You don’t get much more badass than a ’68 Chevrolet Chevelle SS packing 396 cubic inches of pure American attitude.
This big-block brute is the result of a full ground-up resurrection by owner @RianBrandt—and trust me, this car and its owner look exactly like the kind of duo you don’t argue with. You know the stereotype: the guy who builds a monster like this is usually as tough as the machine he drives. In Rian’s case? Let’s just say you’re not sure who’s meaner—the man or the Chevelle.
Article by Chris “Krutch” Wall
Finding a real 396 SS is no walk in the park, but luck, timing, and a suggestion from Bryce Roberts at Creative Rides put this rare gem in Rian’s hands. Sold as an investment piece—and with a reputation as one of the sixties’ true all-American icons—the Chevelle had the pedigree, the stance, and the potential to outshine anything from its era. Rian didn’t just want a cool car; he wanted the car.
But when you take on a total rebuild, it’s easy to drift too far from the original recipe. Rian didn’t. If you want a return on your investment, you honour what the factory built—and that’s exactly what he did.
“The drivetrain was good, but the interior was wrecked. Everything needed attention,” Rian says. So instead of patching the problems, he pulled the car down to bare bones to make sure no hidden nightmares lurked beneath. The vision was simple: keep it clean, keep it classic, upgrade everything essential.
The suspension was completely renewed with original-spec components, then dropped an inch with a Rally Sport Spares lowering kit to nail that aggressive stance. The chassis stayed stock but was stripped, prepped and finished in black—because black is always cool. A set of American Racing five-spokes (20-inch rear, 18-inch front) finish off the look, neatly tucked into the arches without compromising drivability.
Under the hood, the original 396 stays—just meaner. Gas-flowed intake, Competition Camshaft, Holley 670 carb, new distributor and wiring, plus a stainless free-flow exhaust with heat-wrapped headers. The sound? Rian describes it best: “She awakens your senses. Heads turn. Ears burn.”
We can confirm—the car echoing through basement parking was glorious.
The old 2-speed Powerglide was ditched for a 3-speed Turbo 400, making far better use of the big-block’s grunt. Brakes were upgraded all round—booster, master, lines, front discs, new twin-piston calipers—to make sure 1.8 tons of old-school steel can actually stop.
Paintwork comes courtesy of RPM Technologies in Pretoria. The colour: a brilliant, modernised red—still true to the ‘60s shade but dialled up for maximum impact. Chrome was edited, not abused. What didn’t need redoing stayed. What was overdone got toned down. Even the big panels, notorious for being tricky to align, now sit arrow-straight.
Inside, Rian kept the original gauge cluster and even revived the factory clock. New heat gauge, neatly integrated. Seats re-upholstered in fresh black vinyl. Full T-Mat sound and heat insulation. New carpets. Air-con, electric windows, a quality sound system (because without it, the exhaust would drown everything). The deep-dish wooden steering wheel completes the vibe—classic muscle with modern usability.
Rian’s final verdict?
“I’m ecstatic. There were challenges, but the car drives like a dream. A lot was learned, and a lot was gained.”
Another proper build. Another legendary Chevelle back on the road. Exactly how we like it.
