Chassis no. 21867L208877

409-cid, 409-hp OHV V-8 engine, four-speed manual transmission, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with trailing arm coil spring suspension, and four-wheel power hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 119-inches

California is the home of car culture, so it’s no surprise that the car songs of the 1960s came out of the surfing crowd. Chief among them were the Beach Boys, whose “Little Deuce Coupe” and “Fun, Fun Fun…(‘til her daddy takes the T-Bird away)” ruled the charts for several years. It all began, however, with Chevy’s legendary 409, the inspiration for the song by that name released in June 1962 as the B-side of their first single for Capitol Records, “Surfin’ Safari.”

The car that gave birth to the song was announced in December 1960. Coinciding with the debut of the Impala Super Sport option, the 409 was a bored and stroked version of the big-block 348. Initially rated at 360-hp with a single Carter AFB four-barrel, it had solid lifters, a new forged steel crankshaft, 11.25 to 1 compression and a more aggressive camshaft. The only transmission choice was a four-speed manual.

The Super Sport package included both trim and chassis enhancements. “SS” emblems were prominently displayed, and the springs and shock absorbers were beefed up. Other ingredients were power steering and brakes, metallic brake linings, a column-mounted tachometer, spinner wheel covers and narrow whitewall tires. Most prominent was a grab-bar for the right front passenger, hinting at the g-forces that a Super Sport could deliver.

But boring the 348 had created some problems, so production was halted while the casting was revised. Re-introduced for 1962, it was offered in both a 380-hp single-carb version and a one-horsepower-per-cubic inch 409/409 with dual Carter AFBs. The latter became a favorite of drag racers, who repeatedly broke and re-broke records in NHRA Nationals.

This car is the coveted dual-carb, 409-hp edition of the 409, with a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual transmission, Posi-traction, power steering and power brakes. Stunning in Tuxedo black, it has a red interior with pinstripe bucket seats. It has the Sun tachometer on the steering column, and a console compartment. The radio is the manual unit with Chevy’s “straight line tuning.”

Contours, paint and brightwork are all excellent, as is the interior. The engine compartment is fastidiously clean and exceptionally well detailed. The undercarriage is similarly tidy. B.F. Goodrich Silvertown blackwall tires are mounted on steel wheels with “dog dish” hubcaps.

This outstanding car was restored in 2005 and comes with a binder of invoices. It’s tempting to say that this Chevy 409 is the finest of all, but the Ed Ewing collection has three of them, so you’ll have to take your choice.