VIN on the engine and transmission. If they match the VIN on the car, you have a SS 396 Chevelle. Congrats on what sounds like a great find!

[ZR1guy]

Find the VIN on the engine and transmission. If they match the VIN on the car, you have a SS 396 Chevelle. Congrats on what sounds like a great find!

They do match. I’m trying to get someone to review my cowl tag and see if there is anything I’m missing.

[Mr70]

I understand what tunes is saying,but technically don't go by just that,as anyone could've stamped anything to match.
Even in the 1970's,our shop class teacher was re-stamping engine pads to match cars ViNs.
Look at the overall car today & it's past history.

[tunes]

I understand what tunes is saying,but technically don't go by just that,as anyone could've stamped anything to match.
Even in the 1970's,our shop class teacher was re-stamping engine pads to match cars ViNs.
Look at the overall car today & it's past history.

This is very true. You will need to verify that the VIN stampings are factory original to be 100% sure of what you have.

[ZR1guy]

Find the VIN on the engine and transmission. If they match the VIN on the car, you have a SS 396 Chevelle. Congrats on what sounds like a great find!

Yes, the numbers all match. I’m hoping that someone can post my pics of the engine and cowl numbers to help me see what I really have.

[tunes]

I'm not the best at it but can probably post a few pictures if you want to send them to me.

[email protected]

[iluv69s]

In 1969 the SS396 as a series was dropped and the 396 engine was relegated to being part of the RPO Z25, SS396 option. The 1969 model year is also the ONLY year to offer any SS Equipment option on anything other than the V8 Malibu sport coupe, convertible, and El Camino. For 1969 ONLY, the Z25 option could be ordered on the V8 300 Deluxe series 2-door coupe (13427) and 2-door sport coupe (13437).

Since the SS396 was relegated to an option and stopped being a separate series there is nothing on the Fisher Body Number plate nor the VIN to indicate the car was born with the Z25 SS396 option with one exception. Two exterior paint colors coded "72" for Monaco/Hugger Orange and "76" for Daytona Yellow were paint choices ONLY when the SS396 option was ordered. These two colors were certainly available on other 1969 Chevelles but did require option ZP3, special paint, to be ordered. When this was done, the trim tag would not show the "72" or "76" paint code but rather would show a dash character (-) in the appropriate lower or upper paint code position. Be alert for fake trim tags that may have one of these two paint codes added to "prove" the car is an SS.

The only way to truly document a 1969 Chevelle as having the SS396 option, aside from the two paint codes mentioned above, is with some sort of paperwork showing the option itself or the engine suffix code and the car's VIN. Examples would be the build sheet, Chassis Broadcast Copy sheet, warranty card Protect-O-Plate, or an original factory stamped engine where the partial VIN stamping is a match to the car's VIN sequence.

http://chevellestuff.net/1969/69ss.htm

What about COPO's? Did they have 72 or 76 on cool tag also? Or -- ?

[GotGrunt]

What about COPO's? Did they have 72 or 76 on cool tag also? Or -- ?

COPO would have the dashes instead of the paint code because it wasn’t an SS.

[iluv69s]

COPO would have the dashes instead of the paint code because it wasn’t an SS.

Looking back at the threat here, apparently Roger's HO COPO has 72 code..

[Mr70]

Rogers COPO is the exception as it was built @ the Kansas City Leeds plant as opposed to the Baltimore plant,where the majority of COPO Chevelles were assembled with the -- special paint notation for those 2 colors.

[scuncio]

My old Monaco Orange Baltimore COPO has a blank paint code.

[tunes]

Possible L78 pictures that I received from Thomas.

[scott s]

looks promising.

[ZR1guy]

The car was built on 6/16/1969 and was sold new at Blade Chevrolet in Mount Vernon Washington. That’s a pretty far distance from where it was found in a garage in Pennsylvania..lol