1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 4-Speed Project
Here’s another subject from the, “it’s maybe not that bad” category. It is definitely one of the all-time, uber desirable muscle cars in that it is a 1970 SS396 Chevelle, with ’70 being the year that some consider being the most collectible; this particular car needs a lot of help, however. So, will it “make a nice car” as the seller suggests? Let’s look closely and decide. It is located in Caneyville, Kentucky, and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $5,699, thirteen bids tendered so far, or a BIN price of $12,500.
An SS396 Chevelle has the “Big Mo” regardless of condition – we preview many here on Barn Finds and the one thing that remains consistent is a big price as the point of entry, a number, that only moves northward from there. Depending on the research source employed, estimates of ’70 Chevelle SS (both 396 and 454 variants) production appear to be in the 54K unit range. The running joke at one-time was “That of the 54K 1970 Chevelle SS models produced, only 70K are still in existence” – an allusion to the ease and popularity of turning lesser model Chevelles into the more desirable SS version.
The seller of this ’70 subject car has a partial build-sheet and an NCRS verification certificate, so it does appear to be a genuine “Z25” or SS 396 model. The body is pretty well intact in terms of having most of its exterior parts present but the seller states, “It need (sic) full-floor trunk pans, quarters, wheel housings. You can patch the fenders, but I would put new ones on. There are other parts of the metal that need to be replaced”. It sounds like this Chevy needs more than it doesn’t. You can also add to the list, missing trim and the rear backlight. The seller adds, “This is a black cherry car, a unique color”. It’s not unique, not at all, and with a car in this overall condition, it’s irrelevant.
Under the hood is the real estate, that was at one time according to the barely legible build sheet, occupied by a 350 gross HP, 396 CI V8 engine. There is no reference to where it is, or what happened to it, but it’s definitely out of the picture. It’s the same case with its MIA, M21, close-ratio, four-speed manual transmission. There is a correct twelve-bolt differential under the rear of this Chevelle, but based on its down with the Titanic rusticile appearance, it looks to have been submerged. Talk about picked over, someone has even snagged the rear anti-sway bar!
There are one or two included images of the interior and it is an environment, that unfortunately, is probably in need of a pitchfork and a dumpster. There doesn’t appear to be much of salvageable value there other than perhaps the seat frames. There is no center console visible, but this Chevy may have been built that way – the build sheet is mostly indecipherable.
So, what to do? This SS is considered a project; well, how much of a project? The listing images are date-stamped from two years ago, so assuming the car still appears as it’s illustrated here, let’s recount the needs: fenders, quarters, floors, trim, a rear window, a windshield, an entire interior, an engine and all of its accessories, transmission, driveshaft, a lot of wiring, and a likely suspension rebuild, but other than that… Strictly speculation, but it is easy to assume that this Chevelle was picked for parts, left for dead and now is being flipped based on some supposed intrinsic “SS” value. Rebuildable? Worth it? Or, start checking scrap commodity prices?
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Comments
Impossible not to notice the date stamp on most of the photos.
Not likely the condition has improved much over the last two years . .
The “documentation” offered by the seller is virtually meaningless. To be useful the build sheet needs to in a large piece that includes a VIN number that matches the car. As for the NCRS paperwork, it only gives information as to what dealership the car was delivered to, and when, but no other information about the car itself.
A 1970 Chevelle is easily cloned into an SS since the VIN does not differentiate it from a non performance model. To do that you need an original engine, protecto plate, window sticker or an intact build sheet, preferably as many of those as possible.
This car may be an original SS, but it can never be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This car is probably too rough to justify the expense necessary to restore it to a high standard. A patient buyer would be wise to keep looking or buy a better base model if they don’t care about provenance or a restorable SS that can be verified.
Steve R
Without the original drivetrain, it will never be a numbers matching unit. In my opinion, it may as well be a clone.
Parts.
Simple math……
396 + Rusty(Chevelle + SS) – 396 = Rusty(Malibu + SS)
I called the phone number listed in the ebay ad. A lady answered and said she lives alone and had no idea what I was talking about. I called to see if it was possible to find the original motor, tranny and other parts that might make this a desirable project. With what is here and all that is known, not really worth the current bid to me! Not enough left of the build sheet to know much.
Z 25 was the rpo code for a SS 396 Chevelle. Z 15 is a SS 454 Chevelle.
oops, got it backwards, fixed now.
Thx,
JO
Steve R.
Thanks for education.
My Thinkin 396 SS was Kinda rare.
Good write up Jim.
Learn something daily on this site. Cudos
Sold my silver one for $1300.00 to my younger brother. He made out a payment book, and the payment was $75.00 mo. This was during the gas crisis
That’s a LOT for a 350 horse NO OPTION car…. WAYYYY too much work for what it is.
Even if you combined this with the two Chrysler products above that aren’t worth the effort you still don’t have enough to build a complete car. this isn’t national junk week is it? This kind of stuff is taking steel away from the bean can manufacturers.
Way to far gone to restore . Part out what is left. Maybe the 12 bolt is still in i…tBet the frame is a goner to
If this is truly an SS 396 it really amazes me that anyone could do this to one of the most sought after muscle cars ever produced. This one looks like it just might be to far gone to bother with, except for parts if any are left!
No proof no SS!!!
The same dbag seller, ky_hack8, also has a 1969 Chevelle for sale in slightly better shape than this one. He brags about it being certified by Jerry MacNeish as an original L78 Chevelle. But wait! The engine is gone! So for what’s leftover, the bidding is at $7345 and is BIN is $15000.
Scrap metal