Yet another SS396 Chevelle? Yes, it is, another 1970 model that’s looking pretty shaky. But the seller claims that this is one of 2,144 built in ’70 with RPO L78 which was a 375 HP, 396 CI V8. Is it? A closer look will tell, please join me. This Chevrolet Chevelle is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $16,650, reserve not yet met.

Chevy’s fabulous L78 engine had been available in the Chevelle since 1966. The problem is, after December of 1965, they stopped advertising it. The obstacle was the lack of ten lbs. of curb weight per gross HP with that engine in a 3,400 lb. Chevelle. The edict came from a GM’s 14th floor and it had an adverse impact on Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile. The demand for such a high HP set-up was there, Ford and Plymouth/Dodge didn’t suffer under such limitations, and silly rules put those GM divisions at a marketing disadvantage. The solution was to “absently do wrong and beg for forgiveness later”. And Chevrolet got away with it by simply not advertising the L78’s existence – it sold by word of mouth. For 1970, GM’s 400 CI maximum engine size regulation in anything other than a full-size car was on the way out so Chevy’s new 454 CI was the perfect inclusion for the Chevelle. And since they had gotten away with the L78, they figured they’d pull the same stunt with the LS6, 450 gross HP, 454 engine – build it and they’ll come, just don’t flaunt it. So, to make way for Mr. Big, the L78 was only offered in the ’70 Chevelle from September through November of ’69 and then replaced in December with the LS6. That’s the reason for the fairly low L78 production volume of only 2,144 copies, a number that had been 9,400 with the ’69 Chevelle.

So, how do we know if this Chevelle is ‘da real ting? It points in the right direction (yes, I’m hedging my answer). The build sheet shows the L78 option, and the six-digit sequence number on that sheet is what the seller claims is the sequence number of the VIN, though the VIN tag is not revealed.  The seller states the engine alpha is CKO, which is correct for the L78, and the actual image of the engine number pad conveys that.

You cannot really tell, for certain, by looking at the engine. The valve covers are non-OEM but the intake manifold does appear to be the original Chevrolet/Winters cast item. A Holley carburetor is correct too but the part number would need to be revealed to determine authenticity – and those are often swapped, especially with the passage of a half-century. The real differences are inside where the L78 has much larger, square cylinder head intake ports, larger valves, four-bolt main bearing caps, a forged crankshaft and rods, and a mechanical lifter camshaft. Both the block and heads should be stamped with “HI-PERF” instead of “PASS” but those items are not revealed. The block casting number referenced is sort of correct as Chevrolet used “3963854” on both two and four-bolt main cap blocks in ’70.  The Muncie M21 four-speed transmission is fairly standard with this engine though an automatic was available too.

The exterior of this Chevelle appears as so many from this era do, it’s rusty! There’s a bit of rot everywhere and in some difficult-to-fix places. The vinyl top covering has been removed and unfortunately, years of trapped moisture has done what it does best, caused a corroded mess. The lower fender legs and quarters are pretty well eaten away too, a very typical problem with ’68-’72 GM A-Bodies. Curiously, the SS Magnum wheels look new and the seller advises that they have been repainted and are now shod with new (and expensive!) BFG Radial T/A tires. It’s a nice touch but it’s sort of like buying a brand new $300 pair of Allen Edmonds shoes and wearing them with a 20-year-old, thread-bare suit.

As for the interior, the most obvious feature is the continuation of the rust saga. The floors are shot, not that unexpected with the exterior in as deleterious shape as it is. According to the build sheet, there was a center console originally installed, it’s probably lost to the ages now. The seats, headliner, and door cards are in rough condition too. The soft stuff is all available from an online catalog, as are the floor pans, but those are a bit more difficult to straighten out.

So, verdict time, is it real? I’d say so, I only hesitate because there has been so much chicanery with cars of this nature i.e. representing them, sometimes cleverly, as something that they’re not. Some go to extreme lengths to do that but I’m not suggesting that’s the case here. Assuming that this Chevelle is a genuine L78 equipped version, it will bring a very strong price when restored. But that’s the $64,000 question (and hopefully not the price of repair), what’s the reserve, and what will it take to turn this 1970 Chevelle SS around?