Frame Off Restored Real SS396 w/ Believed Orig 396 V8, Auto, Air, Very Clean!

It's no secret that we love Chevelles here at Streetside Classics, but sometimes something truly special shows up on our doorstep that really blows us away. This frame-off restored 1968 Chevelle is a real-deal SS396, which is awesome all by itself, but throw in the unusual yet killer color combination and it REALLY stands out. Red is great, but if you really want to make a statement, this is the car you need. Following a professional frame-off restoration... from the experts at MoTown Muscle Cars in Detroit, Michigan in 2013, this Grotto Blue Chevelle started wowing crowds at every car show it was featured in. It's easy to see how that was possible, since it's very straight and correctly restored to factory specs. Forget a color swap to "resale red" or something formulaic like that; instead they gave it perhaps the most meticulous coat of medium blue paint possible, a glossy, deep shade with 6 coats of clear coat on top that has a shine for the ages. It doesn't look as fast, but I assure you that this subtle Chevelle probably humiliated its share of Mustangs back in the day, and that color was probably used like bait. Correct white SS stripes were applied around the nose and down along the rockers, and they work well with the traditional blacked-out SS grille and factory hood. Lots of fresh chrome and polished stainless was part of the restoration, too, so it truly sparkles in the sun. It's not a perfect trailer queen, but this is truly a special Chevelle that was built right. Inside, this one looks fantastic thanks to a set of beautiful black buckets with a factory console featuring the coolest shifter ever invented. The original SS gauges are in great condition, more evidence of an easy life, and they've been augmented with a full set of auxiliary units under the dash, along with a tachometer strapped to the steering wheel. In between the supportive buckets the center console offers a horseshoe shifter that's still the coolest way to pick a gear in an automatic. The back seat also sports new seat covers, and fresh black carpets and interior hardware was installed throughout the passenger compartment during the comprehensive restoration. R134a A/C is a great upgrade, but it shouldn't be too surprising considering where the car was built, and the big block doesn't seem to mind turning the compressor. The radio is a new retro-style AM/FM/iPod unit feeding speakers in the package shelf. In back, the very clean trunk offers a replacement mat and plenty of room to accommodate almost any travel plans. The real story here, however, is the believed-original 396 cubic inch big block under the hood. With plenty of horsepower on tap, it's hilarious to think that this was just the base engine in the Chevelle SS in 1968. Rebuilt when the car was restored, it was returned to stock specs (like you need more?) and then detailed for show. That means Chevy Orange paint, finned valve covers, and a chrome open-element air cleaner with Chevrolet badging on top. A Holley 750CFM 4-barrel carburetor sits atop an Edelbrock intake manifold, and the mild cam inside the big block provides just enough lope to the already cackling motor. It's backed by a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and 12-bolt rear end with highway-friendly gears, so the powertrain is virtually indestructible. All the major components were addressed during the restoration including ball joints, shocks, brakes, calipers, master cylinder, and a rumbling 3-inch Dynomax exhaust system with X-pipe for a great soundtrack. The undercarriage is very presentable, and for hitting the road it's hard to beat a big block A-body. Handsome Corvette Rallys are wrapped in staggered 235/60/15 front and 275/60/15 rear BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials so it handles beautifully. If you're a fan of the unusual, then this Chevelle should appeal to you the way it did to us. Sometimes the best way to stand out is to not do what everyone else is doing. Call today!