1969 Chevy convertible is powered by a 350 hp V8 mated to a Hurst-shifted four-speed manual ’box
<!––>
by Chris Chilton
4 hours ago
<!––>
by Chris Chilton
<!–
–>
The Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 was the archetypal blue-collar supercar back in the late 1960s, so it seems entirely right that one might find its way into the hands of American music’s most famous working class hero, Bruce Springsteen.
Though his ‘The Boss’ nickname might lend itself to ownership of a rapid Mustang, Springsteen has a thing for Chevrolets. He currently owns several, and he’s even sung about them. Racing in the Street, from 1978’s Darkness on the Edge of Town album starts with the lyrics: “I got a ’69 Chevy with a 396, Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor.”
It was three years later that Springsteen bought the car you see here, a 1969 Chevelle SS 396 convertible that he owned until 1987 when he gifted it to his friend, recording engineer Toby Scott. The car was apparently restored between 1988 and 2020 (jeez, I hope those guys weren’t charging by the hour), during which the resto team got rid of the black painted added during Bruce’s ownership and returned the SS to its original LeMans Blue color.
Base versions of 1969’s hot Chevelle came with a 325 hp (330 PS) 396-cu.in (6.5-liter) V8 but Bruce’s car has the speedier 350 hp (355 PS) version, and yes, it’s mated to a four-speed manual transmission quipped with a Hurst shifter on the floor, just like in the song. That shifter, a set of Cragar SS wheels wrapped with BF Goodrich T/A tires and a pair of Hooker exhaust headers give the car a suitably period modified look, but mostly it presents as a nice stock example down to its ugly two-spoke factory steering wheel and white vinyl interior.
It also comes with a signed letter from the singer confirming his ownership of the car plus documentation from Bruce’s mechanic explaining how he acquired the car on Springsteen’s behalf. Ironically, the thing it doesn’t have is a working sound system. If you like the idea of bossing that Hurst shifter around you’ll need to get bidding at Mecum’s Indy 2023 sale in May.
<!–
–> 
–> 
