The second-generation Chevelle’s from 1968-72 are some of the most cloned cars out there. They were made during the heyday of the muscle car era and could flat out move. An authentic SS 396 or SS 454 can be worth some big bucks when the stars and moon all line up properly. This 1971 SS 454 appears as though it’s the real deal but has at least two strikes against it. The first is that the engine is not numbers-matching. The second is that the color was changed from blue to red. And the third, if there is one, is there is no indication that this car even runs. Located in Bloomfield, New Mexico, this SS can be found under a large, open shed and here on Facebook Marketplace for $23,500.

Chevrolet’s biggest stock motor would be the 454 cubic inch V-8, introduced for 1970. The “base” version of the 454 – which put out 365 hp – would find its way into Corvettes, Camaros, and Chevelle’s, as well as some station wagons and the C/K series light-duty pickups. The engine would have three good years in production before the detuning process for tighter emissions controls took the wind out of its sail. In the Chevelle SS, about 4,600 were built in 1970, 9,800 or so in 1971, and 5,900 in 1972, according to the LS5 Registry

The seller’s 1971 Chevelle SS 454 is a high mileage car, with more than 123,000 claimed for the odometer. It has an LS5 motor with a TH-400 automatic transmission and 12-bolt rear end, but it’s not a numbers-matching car. At some point, the original Mulsanne Blue paint was exchanged for red, which was a popular color on the Chevelle SS 454 in the early ‘70s. While no mention is made of the running condition of the car, the photos suggest it does not. Why else would you photograph a car like this inside a storage building that is open from the front and has a dirt floor? Also, the front floorboards have all sorts of parts and other stuff lying there, meaning it would be a pain to start the car up and move it out for glamour shots.

On the plus side, the black interior, while dirty, looks to be in good condition. No visible rips and tears in the upholstery, but we can’t tell about the carpeting, door panels, and headliner. The dash looks good, though. At one time, the Chevelle must have been a regular at car shows given what appear to be some older pictures taken in the great outdoors. The paint then looks much shinier than it does now. The overall impression of the car is that it was parked in the shed and then left alone for a long time. And the rear of the car looks as though it might be setting a little low. Is the trunk filled up with more car parts?

Online pricing guides suggest a really nice SS 454 like this can be a $50,000 proposition (and up), so the seller is only asking half that at best. Whether this car is a bargain would depend upon what it will look like when detailed and put into good running order. And how much of its value might get dinged for the replacement motor and body color.