Worth Fixing? 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396
In the early ’70’s I bought a ’67 SS396 Chevelle for $975. It had low mileage and was in great condition but it was just considered an old, used car at that point. I kept it for several years and then sold it. It was one of my favorite auto ownership experiences and I do continue to half-heartedly search for another one from time to time. The values, however, for legitimate examples of what Chevelle aficionados refer to as true “138” cars (after the first three digits of the VIN) are generally through the roof and I can’t square the values with what the cars actually are. Nevertheless, I continue to look and this ’67 example, located in Center Barnstead, New Hampshire has surfaced here on eBay. It is available with a current bid of $4,650, 35 bids tendered so far. BTW, the VIN does legitimize this Chevelle as a real Atlanta built SS396 though it is wearing a “Malibu” grille.
“Worth Fixing?” is a very legitimate question as this example is in oh-so poor looking condition. Maybe, “Is it salvageable?” is the better question. Remember, these cars, and most others from this era were consumable commodities. “Buy it, drive it, trade it” was pretty much how things rolled in those days; fifteen years of useable life would be a stretch much less 53 years or more. As is revealed in the listing’s images, and is typical with this generation of “A” body, rust is a problem. The listing, which is light on detail, does specifically state that there is “lots of rot and rust.” The usual places for such destruction occur in the lower quarters (front and back of the rear wheels), lower fenders and both the floor and trunk pans. It’s not unheard of to find corrosion working away on the rear section of the perimeter frame too. There is a replacement fender included with the sale to cover the very obviously missing one on the passenger side. Another concern with this example should be the roof panel as there is no telling what’s going on under that flayed vinyl roof covering.
Moving inside, the first item of note is that the console is wrong for this car, the one present is out of an earlier vintage Impala not that it really matters, we’re not going for points here. The entire interior, while intact, is just trashed – it appears that it has either had water intrusion or at the least lived in a very humid environment – there is surface rust in a lot of places where there shouldn’t be. The carpet is in place but I imagine it’s hiding quite a few surprises underneath. It is all there, which is a good sign, but it will need complete disassembly to determine its true condition.
Under the hood is a non-original 396 CI V8 engine. The seller states that it is a ’70 factory replacement motor. Back when I owned mine, there were many of these SS models prowling America’s highways and byways with non-original engines, frequently small-blocks in place of the original big-block motor. The original rat would get blown-up from high RPM antics and under the hood would go whatever was available. From the factory, this Chevelle would have had either a 325 or 350 gross HP 396 motor. There was a 375 HP version released late in the model year but there were only 612 copies produced so it’s doubtful that this Chevelle domiciled one of those rarities. So, is the engine a ’70 version or a factory replacement engine installed in ’70? This is a “short-pump” motor so that would peg it as a ’68 or earlier or comply with the owner’s statement that it was a factory replacement for the original engine and installed in ’70. Whatever the case, it doesn’t matter as the engine does not run though it does turn over so at least it’s not seized. Behind this big-block is a four-speed manual transmission and a Chevrolet twelve-bolt differential.
The seller mentions that there are some missing parts and alludes to bumpers so I guess he means the rear one; replacements are not hard or expensive to find. So back to the start, is this example worth fixing? Thirty-five bids (don’t know how many actual bidders) seem to think so. I couldn’t see buying this Chevelle unless I could visually inspect it and then a decision could be made. One will probably never know what this Chevy really needs until it has been entirely dismantled. The “worth” aspect of the question can be translated into monetary value or maybe even something beyond that. If the “$$$ value proposition” doesn’t matter to you as in you really like this version of the SS396 Chevelle, you really want to own one and you don’t mind getting your hands a bit dirty, then I say, go for it!
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Comments
I’m curious what the factory color of the car. It looks green on the cowl. Never seen that color green before. If it stay under $10K, maybe worth restoring it just make it a driver.
That color was Mountain Green on Camaros. Was a little different but came on Chevelles and Corvairs.
That color on a 1968 elcamino was called Frost Green . I had a 68 SS 396 elco that color factory paint Frost Green .
Light on the details and the guy did himself no favors by not cleanng out the gut. Even if he left the carpets and just vacuumed it this would make it more palatable. No pics of the underbelly, vinyl top is scary. I guess it comes down to this, and it fits with all the fraud on fleabay: Why take pictures of something you know is bad, so the frames shot so I wont photograph it. So much for honesty, anyhoo- you would need to look at this or have it inspected and see if you are brave enough to take it on, finshed its one sweet Chevelle. good luck. Worse been fixed up.
Cheers
GPC
How high is the water line from the flood? Or, was sweating when put away.
Yes, there was a time it was a $200. car. That is when it was parked
Non original motor makes it no matter if it was a six banger or bb other than she is rough …
Four speed a plus though
You’d do better working part time for minimum wage and then saving your money to buy a decent one compared to the number of hours and parts cost it would take you to get this one to even a barely respectable condition. Not that I recommed that. Just to make the point that it is highly likely you would be upside down on this one.
My second car, white with black vinyl top and interior. Lots of tales to tell in that one, given it was my senior year (‘75). Ahhhh. If you could source a clean ‘67 Malibu body, this pile would provide most of the parts to make very nice fake SS or restomod.
Great point. This would not be a restore to original, so I think about 6g max price then find Malibu parts if need be. All in, maybe a 20k or so fun driver?
In 1974 I bought a clapped-out 67 Chevelle SS 396 from the young police chief in my home town. $350.00, had been hit so hard at some time that they just drilled new holes in the frame for the rear control arms to get the rear axle kind of straight. But it was fast! 375 horse 396, the chief told me that none of the kids from town could beat it, a guy from a neighboring town with a hot 67 GTO could give him a run for his money. I look back and wonder how I made it out of my teens, burying the speedometer with crappy tires and other shenanigans. After about a year, I parted it out, kept the hood, factory gauges and complete drivetrain and traded the body to a dirt track racer. I put the engine in a 67 Caprice coupe, really a good fit lol. With 2.73 rear gears would go as fast as you dared, with plenty of space left under the accelerator. I still have the 67 Chevelle blinker tach around somewhere. The good old days!
Love your story…Have a few of my own. How did we ever survive our youth?
Total garbage. I bought a 66 Chevelle convertible in very good shape in 1973, for $400. Man, prices have changed. Even if you can weld and paint, this is a bottomless money pit.
Another $40,000 spent on the car after purchase, 2 years of heartache for restoration and you will have a very nice 1967 Chevelle SS 396 worth $40,000. Of course that all depends on your definition of “Restoration”.
You will still spend $15K-$20K just to make this car a average weekend “Cruise In” type driver car and that’s on top of what you spend purchasing the car.
You are far better off saving a $1,000/month in a savings account for the next 2 years, take that $24K AND the amount you will spend to purchasing this turd now and THEN go buy a NICE CAR 2 years from now. As the 1960’s muscle cars continue to DEPRECIATE you can then BUY a NICE Chevelle SS 396 that someone else has spent $40K restoring for $30K all the while doing whatever it is your WIFE wants you to do in your spare time.
Happy Wife Happy Life!
Man. We see so much Junk here.
The bid is at $5300. I know 66-67 chevelles are popular but it is interesting people are willing to pay that much for such a major project.
I do see that sellers need to have a thick skin to list a project car on BF’s.
My friend bought a ’67 Malibu Convertible (brand new) with a 283 4 speed bench seat. He sold it to a guy I worked with for $500 back in the ’80” I never saw another one like that car…Why did he buy a 283 4 speed? His college job was driving a Coke truck and he got used to the 4 speed. I had a three speed column shift in my Impala he didn’t know how to shift…Strange? So is he..
i’d say restore it.
Here we go again. Another tucked away car that had to wait until the owner dies or was given a reality check that made them decide to sell. I bet he or she had untold offers to buy in the past. And now if the car is restored it will be a ship of Theseus. Boyd Coddington lost in court over this. For those that don’t want to look this up, I will give this analogy; I have Andrew Jackson’s broom. I have replaced the head four times and the handle once, but it is still Andrew Jackson’s broom.
Huh?
Sold for $6500 interesting
I get sick every time I see ’67 Chevelle SS”. Back around ’99 a friend tried selling me his for $900. I left CT for ID that new years eve. I visited xmas 2k. He knew I already had sold my ’70 C3 350/350, 4sp prior to the move here. So he asked again if I wanted the car. It needed a total restoration & I was still building friends & new connections. Even then, you cant beat lifelong friends when it comes to a restore, so again I passed. Fastforward ’03. Another mutual friend flew out here staying with me to hunt in Nov. I told him about Ed’s car he was trying to sell me. He goes back home. Calls me a few months later says “Guess what. I bought Masons 67 Chevelle” I said “How much, $900?” He says “Yes!”. He says after he looked at it, he told him to go get the title. He looked at it, gave him $900 cash & Ed owning a towing/body shop, towed to his house. I said nice deal. He then says to me “Dude. The title says Baldwin Motion Performance on it!” My heart sank to my stomach. I said you BS’ing me? He said nope! Less than a month later he calls me, says go to his ebay site & see what I sold it for. He got $75k for it AS IS! The car needed a full blown restore but was complete with the matching numbers 427 & M22, 12 bolt of course. This car hadnt seen the rioad since mid to late 70’s. A couple months ago he called again. The car changed hands 2 more times & is owned now by Joe Gibbs Racing. He had emailed me some pics fully restored to as new. God knows what it’s worth as Joel Rosen from Motion told him it’s the only ’67 Chevelle SS he’s done! My luck!
Great story, Al. I hope your friend shared a little of the 75k with the guy he bought it from.