350hp/4-Speed: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
We always appreciate input from our readers because, without you, we wouldn’t be able to exercise our passion to write about classic cars. Therefore, I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396. Produced during the height of the muscle car war, its condition makes it too good to ignore. From the numbers-matching big-block hiding under its hood to the original and unmolested interior, it is a car that will tick the box for serious collectors. The seller is in the enviable position of owning too many classics (can that ever happen?), so they feel that the time has come for this SS to find a new home. They have listed it here on Craigslist in Flagstaff, Arizona. They set their price at $63,900, and its excellent mechanical health would allow the new owner to fly in and drive it home.
The 1967 model year marked the last in the production life of the First Generation Chevelle. Its replacement was waiting in the wings, featuring a shorter wheelbase and significant styling changes. I acknowledge that this is personal preference, but I have always preferred the appearance of these earlier cars when compared to the ones that followed. They aren’t as aggressive and possess an almost elegant look. The first owner accentuated this by ordering this 1967 SS in Bolero Red. The seller emphasizes the car’s originality, which suggests that this could be a genuine survivor. I am unwilling to make a definite call on that, but if it is, it has been treated with TLC since the day it left the factory. The paint shines beautifully, with no patchiness or significant imperfections. The panels are laser-straight, and the car’s location makes the lack of rust unsurprising. The trim and glass condition is consistent with an unrestored survivor, while the Rally wheels and Redline tires provide the ideal finishing touch.
Lifting the hood defines what makes this Chevelle special, and demonstrates that the first owner focused primarily on outright performance. The 396ci V8 churns out 350hp and 415 ft/lbs of torque. The ponies feed to the road via a four-speed manual transmission, with the first owner passing on power steering that might impact the Chevelle’s acceleration potential. Tipping the scales at 3,589 lbs, the SS will cover the ¼-mile in 14.3 seconds, a time that still looks impressive over five decades after it first hit our streets. The first piece of crucial news for potential buyers is that this is a complete numbers-matching classic. It has 42,395 miles showing on its odometer, although the seller doesn’t mention evidence that would confirm that figure as original. However, it is a turnkey proposition that runs and drives perfectly.
If the listing is accurate, the originality of this Chevelle extends to its Black vinyl interior trim. The first owner opted for an AM radio and console but avoided options like air conditioning that might compromise outright performance. There isn’t much to criticize inside this SS. The vinyl is in excellent condition, the carpet is clean, and nothing has succumbed to the Arizona sun. The only issue identified by the seller is the inoperative radio. Otherwise, this interior needs nothing.
Some classics blend into the background, barely gaining attention. This 1967 Chevelle SS 396 doesn’t fall into that category and is a car deserving respect for its originality and condition. It should offer its new owner the type of neck-snapping performance enthusiasts crave from a muscle car, and although it isn’t cheap, I won’t be surprised if the seller finds someone willing to give it a new home fairly quickly. Would you like to be that person?
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Comments
IMO they got the body design just right in 1967. A classmate in high school had the exact same car in blue. I remember him being asked “what do you have in that thing?” His reply: “A six cylinder”. LOL
These were climbing into “big bucks” for some time. Always loved um.
Ad does not mention HP (except via the picture of the air cleaner sticker). Based on closed element air cleaner with snorkel, the valve cover vent cap, and small radiator with center fill cap, that is a 325 horse 396 (with the wrong HP sticker on the air cleaner).
Boys and girls, now we are talking about a true classic! I can’t find anything to fault this car for. ’67 SS 396 4 speed, it just about doesn’t get any neater than that. (by the way, the article does state that it is a 350 horse) While I kind of question the asking price, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he or she gets it. I only live about 70 miles from Flagstaff, and if I didn’t already own my “forever car”, I would most definitely be throwing my hat in the proverbial ring. What a nice car!
Too bad we can’t see the front runner on that intake, it will either say q-jet or holley, 325 vs 350hp !
Since one would have to assume that anyone owning this car is in all likelihood a person with some fairly extensive knowledge of the car, one would also need to assume that he or she would know that it would take a potential buyer about 2 minutes to check the numbers to ascertain what the engine truly is.
I think a car of this quality deserves a better place to be sold than craigslist.
Always like the look of this year, clean lines balanced front and rear. A local Boy had one in dark metallic blue, Cragers and 427 duel quad 4seed 411posi that terrorized the streets and was solid on the local track 😂
Love the 66 and 67. Owned a 66 back in the 70’s. No doubt this is a good car but I believe its a little over priced. If you intend to keep it in a garage it may make you happy but if you intend to “drive” it much you can look forward to some $$$ upkeep to keep it in top shape. Mid 40’s maybe but certainly not the current asking price.
Note: I posted earlier but don’t think it made it. If so, please excuse double posting.
Yes Adam you can have too many. You soon get to a point where you don’t own these cars they own you and your bank account along with your spouse if you have one of those too.
Lift it. GTO springs up front w/ spacers and air shocks on the back. Keep it level. Did it on a ’66 and it worked.
👍 agree 💯 oldrodder. I’m a Ford guy but when I think of classic Chevy muscle this is it. They didn’t mess around 396/350hp, 4sp came with a stout rearend and 3.73 gears from the factory. Chevy meant business and created a great street performer. Beautiful package, lighter than they look under 3,600lb. 🏁
No offense, but it would be pure sacrilege to do as you suggest to a car of this quality. Everything about this beauty is just about perfect.
oldrodder –
The Craigslist ad does NOT state the horsepower. The Article above (written by the BarnFinds site, not by the owner/seller of the car) states 350 HP, apparently relying solely on the sticker on the aircleaner. But the actual for-sale ad posted on Craigslist by owner of the car does not mention the horsepower at all.
I also see a sawed off pump-to-carb fuel line, and a hose running to a psgr side carb line. That suggests a Holley, but that does not mean the Holley came on that engine, since the intake and carb could have been changed (or it could have a replacement spread-bore holley that will mount on a Q-Jet intake).
Either way, either (A) the sticker is wrong and the carb is wrong and it was a 325 horse car, OR (B) the aircleaner, valve cover vent, and radiator are wrong. A 350 horse car came with an open element air cleaner that is piped into the passenger side valve cover, and a larger radiator with the fill hole on the driver’s side end.
But beyond all of that, without a pic of the block deck stamp we don’t know if this is really the original engine to the car anyway …
Fair enough, but as I pointed out, it will only take about two minutes to determine what engine it is while doing an in person inspection. Trying to determine that with photos and without owner input is useless. .(As a point of interest, the 396/350 came with either a Q Jet or a Holley, depending on what the factory decided to install on any given day. I know that sounds screwy, but that’s what they did.)
I misspoke about the 396/350 carburetor difference, it was the 325 HP motor that came with either/ or.
The either / or scenario was on the 396/325 engine in 1966 only. They actually added an R (for QuadraJet) or an H (for Holley) to the end of the engine suffix code stamp to identify which it was.
But all 1967 396/325 engines came with QuadraJets. And they do not have the R or H added to the stamp.
My mistake. You are correct that the Holley/ Rochester thing was ’66 only, so because I distinctly remember 2 different carbs in ’67, I called an old friend that campaigned a ’67 396, in both stock and later super stock in the 60s and early 70s. He plumbed me up and told me that the 2 different carbs the I remembered in ’67 were indeed 2 separate manufacturers, just not Holley and Rochester. The difference that was that due to a strike at the Rochester plant, Carter manufactured some Q-Jets in ’67. The only difference was that the Carters were stamped with “manufactured by Carter”. So my mistake. I guess my 75 year old brain ain’t quite as sharp as it once was.
Oldrodder, I’m in the same age group and know how it is. But I like you have the memories of our youth in the 60’s building and racing the muscle car’s of the day. Tuning them with screw driver, timing light and vacuum gage, using your ear and experience, not a lap top computer 😂