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Bodyman Special! 1970 Chevrolet Malibu SS 4-Speed

Sometimes called The Ultimate Muscle Car, Chevrolet’s ’70 Chevelle SS 454 boasts the highest horsepower rating of the classic muscle car era, 450! This 1970 Chevrolet Malibu SS in Federal Way, Washington may well be a genuine SS 454, and a four-speed to boot, though that would difficult to validate without the missing factory VIN-stamped engine. It also looks like it got karate-chopped by King Kong at some point and left for dead. Armed with some blurry pictures and a 24-pack of optimism, a listing here on craigslist seeks $2000 for the chance to show off your mad skills and rebuild this copper-colored beauty. Thanks to reader Sam C. for spotting this once-fearsome mid-size.

Looks like it had power brakes! Other than that, it’s just a hole that might have held a 350 HP L34 396 cid (6.5L) V8 (actually 402 cid but called a “396” for marketing purposes) or the mighty 450 HP LS6 454 (7.4L). Thanks to chevellestuff.net for some details.

The bench seat and four-speed manual transmission made an interesting, but not uncommon choice in 1970. The middle passenger should be advised to watch their knees when a stoplight street race erupts.

The wheels and raised white letters suggest this car may never have made it to the ’80s. It will be a miracle if the structure of this car is straight.

The “L” floating under the “58” generally distinguishes a ’70 Chevy as a true SS. Nothing here can validate the engine choice, though the fender tags (visible in the listing) call out “454.” For more information on validating similar cars, check out chevellestuff.net. No one is suggesting that the VIN and body tags are worth more than the rest of the car, because swapping those pieces to another car would be illegal and people sit in jail today for doing it. A few years ago this car would have brought $400 or more in scrap, but that market has eased some. Other than a project to test your high school Vo-Tech Autobody Class, do you see a future for this crumpled power hero?

Comments

  1. Avatar dave Member

    Looks like it received a 55 gallon drum of bondo!

    Like 7
    • Avatar i8afish

      The only way to repair this one is to tell it “show me” and see if anything happens.

      Like 21
  2. Avatar Steve R

    There could be some valuable parts on the car such as the dash or rear end if it’s a 12 bolt posi. Complete cars like this have a ton of $40-50 dollar parts, that’s where someone would make back their money. It’s a parts car, but it might not be significantly overpriced.

    Steve R

    Like 10
  3. Avatar Mark

    Withdraw 100 $20 bills, light them with a zippo and watch them burn…. would be far less painful than dragging that thing into the driveway in front of the Mrs.

    Like 37
  4. Avatar jerry z

    There is something you don’t see everday, a dash with the stock radio! 95% usually have a gaping hole where the radio used to be located. If the 12 bolt is still under the car, maybe you can most of the money back just for that alone.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Uncle Hulka

      That’s no regular radio either. That is an 8-track/radio (can’t tell if it’s AM or AM/FM, but either way, pretty cool!

      Like 5
  5. Avatar Vance

    Smash, bang, crack ’em up its smash up cars my friend. Man, the salvage yards must be getting pretty empty. The rustsicle Bronco, Skeletor Challenger, and this poor car. Take a plane to Arizona, there is still vehicles to be had there that will be worth the price of airfare.

    Like 6
    • Avatar David Ulrey

      I live in Arizona and you’re right.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Stevieg

        I am soooo jealous! Soon I will be there too! Can’t wait!

        Like 0
  6. Avatar Farhvergnugen Member

    Roll Over, Bay Tovin.

    Like 5
  7. Avatar sir mike

    $2000.00 for the VIN ???

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    As said, might be worth it for parts. Im sure the owner got paid for it by the ins co. and now someones’ trying to cash in. I’d look it over and make an offer. Its a Washington state car and you might stand a chance. good luck and stay safe!!
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Pat

    It’s already been through a bad crush job, just finish it…

    Like 4
  10. Avatar TimM

    I can’t see personally $2000 worth of parts there on top of shipping or towing this to your shop!!! It’s a shame this happened to such an iconic muscle car!! I really doubt the frame is worth the hassle of seeing if it’s not bent!! If the rear end (12 bolt) is all the cars worth along with some interior parts I think you would be hard pressed to brake even!!

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Mike

    I live in the area and there are big fir trees everywhere. About once or twice a year we get really bad wind storms and these trees come down on power lines, houses and cars. I suspect this one got stomped by a tree. Judging from the length of the moss growing out the trunk, it’s probably been sitting in this guy’s backyard for a couple of years.

    Like 5
  12. Avatar i8afish

    Another VIN tag for sale. It’s so obvious with this car, the pink challenger and others. Funny how every Chevelle on the market is a big block SS. Only the people in this industry can put a stop to this nonsense.

    Like 5
  13. Avatar Jeff

    I could use some extra firewood, does the tree that fell on it come with the deal?

    Like 4
  14. Avatar alphasud Member

    I thought the term tuck and roll was an upholstery term. Looks like it was applied to the body instead!

    Like 5
  15. Avatar Barry Traylor

    A bit squashed, but on the bright side it has already had the roof chopped.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar A.J.

    It looks like the photos were taken through a plastic bag.

    Like 5
  17. Avatar bull

    If the 12 bolt is there, the radio, the original dash bezel and you got your $2000 back.

    I have seen far worse repaired. Says “Salvage Title” however there is not title therefore NO SALVAGE TITLE. Go to Vermont or other title friendly state and you will have a clean title and a buildable SS.

    Car is well worth the money in my opinion!

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Chen Lee

    Not even a junkyard would be interested.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar James Martin

    I think I can fix that. But always seems to be a box of parts left over don’t know why. Again to prove my point. Anything that has to do with muscle. You have to put sum more skin in the game boss.

    Like 1
    • Avatar denman

      Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he’s got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.

      Like 4
  20. Avatar Benjy58

    The winner in this deal is whoever got the motor and 4spd. Loser is who ever buys this pile of junk.

    Like 3
  21. Avatar Charles Mann

    it will buff out

    Like 3
  22. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    The Noive!

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Steve P

    Is there a car in those pics?

    Like 0
  24. Avatar Chuck

    I think parent demanded the console to be placed in the floor shift bench seats for the Friday and Saturday night dates.

    Like 0
  25. Avatar Brad G

    I’m confused. They’ll pay me $2000 to haul it away?

    Like 2
  26. Avatar Woody

    SS? ok Super Salvage!

    Like 3
  27. Avatar James

    Bull..
    I agree on the rare parts.
    A re-titĺe.
    Not cool..

    Like 1
    • Avatar denman

      Not cool if you try to sell it as an original and any attempt to make someone else’s classic disappear is beyond not cool.
      I have a 70 Torino GT in a manila envelope that I owned in the 80’s. My title, build sheet, dash VIN tag, and (reproduction) door tag. Tragically she passed away but was a multiple organ donor. Someday I would like to have the time and denaro and bring her back.

      Like 0
  28. Avatar Scott Member

    Re-bodyman special!

    Like 1
  29. Avatar Bmac777

    How could the seller not include the story of what happened to this heap?

    Like 2
  30. Avatar bone

    This car was probably wrecked decades ago , had its engine/trans pulled and was lying in a junkyard for years until some flipper found it. The whole interior has been subjected to countless years with no glass , so anything electrical is shot ; the dash pad is probably hard as a rock too. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rear had been swapped out before it hit the junkyard. Illegal or not , if this guy gets $2000 for this heap , its for the VIN only

    Like 0
  31. Avatar Robert Davis

    This posting has been flagged for removal

    Like 0

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