Many consider the 1970 model year to be the pinnacle of muscle car sales. After that, the combination of rising insurance premiums and engine detuning for lower emissions took its toll on buyer interest. Chevrolet still built a flock of Chevelle SS 396s in 1970 (53,599 to be exact), with the L34 (350 hp) being the most popular. The car featured here was recently purchased from its second owner and has low, low miles (27,000). Other than a repaint in 1976, everything else about the hot rod could be original. This car may still be calling Sewickley, Pennsylvania, its home! Our thanks to Mitchell G. for the awesome tip!
After being a series of its own from 1966 to 1968, the SS 396 remained an option on the Malibu Sport Coupe and convertible. Although the hot new 454 cubic-inch V8 joined the fold in 1970, the SS 396 remained the top seller. 51,455 L34 396s went into Chevelle products, and the large number of Malibu’s produced also makes it a popular clone candidate today. This car isn’t currently for sale, but was found here on Lo Miles No Miles on Facebook.
As the story goes, it was recently purchased just around the corner from the poster, Jason Belevedere. It was first sold through Gourley Chevy in January 1970 and is unrestored sans a respray of the Black Cherry paint. It’s also numbers matching (the 396 was actually a 402 beginning that year) with a batch of original documentation. We’re told the Chevy has never left the local area, so perhaps it’s something of a local legend.
It’s a two-owner automobile whose original owner first had a 1969 Pontiac GTO. His wife wrecked that car, so he had it repaired and then traded it in on this hot ’70 SS 396. It has a 4-speed manual transmission, the F41 suspension, a 3:31 ratio rear axle, power front disc brakes, and what appears to be the original bias-ply spare tire in the trunk! Does it get much better than this?
One of the best of the era. Great example here.
The best of the era!
A shame it’s not the L78 396. That’s more rare than the coveted LS6 454.
Maybe rarer but not worth as much. No one would pick an L78 over an LS6. An LS5 is lower production than an LS6, but not worth as much. Horsepower trumps rarity.
Agreed, K. Had a 69 L78 that I wish I still
had, but alas, you know what they say about hindsight. It was quick, and 375hp, nah just on paper. Hot Rod Magazine did a piece on it and put it at closer to 450hp. Besides, where else could you listen to the valve train talk.
1970 was the year that Chevy bored out the 396 to 402.
overheating issues..had alot of recalls at the Chevrolet dealership I worked at at the time…”Lucky” there weren’t too many L-78″s :>)
I’m not a Chevelle guy, but black cherry, no stripes and four speed…yeah, I’d happily park this ’70 in my garage any day. Cool car.
Happy New Year to all of the BF’ers and staff.
Very nice Chevelle here being a 1971 Chevelle owner myself. And its a 4-speed!
This is the same color as one of my FFA members had. Only his was an 1969 SS 396. (Base horsepower) After FFA meetings we would head out for some street racing. At the time everyone had Chevys. Anyway I was racing him with my ’55 Chevy convertible ( bored out 283 with a 350/350 horse cam and a 4 speed) we were dead even. As either one of us wanted to let off the gas, our race took us right past the local cop shop as the guys in the back seats were passing beers back and forth between the cars. THAT’S WHEN I DECIDED THAT I HAD CROSSED THE LINE IN THE SANITY NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEEDED A RESET. After that, my racing went to the race track or closed course like pro-rally in later years. Lucky for me, I never was ticketed for street racing and never had an accident doing stupid stuff like that. I’m my Dad (even though I had seem him do it a couple of times) would have pulled my license until I was 18.
this looks like the car i read about that was found sitting in a shop on a lift for years. i read this maybe a year or so ago. shame it’s not an LS6 but it is the real deal from what i read
So considering the low mileage (if it’s real) and the condition……it’s a nice 70’ Chevelle…..but for me I need the white Rally stripes and no vinyl roof which takes away the great looks in my humble opinion……I was fortunate to own a 70’ LS-6 in Black Cherry/White stripes, 4 speed, 4:10 posi……it had white interior too, with bench seat, kinda’ rare…..
I agree with Joe on his comments here. Still a very nice Chevelle.
Put the SS stripes on it, a cowl induction hood, drop in a 427 and some 50 series T/A Radials and I had the exact same car in the 70’s. My buddy named it “Caruso” because (wait for it)… it was maroon-ed. Stole and wrecked in 1976 by a “friend” who then joined the Army to get away from me. (sigh)
Sweet !
My 1st “I never should have sold it” They made around 11,000 Malibu/Chevelle convertibles in 1970, I was reading the local Peddlers Post sale paper around 1982 and there was one for $150, red 350 AT sitting in a fileld 5 miles away, non running and needed a top. Turned out it was a guy I went to high school with, it was rusted through the floor right behind the bench seat and around the fenders, salty NE Indiana. Took a while to get it on the road, I put the top on myself, bought a piece of floor and 2 front fenders from a junkyard car.
Put on a 4 bbl carb, aluminum intake, and headers and it ran pretty good. I got a job 40 miles away and it was kind of thirsty on gas, I bought a 79 Subaru and sold the vert for $650! Somebody kick me!