The owner of this 1971 Chevelle SS says that it’s the real deal and that it’s solid, with no rust in the floors or frame. It will require a full restoration, but the end product should be a potent and desirable car. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, the Chevelle has been listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the listing to open at $13,999, but there have been no bids on the car to this point.
The Chevelle started its life finished in Champagne Gold but received a repaint in its current shade of red at some point in the past. I suspect that it was at this point that the car also underwent some external rust repairs, as there is evidence of Bondo in a few spots around the car. The most obvious of these is around the outside of the rear wheel openings, which are showing signs of rust. The photos of the car are a bit lacking, but from what can be seen, the photos seem to confirm the owner’s claim of a lack of rust in the floors and frame. There is plenty of surface corrosion, but at least it looks like the next owner is not going to be faced with the prospect of replacing heaps of sheet-metal.
The interior of the Chevelle might appear to be incomplete, but the owner does assure us that the missing trim and other interior components have been stored away. There will almost certainly be some restoration work required inside the car, but even allowing for this, the interior of the car has the potential to be a pretty nice place once the work has been completed. Bucket seats, a floor console with the correct shifter, a tilt wheel, air conditioning, and Soft Ray glass are all nice features with this car. The owner says that all of the lights, switches, and gauges work as they should, although the compressor for the A/C is sitting on the front floor at present.
The engine that currently occupies the engine bay isn’t original, and it sounds like that engine may have disappeared a fair while ago. The 402ci V8 that is sitting there is date-correct and should produce 325hp when in good health. The Chevelle also features a 3-speed automatic transmission and 12-bolt rear end. The next owner will also get for themselves power steering and power front disc brakes. The car doesn’t currently run, and it isn’t clear when it last moved under its own power. Given the fact that the SS has been parked in a garage since 1989, it is probably safe to assume that it was way back then. With that in mind, it is a fair bet that there will be some work required before the Chevelle fires a shot in anger once again.
This Chevelle SS shows a lot of promise as a project car. Even though it isn’t numbers-matching, one of its greatest attributes is the fact that its rust problems appear to be quite insignificant compared to other examples that we’ve seen in the past here at Barn Finds. Taking that into account, is this a project car that you would be willing to tackle?
The range of buyers with the capital and resources to restore a car as this sits with what is needed.. is small…won’t be going home at that opening bid, if it does, more money than brains buys it.
Could be a nice car with a full frame off and new metal skins and other pieces.
Not sure if date correct means factory replacement but unless listed assuming it was damaged in past its not original taking much value from car😔
Its high but shave off 5-7 and a good builder and since NOM put a four speed in it and go back original color . The gold is a good color on this vehicle.
Shoulda woulda coulda.
I had a 71 Chevrolet Coupe. Kick myself for selling it in 1981.
I could have built a nice SS CLONE in all those years.
It amazes me what people pay for junk these days.
It amazing what people ask for junk these days.
This is the third time this month the seller has listed this car on eBay. So far there have been no takers.
Steve R
I wouldn’t touch this car for anywhere near the asking price. There are signs of previous shoddy rust repair, it’s NOM, the the rust looks worse than the seller claims especially in the trunk. Even though there is a good chance the car is a real SS, without documentation, such as a build sheet or the presence of the original engine there is no way to prove this car is an SS.
On a side note, this car does not have AC, the seller also doesn’t claim it has it in the ad. The compressor in the passenger seat doesn’t belong with this car. Neither do some of the parts in the trunk such as the remote power steering pump and reservoir. There is a good chance those parts came with the donor engine, which was likely a truck.
Steve R
There isn’t a panel on this car that doesn’t need to be worked, non original motor, automatic transmission, how about $6000 on the high end!!!
Another parts car for crazy money
I got one of these for nothing, did all the work restoring it, everything from engine to glass. Cost me 27k doing most of the work myself, 4k for a nice burnt orange paint job and still after a year of advertising couldn’t get 22. Ended up with 17.5 after paying to have it delivered just to get out of it. 71s just don’t get the money the earlier cars get.
This guys higher than 10 hippies!! I paid $14,000 for my 72 SS and it was done!!
Well someone did bid on the car and most likely be the only bid. That car is ROUGH! But the saying goes, there is an ass for every seat.
5-7 k car no way he sells it for 13k. Up up and away with my beautiful chevelle . 71 not as popular as 70 no 454 or even 396. Probably a 402 out of a 71 chevy truck. Dreamer nothing but a dreamer. But you never know a lot of high Mf out there.
Leave this one for the junkyard, where it belongs!
Much cheaper to buy one that is restored and ready to drive!
You can enjoy a restored car now, rather than waiting 10 years and sinking a fortune in a POS like this….don’t be stupid!!!
“The owner of this 1971 Chevelle SS says that it’s the real deal and that it’s solid, with no rust in the floors or frame. It will require a full restoration, but the end product should be a potent and desirable car. “
No rust in floors or frame, but what about 1/4’s, fenders, wheel tubs and trunk?
Full restoration = big $, and yes, then the end product SHOULD BE potent and desirable…but…
NOM 402 for a Chevelle makes it a bit less desirable. According to the engine firewall pic, this is not an AC car. So that reduces the desirability more. Automatic trans = less desirable.
“There will almost certainly be some restoration work required inside the car, but even allowing for this, the interior of the car has the potential to be a pretty nice place once the work has been completed.”
Almost? I’m sure after completion of restoration ($$$), potentially the interior should be pretty nice.
I have a 396 that the numbers says it was a dealer replacement number could go in anything