James Bazuik’s 1969 Chevelle SS396
Chasing your dream car – in this case a ’69 Chevelle big block in Dover White – should be rewarding. The hunt is as often as much fun as finding the perfect ride. James Bazuik, though, learned one of life’s harder lessons when he bought his Chevelle SS396.
“This car came up for auction in Houston and I purchased it over the phone based on the seller’s information,” James says. “Guess what? The car was sold to me as a rotisserie restoration and the restoration was totally misrepresented.”
James says the auction company wasn’t helpful, but all was not lost. Other than being repainted, not restored as advertised, the Chevelle was a rust-free and relatively clean West Coast car. After James tackled most of the restoration himself, assisted by several Phoenix-area shops, he has the car dreamed about for years.
Starting with the body, James had the factory undercoating removed from the bottom of the body and repainted, with help from Speed Sports in Gilbert, Arizona, Squeeg’s Kustoms in Chandler, and KB Customs.
The 375-horsepower 396c.i. big block is rebuilt and restored to factory specs. Front power disc brakes and rear drums handle the stopping needs. Factory power steering along with stock-spec shocks, springs, and other suspension components provide the period-correct ride. Stock 14-inch wheels are wrapped in reproduction Firestone Wide Oval G70 tires. A four-speed Muncie manual transmission guided by a chrome-plated shifter is connected to a Positraction rearend equipped with 3.55 gears.
The red vinyl interior was reupholstered by Unique Upholstery in Gilbert, Arizona. While most SS Chevelles were fitted with bucket seats and a console, James’ car has a less-common front bench seat. An optional three-spoke, wood-trimmed steering wheel sits on the stock column and there’s a factory tach in the dash. An AM radio provides the tunes, while a package of aftermarket gauges adds more precise detail to monitor engine performance.
The Chevelle was one of Chevy’s better-selling models in 1969. Around 500,000 were sold. Of that number, fewer than 1,000 375-horsepower big-block engines were delivered across all Chevelle models. For comparison, almost 25,000 2022 Camaros were sold and almost twice as many 2022 Mustangs were purchased. That’s a far cry from the ’69 Chevelle numbers.
Is James happy with the result of his longer-than-anticipated journey with the SS Chevelle? “I have the car I’ve always wanted,” he says, “and have no regrets.”
Photos by Todd Ryden
