Admittedly, this 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 isn’t much to look at. But it is a legitimate Super Sport model, as authenticated by its VIN and it gets points for that. It has some originality to it but this old Chevy has had a change or two employed so let’s examine what’s here and make an overall assessment. This Chevelle is located in Hooper, Nebraska and is available here on eBay for a current bid of $5,701, reserve not yet met.

Unfortunately, this A-body has engaged in the all too common practice of rusting away. Never mind the deteriorating finish, there’s plenty of rust-through evident behind cracked and broken Bondo. And it’s not just the quarters, it’s the fenders, rocker panels, floors, and trunk pan too. And if it’s not rust-through, there’s more than enough surface rust to go around as well. The perimeter frame structure looks OK but it is covered in evident scale so a thorough check should be made – a rotted frame is not an unheard-of A body malady.

Under the hood, a 396 CI “Turbo-Jet” V8 engine is in place and the two-digit alpha code of “IV” tells us that it is an RPO L35 or a 325 HP version that should be tethered to a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic transmission – and that’s where this Chevelle takes a detour. The engine is definitely a non-numbers matching unit and this car originally possessed a four-speed manual transmission. Alas, the four-speed has been removed and replaced with a Turbo-Hydramatic 350 three-speed automatic, a lighter-weight version of the 400 slushbox that would have been used with a big-block engine. The seller states, “rolls and steers just fine, we can help load..” which is a good indication that this Chevy is a non-runner.

The interior is pretty rough. Besides the Fred Flintstone floor, the door panels have deteriorated though the upholstery, in spite of all the dirt and mold, doesn’t appear to be ripped. There is no center console but there is still a clutch pedal in place and an automatic gear selector is positioned on top of a patch panel that has been fabricated over the opening where the four-speed shifter used to reside. The simple instrument panel, as clouded as it is, looks complete – the entire environment is going to need a complete redo but that’s not such a tall order these days, everything is available from a catalog.

This car’s second and third VIN digits of “38” put this Chevelle in authentic SS396 territory though the fourth week of September build date and the engine’s March 7th casting date are at odds with each other. And that’s before the entire matter of the transmission swap, using a transmission that wasn’t in production until 1969, is considered – an issue that doesn’t help with this car’s valuation. That said, a legitimate SS396 Chevelle trades for nutso dollars these days and this example, in spite of its forlorn condition and mixed-up powertrain, will probably do just fine on the sale front. What do you think, is it worth taking this project on and seeing if it can be turned into a silk purse?