Fifty-five years ago, the muscle car wars were raging. Many enthusiasts feel like the movement peaked in the mid-to-late 1960s when automakers placed an emphasis on elevated performance. Among the innovations that emerged were bigger engines, better-handling suspensions, and sportier design attributes. Chevrolet’s popular midsized Chevelle was a key player in the segment.

The Pick of the Day is a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by Precious Metal Classic Car Sales in Elkhart, Indiana. 

 “What happens when you add some of the highest-grade components to an original 1969 Chevelle SS?” the listing says. “You come up with this cool piece of Americana that’ll turn heads anywhere it goes. Many muscle car enthusiasts would not even think of modifying a matching-numbers icon, but the builders of this car had another idea in store.”

Based on the dealer’s description, there was no stone unturned (or in this case, no bolt unturned) for the sake of making this a comprehensive top-to-bottom restoration. Enhancements were made to the engine, cooling system, exhaust, suspension, transmission, rear end, braking system, wiring, wheels and tires, sound system and more. Basically, every piece of the car has been gone through and improved upon. Even the taillights have been updated to incorporate modern LED sequential-style turn signals.

The Chevelle was produced across three generations beginning in 1964. It rode on the midsized General Motors A-body platform, and during its lifetime, it was manufactured in various body styles including coupes, sedans, station wagons, and convertibles. Today’s featured two-door hardtop hails from the second generation which launched in 1968. Design language for this generation became more rounded, and the semi-fastback roofline made for a sporty silhouette to go with a sport-minded powertrain.

Speaking of power, under the hood of the car lives a numbers-matching big-block 396cid V8 that is brilliantly color-matched to the car’s Monaco Orange paint job. A Tremec T-56 six-speed manual transmission puts the power to the pavement, and upgrades include a Holley Sniper fuel-injection system, Sanderson headers, a three-inch stainless-steel exhaust system, and Magnaflow mufflers. Of course, with that kind of power, the car also needs to handle and decelerate well, so the build includes an adjustable QA1 suspension as well as Wilwood four-wheel power disc brakes.

Included in the listing is a link to a five-minute YouTube video outlining some of the details on what the dealer describes as a “no-expense-spared” build. The scenes capture the exterior, engine bay, and interior. Most importantly, toward the end of the video is a start-up where you can hear the big-block powerplant come to life. The car sounds every bit as good as it looks.

The asking price is $88,900, which includes a multi-point inspection as well as complete documentation of the build. You will be hard pressed to find a vehicle that fits the definition of “muscle car” more than this. The dealer says the car has a “killer stance and a refined look,” and we agree!