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24k Mile 1967 Chevelle SS396 Project

1967 Chevelle SS396

This Chevelle has a lot going for it, both good and bad! Being an SS396 car never hurts, but that brings me to our first issue, it’s missing it’s 396 V8 and transmission. The odometer shows just 24k miles, but whether mileage really matters when the engine is missing and the body has rust and damage. This really is a toss up for me, as it’s a great year of Chevelle and is well optioned, but the lack of an engine is a problem. The seller is asking $10,500 here on eBay in Avon, Ohio, but is also taking bids starting at $8k.

1967 Chevelle SS396 Interior

Chevelle SS396’s values are on the rise, but I’m not sure they are to the point yet of justifying spending over $10k on a car that is missing its original drivetrain. We also don’t know which version of the 396 this car was originally equipped with. The 396 came in three levels: the 325 hp, 350 hp, and the mighty 375 hp version. While all three are high powered engines, there is a $30k price difference between the 325 and the 375 hp engines, so it would be nice to know what it originally came with. Of course, that probably doesn’t matter much since the matching numbers engine is long gone.

Chevelle SS396 Door Jamb

Now if this car had an extremely solid body with original paint and a decent interior, I would say it’s worth overlooking the missing engine, but boy is this car rusty! As you start to really study it, you find rust on just about every panel. Most of it looks to just be surface rust, but I see a few holes in some fun areas to fix! And I’m going to guess there will be even more rust issues hiding under all the layers of paint. The original color was Tahoe Turquoise, but as you can see, this car is clearly not turquoise or any other shade of blue for that matter. Take a look at the door jambs and you notice that this car was originally turquoise, than bright red, followed by it’s current maroon. I actually don’t mind the current color, but being repainted that many times makes me wonder what all has happened and been done to this car over the years?

Chevelle SS396

I don’t want to be too negative about this car, because if you have been on the hunt for a real Chevelle SS396 project, this one might actually be worth taking a look at. Yes, it has its problems (what project doesn’t?). And I think the seller is asking a bit too much for it as it currently sits. They seem to be honest about the car though and even made a list of just about every part of the car and what condition it is in (they even made a key with their definition of good, fair and poor conditions!). Fixing it up will be a challenge, but you can build it any way you like and in the end have a sweet ride that you can truly be proud of! The question is, will the work be worth the final product for you?

Comments

  1. Avatar Bill

    Twenty four thousand miles is a short period of time to blow the engine which, by the way, is the only thing that makes this car appealing to me.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Roger Pence

    >NO LONGER HAS ORIGINAL BENCH SEAT
    >HAS CORRECT 1967 CHEVELLE BUCKET SEATS

    Doesn’t that make the bucket seats incorrect?

    Like 0
  3. Avatar daveh

    The area just outside the back window is a REAL trouble spot on these cars. The rear window seals were a poor design and caused all sorts of grief. If the rear package shelf is not “perfect” then there has been water intrusion. The sail panels and the panel below the window will likely have to go.

    On the bright side the horn button doesn’t seem to be rusted through!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Chebby

      I heard the reason that rear windows are such a rust problem on all GM cars is that they are supposed to be pressed in tightly, and the window guys would just give the trim a couple random bangs with a mallet when the car passed by them on the line.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Steve

    I have to tell you that the vehicles I see on BF lately are laughingly over priced!

    The days of people having expendable cash for projects are over. Especially ones that require a major infusion of cash to restore them and then not being anywhere worth the investment when finished.
    I will be very surprised if it gets any bidding at this price.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Nessy

      Steve, some people will always come up with “expendable cash” as you said and buyers will always be found at some point. Don’t feel like the good days are in the past and money for toys is just a dream today. Some cars here may be over priced, however, there are also many good deals to be found on this site.

      Like 0
  5. HoA Howard A Member

    Again, it’s just the same old thing, isn’t it? I mean, c’mon. Original 24K miles. Is there anybody that would think this car has 24K miles? I’ll admit, ’67 Chevelles are cool, but this ones been run through the ringer a few times. 24K original miles, sheesh!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Barry T

      I suspect it was rode hard and put away wet. 24K? I doubt it.

      Like 0
  6. Avatar piper62j

    Most sellers these days think they are sitting on a gold mine with these older cars.. Just ain’t so… The value is only in the eye of the buyer and if people keep buying the cars at overvalued prices, the prices will continue to clime..

    Chebby.. You are spot on..

    Like 0
  7. Avatar roger pence

    If people keeping the cars are overvalued prices, that is what they are worth! They might not be worth it to you or me (and this one definitely isn’t), but to a seller the high bar on value is whatever the market will bear!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Rick

    As beat as that looks, gotta be at least 124K

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Sukey

    Driven hard
    Abused by every owner it ever had from day one
    $5000

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Jim

    Every 67′ SS I’ve ever seen had a factory console and buckets. I really have to laugh when people claim original miles on a 5 digit speedo with no other documentation and no motor, more like a SS000.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar ydnar

    I suspect he’ll get the money, we have seen worse go for more. The insanity is getting worse by the day, but the music is just about to stop. The last buyer will be hosed. I have always liked these early Chevelles.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Marty Member

    Some rust, shifter and bench seat gone, the exterior has had the color changed not once but two times, original drivetrain removed and lost, and then the car was “parked in the late 1970s”, all in 24,000 miles!

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Nessy

    10500 for the body and a rough one as well? Na.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Tom Member

    We are all singing out of the same song book except I would throw a bet down on 224K miles! 24K miles with multiple paint jobs and this much wear, I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night. Love this body but what a mess.

    Ok, the bench seat thing…..pretty sure it would have had to be automatic on the column….or a 4 speed simple bucket on the floor. Bucket seats would have most likely come with a console which would have definitely had the floor shifter. Not sure what this thing has??. I had a 67 442 fully documented car with a bench seat and automatic column shift. Back then you could order almost anything you want a la carte, but not everything. I have seen buckets in cars with column shift auto trans but not sure if they were right either.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Vincent Habel

      My dad had a 66 El Camino with bucket seats and a column shift. It was not a SS.

      Like 0
  15. Avatar stillrunners

    Marty – I agree….two repaints ???

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Doug Towsley

    I generally support the higher prices on collectible muscle cars because the market has always been good. Even when the economy tanked 2008 and sputtered back somewhat, Vintage cars and bikes slowed down a bit but not to the extent other measuring sticks did. Vintage cars and bikes have always been a good investment if done right. That being said, I think this car is grossly over priced. It certainly IS fixable by someone with skills,. And I used to restore cars like this for a living. Its not rocket science but not a lot of people willing to do it. I also dont see it likely to be bought by a collector who will pay someone to restore or build for him. There are far better examples out there. That being said, If the seller drops the price, this WILL sell. The motor is not that big of a deal. At the swap meets i go to, There are multiple sellers peddling motors with year correct numbers. Chances are this will get a year correct motor and built/restored. or, someone will stick in a 454 and call it good. I never understood the 396 myself except for a numbers correct resto. If you are going to go big block, go big or go home. I had a 454 for a while in my 72 Rally Nova, Was a kick in the pants. But i sold all my big block stuff a long time ago. Small Block chevys is what I like. and what we are running in my wifes 69 Chevelle and my 68. Neither are SS, just Malibus we are building to have fun with. Like what we grew up with in the 70s and 80s.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Dave

    I have a 65 in the process of restoration that was in the similar condition and I will end up with way more money in it than it is worth.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Doug Towsley

      Good for you Dave. But dont count it as not being worth it. That is a very relative term. Worth what? Dont know the details of your resto or build and if you are doing it all yourself or paying others. But all things are relative. When I had a shop and did this for a living, I had many customers who paid me for many reasons. Not have the time or skills, or sentimental value. Several were family cars and money was not the issue. I volunteer at our local car and motorcycle museum and see all kinds of vehicles with similar stories. Done right, your car will eventually grow in value as well. But there really is no price tag you can place on a job well done and the satisfaction of your labors. I still love building vintage vehicles and get far more enjoyment researching and building than i do driving or riding them. Do NOT underestimate the value of that.
      Even better if you are teaching a kid or getting them interested based on what they see you doing. How many people on here have their interest in vintage vehicles because of the Dad, brother, or cool guy down the street we always admired?

      Like 0
  18. Avatar Waldon Herdman

    If it was a 66…still too much!

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Gary I

    I have 124,000 miles on my 2011 Yukon And it is still in Mint condition. I drive it daily as I am a roofing contractor and it is my mobile office so it is on job sites, and it sits outside in Ohio weather. MINT condition after five years of use. Do you see where I am going with this? This Chevelle is a candidate for 224,000 easy! Engine missing means you have no clue how many weekend engine swaps were done to keep it on the road. My mothers 1974 Camaro blew through 7 junkyard and garage built 350 Chevy engines in ten years of abuse, no catalog crate engines back then just good ol junk yards. DO your research and know what a car gets put through in its lifetime.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Jim

    I don’t know where this car started life of how it was treated but most of these were street raced within an inch of their lives, (not mine lol) here in NYC. Back then guys either treated them like a favorite girl or thrashed them every Friday and Saturday night, after a few engines and the checkbook ran low sold them to another guy on a budget, it may have 24k, might of had 15 engine swaps and if it was kept outside rust was unstoppable. Also 4spd cars could have come with buckets or bench seat, SS bucket cars automatically had a console, regular Malibu, Chevelle or 300 models consoles were options. Wish I had mine now, Marina Blue metallic, black vinyl top, black leather bucket interior. It’s on my bucket list, among others.

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Dave h

    In some (Many?) cases the options were chosen with a view to racing. Mine (also Marina Blue but sans vinyl top) was a 4 speed, 396 (325 hp) version with a cloth bench seat because that was actually lighter than the bucket seats version. The engine came out well before 1,500 miles so the heads and pistons etc could be replaced with ones that had WAY more compression and higher flow rates. Better clutch at the same time. Replace the stock POS Muncie shifter with a Hurst, add headers instead of stock exhaust manifolds. It was not uncommon for this to happen with VERY low mileage versions. Not saying that’s happened with this one, but for the folks who say that it would be strange to have a bench seat + 4-speed or the have engine go AWOL at 24K miles – I’ve seen a lot of muscle cars be on their 4th, 5th (or 25th!) engine by that mark. Esp if the miles were accumulated 1/4 mile at a time – which is – lets face it – what these were bought to do!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Doug Towsley

      Daveh and Jim are spot on. While not the case for every car, most of these were bought back in the day by young people who did not baby these or preserve them. No one thought anything about keeping them all original. First thing most did was swap out the wheels and tires. Then take off the factory parts and hot rod them. A lot of people who were buying new would look at what they could get for what they could afford, and then improve on that. Others simply bought what was available. Hindsight is 20/20 but makes me cringe some of the stuff we did back in the day

      Like 0
  22. Avatar Mike K

    I bought a engineless 1967 Chevelle SS in 08, it had set in a neighbors garage for 30 years, he had a home built 302 with 13/1 compression in it, I pulled it and gave it back.
    I dropped a 69 L68 427 in it, with aluminum heads and a four speed, I’ve sold it now, to a professional restorer. The owner before me put about 1000 miles on it in 30 plus years.

    Like 1
  23. Avatar Brandon Hess

    I have to know…..what was the price of the 67 chevelle when it first came out? The floor price? My uncle but a 67 Impala for like $700 new when it came out, now people want anywhere from $2500 to $57000 for them.

    Like 0

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