[cwc]

recently heard about a guy who had a 69 ss396 4 speed car he had bought in 1970 with 5000 miles on it for sale,he was wanting to buy a new one,i called him and he told me it was a 325 horse 4 speed with 4.10's originally blue but now was maroon,car needed to be restored but ran great and was all original except color,he was a little high so i passed with out ever looking at it. well one of my good friends knew the car when he was younger and had seen it when the owners daughter drove it to work some 10 years ago and he was interested in it,and wanted me to go with him to check it out
when we show up the car is outside and has been for a little while.raise the hood,dusk blue,standard interior,X66. car has no tach no gauges or console,no power steering,but has fold down rear seat.original spare XT wheel and wide oval tire. engine is NOT the original its a 69 truck 396,trans is 69 camaro m20 but not for this one,small block crossmember.but the owner swears its the engine that came in it when he bought it and we have no reason not to belive him.pulls out the protect to plate,has his name and cars vin number,NO engine,trans or diff numbers?.he has the purchase agreement from the used car lot he bought it from.
we actually left,my buddy was tore up over it not being numbers matching and on the way home i get my gears turning a little,and ask Matt did you notice how many fuel lines the car had? he said just one! well we all no what that means! he turns around after dropping me off,goes back jacks it up. BV code rea axle, ZD code radiator!
So we come to the conclusion it must of had the l78 either blown up or stole when it was less than 6 months old. the owner had no idea,he always assumed it was a 325 horse car.
Matt did inform him that it was a 375 car after he paid him for it,now don't think we stole this car from some unsuspecting old man he was paid well for it.
i will try to get some pics tomorrow.