Barn Finder Pat L has referred this 1970 Chevelle to us and I for one say thank you for that. Pat refers to this car as an SS clone and I’m going to write this article straight down the line because there are a number of contradictions attached to what is an otherwise attractive car. Advertised for sale here on Craigslist, this Chevelle is located in Perry, Michigan. It has a clean title and the seller has listed it with a price of $22,500.
The first thing that I will say is that I think that this Chevelle is a rather attractive looking car. The Green Mist paint is a rather nice color, and it contrasts nicely with the vinyl top. The seller states that it has traveled a genuine 8,162 miles but makes no mention of whether they hold any documentary evidence to support this claim. I will say that the external appearance of the car is very good for a car of this age. The paintwork has a rather nice shine to it, and all external trim appears to be complete and in great condition. I can’t see any evidence of rust, and panel gaps appear to be nice and consistent.
Under the hood is the numbers matching 350ci V8. It is backed by an automatic transmission. This engine features cowl induction and is also fitted with air con. I have to say that it all looks rather good under here. It all looks very clean, but I really wish that the photo quality was a bit better. It almost looks like there is some green over-spray on the driver’s side hood hinge, but it may also be a trick of the light. There also appears to be some discoloration of the green paint in the hood opening above the battery. Once again a clearer photo would eliminate any questions here. The other thing that I will say is that while I’m not a native of the USA, I have always understood that in 1970 the terms “Chevelle SS” and “350ci” didn’t belong in the same sentence, but someone please correct me if I’m wrong on that.
Okay, I’ve been holding out for this shot because this is where a heap of contradictions come along and hit you right between the eyes. The seller states very clearly in the advertisement, ” Automatic Transmission, Bucket Seats, Console Shifter.” I will say that the interior does appear to be in excellent condition but it is most definitely lacking both bucket seats and a console shifter, so I’m unsure what the story is here.
I really like the look of this car. It has a couple of strikes against it when it comes to desirability, the main being that it is a 4-door sedan rather than a 2-door hardtop. Then there is the obvious issue of the contradiction between what the photos show us and what the text of the ad actually says. I’m so confused that I think that I will go and have a lie-down.
When I was a kid there was a true 70 ss car in our neighbourhood copper in colour 2 door hard top,454cid, bucket seats, and 50 series tires on the back. My best freind and I were 10 and already car nuts ( back then boys built model cars and didn’t have iPhones ) we’d stop and stare at that car every time we were out on our bicycles. That of course was 48 years ago and that car is long gone.
Please roll the windows down. 4 door SS? 8162 miles? Not buying any of it.
Yes; it needs all 4 windows down–it’s a hardtop after all! A waste of repro parts to make it a faux “SS”–it was better left as a Malibu sport sedan. 8,162 miles? Uh, nice try; I’m not buying that either, but it sure is clean. Someone spent ALOT of time and money on this. It’s a conversation starter, and that’s about it.
step away from the crack pipe…….
A cool “what if?” or “one-of-none” car. Chevy should have built these; lord knows it would not have cost them anything in tooling costs.
I’d also like to see someone take a 1964 or 1965 Tempest LeMans 4-door sedan and add the GTO parts to it and call it a GTS. That would be pretty cool.
People have done a lot of wagons like that.
The 2 contradictions you pointed out are obvious, the fact that they state it’s bucket seats and that it has a console shifter. You could order a SS with a 350, there aren’t many of them but the reason for that is quite obvious. I’m also not aware that they ever built any four-door she’s all SSs in the 70 model year although possibly, like the engine you might’ve been able to special order it I’m not sure.
This car would certainly take some research prior to buying it although the price is reasonable important others on the market if everything checks out.
It’s not even a clone. It’s just a 4 door sedan that someone tacked on a few SS emblems and bolted on domed hood. The suggestion by the owner that the car has approximately 8,000 miles is laughable at face value, baring documentation, which would have been mentioned if it existed.
It may have shiny paint, nice interior and a clean engine compartment, but 4 door Chevelle’s don’t bring anything close to this price. Even one that has believable documentation of mileage and is in original condition would have a hard time finding a buyer at this price. Due to the sellers ignorance or willful misinformation it would be unwise to even consider this car for consideration. How could a potential buyer trust anything coming from the sellers mouth.
Steve R
Steve, it is a Malibu 4 door hardtop actually.
It should not have the little window 68 was the last year this car is fake
If you mean the front vents at the A pillar,they were still featured on the four door sedans and hardtops, eliminated on the 2 doors.
Nope, you could NOT order a 350 in an SS in 1970, 71 and 72 yes but not ’70.
there are NO 1970 SS Chevelles with 350’s. 1972 there was but not 1970 .. Base engine was a 350 HP 396 and early on a 375 Hp 396 which was dropped when the 454 was release later in the year as a 360 Hp LS5 (rarer) and a 450 Hp LS6 solid lifter engine. NO A/C on an LS6 car or a 375 Hp 396 car
There weren’t any 4 door Chevelle SS, hardtop or otherwise. All SS cars were coupes or convertibles back in the day, be it the Impala(except 94-96), Camaro (obviously), Chevelle and Nova. Also, there were no 1970 Chevelle SS with small block engines, so no SS with a 350 that year. All Chevelle SS either had a big block. Curiously, the SS396 really had a 402 cubic inch engine. The SS454 had two power levels with the LS5 that had 390 HP and the mighty LS6 that was rated at 450.
I am 71 and have been a car guy since I was 4 and never got the SSS all straight. But generally…they are all 2 doors I drove a Chevrolet salesman crazy once trying to find out why you couldn’t have SS trim on a wagon. Ok it was an easy drive.
Full size SS was available with any engine. I knew someone with a63 Impala ss 6 Powerglide. Chevelles the engine was part of the series (SS396). Chevy II/Nova like Impala
You’re welcome
Hemmings Classic Car has featured an Impala SS with the 6 cylinder, Rick.
BFF had a Nova SS with auto and six.
I think it started out as a deluxe trim option with bucket seats, console,etc. Big engines optional.
Here’s a link to the complete list of options that could be purchased on a 1970 Chevelle. It’s a little hard to figure out what goes with what but it appears that maybe you can order a four-door SS. However it also looks like when you order the SS package it automatically kicked you up to the 396 engine with a 454 being an option.
http://chevellestuff.net/1970/options_by_cost.htm
A man I used to work with told me that his mother bought a 4 door Chevy SS, 396 4 speed. She’d picked it out from the lot of a Long Island, NY Chevy dealer, brand new. He couldn’t remember what year it was. He said it only had SS badges on it, but he thought it was a Chevelle/Malibu model. The back seat was cardboard. I listened with a grain of salt, but maybe most or all of what he remembered was true.
No, it wasn’t a factory SS. Just faded memories.
From 1970-1972 you could get a 396 (LS3) as an option in non-SS Chevelle/Malibu/El Camino, though this is a different engine from what came in an SS, they did not come with SS badging or the domed hood. Separately you could order a 4spd manual in 4 doors or station wagon. On their own, either of these options are exceedingly rare, even more so when you combine the two driveline options together with a wagon or 4 door. On the Team Chevelle forum there are one documented example of each, but those are 1972 models.
What it boils down to is, people want to remember that they had something special, the cars are always gone and no documentation exists. The former owners are adamant, when questioned about specifics they generally become defensive. These stories help perpetuate incorrect information and are hard to stamp out.
Beautiful car and color. Chevelles aren’t my favorites but I love it just because it drives the “2 doors or crush it” crowd up the wall. Television price though.
Perhaps this is a scammer who studied up on some Chevelle lingo to grab attention, but doesn’t have a clue what bucket seats or a console shifter really are.
I like it as a sedan, but not as a sedan posing as a coupe; lose the stripes and rally rims, and this would be a very nice cruiser. In its present form, it’s trying too hard.
I like the rally rims on 4 doors.
I have Magnum 500s on my Dart 4 door. They make all the difference in the world.
Adam, why are you calling it a Chevelle?
Even if the seller calls their car something you should do your write up with the correct name for the car which is Malibu.
Year: 1970
Series: (36) Malibu or Concours wagon, V8 engine
Body Style: (39) 4-door sport sedan (35/36 series only)
Plant: (R) Arlington, Texas
Chevelle #: 264851 for Arlington, Texas
Miguel, in 1970, Malibu was a sub-model of the Chevelle. That’s why everyone is referring to it as a Chevelle.
I know, but to all of us who know, a Chevelle is a Chevelle and a Malibu is a Malibu.
If you look on the right side of the trunk lid on any 70-72 Malibu you will find a Chevelle emblem, unless it has been removed. A Chevelle will not have a Malibu emblem, but a Malibu will have a Chevelle emblem.
Does it really matter? It’s a camaro, it’s a berlinetta. It’s a mustang, it’s a boss. It’s a Torino, it’s a Gran Torino……
Miguel, I appreciate your comments on this one. Trust me, I don’t just bang these articles out. I do a fair amount of research before I start tapping the keyboard. Sometimes the trouble can be the sheer number of resources that are available on the internet if you are slightly unsure about certain facts, or if something doesn’t ring true. It’s amazing how many of these allegedly reputable resources contradict one another, which only heightens the confusion. I’ve just done more of a search (ignoring everything that I looked at when I was researching this story) and have found a site that clarifies it really well. I admit my mistake here. Technically this car is a Chevelle. However, its VIN will carry the model designation of “37”, which makes it a Malibu Sports Sedan. I have saved the resource so that I don’t fall into the same trap twice on that. Thanks so much for pointing it out to me though. I do appreciate it.
“This engine features cowl induction”
Adam, look a little closer at the pictures, buddy.
Malibu Sport Sedan…MSS!
What good does a cowl induction hood do when the engine has a regular air cleaner on it?????
Not much, still cools the intake temp a degree or two. Ask the seller and advise him ! Answer your own question !
This car does not have a cowl induction hood. It has a domed hood with cowl induction emblems installed. A cowl induction hood had a vacuum operated flapper door that was positioned a few inches ahead of the trailing edge of the hood. The domed hood was standard equipment on SS’s, cowl induction was optional.
Steve R
Someone reading is sure to know. I believe there was an SS option for station wagons (?) The VIN should reveal something as Chrysler & Ford have great data bases for research. Would ASSume GM does as well. Nice car, rare or collectible , who knows…
John, you are thinking of the El Camino, not the wagon.
I don’t think the wagon had an SS option.
Wagons were not cool, until recently that is.
Didn’t say there was…Would like to see someone chime in who knows the subject matter, that’s all.
You could get an SS wagon in 1973 only.
Steve R
This is one of the nicest 4 doors I’ve seen.Love the colour.
This could be the new poster car for Just Say No to Drugs!
Technically it’s not a sedan but rather a 4-door hardtop. I believe these were available in the GM intermediates from 1964 through 1972. They are very good-looking cars but really quite rare. As to the verifiable SS provenance for this car it looks like someone stuck an SS in the grille and applied some stripes. Not totally unheard of back in the day.
I’m 1/2 correct, so is Miguel.
Steve R on the money !
…1973 was the SS 454
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1973/112340/chevrolet_chevelle_ss_454_wagon_hydra-matic.html
There was one on Barn Finds a while back.
https://barnfinds.com/1973-chevelle-ss-454-wagon/
This is the way Chevy thought the ’73 SS wagon should look.
“A while back?” That was 2014. Sorry to bust yer chops.
One of my car buds told us about a Chevelle SS that was in a small storage shed on the back of his neighbors property. One day in 1983 I talked him into going back for a look at it when we were at his house. It was a 70 454 4-speed car, red with black stripe and interior. When we opened the shed door to give it a look we found it dirty, but complete. It had belonged to the oldest brother, who I believe bought it new. The 4-speed locked up, so he put it in the shed for safekeeping. The middle brother decided that he was going to get it started and rolled it down the hill in front of their house, intending to kick-start it. Instead he broke off the shifter. It had been in the shed for several years when we went to have a look. We looked into the dirty windows and saw two things. First was the hole in the transmission tunnel where the shifter had been. Second was a three foot tree growing up through the hole. We opened the door and the smell was awful. Something had obviously lived in the car, and may have died. The paint was in great shape except for a large bubble on the roof near the back window. While we were looking at the car, the youngest son came out and joined us, and we must have triggered something in him, because the next time we visited, he had the car sitting in the front yard and was driving it. It didn’t last. It was more car than a teenager could handle and he sold it not long after we saw it last. Always wonder what happened to it after that.
About the same time I remember a 1970 SS 454 (LS5), auto, dark blue, white stripe coupe in my hometown for sale by the original owner for$2,000.00 with only 64K miles and looked like new. The car was for sale for a long time before it finally sold. Man if I only knew then, what I know now.
I like the green paint along with the stripes, it’s not a bad looking car on the outside really. The interior blows for me though, a black interior or even a white interior would make a nice contrast with the paint, plus it looks too ordinary for a car pretending to be a muscle car. Would have liked to seen a 454 in there…hey its already got the knock on having four doors and a boring interior, might as well back it up with some real💪💪💪!
Is the dash the real problem here? Didn’t all SS Chevelles come with the round gauge pack in 1970?
About the same time I remember a 1970 SS 454 (LS5), auto, dark blue, white stripe coupe in my hometown for sale by the original owner for$2,000.00 with only 64K miles and looked like new. The car was for sale for a long time before it finally sold. Man if I only knew then, what I know now.
I believe that you could get the sweep speedometer dash even on an SS (which this definitely is not), the round gauge dash was optional, as was the SS and Cowl Induction hood.
The 70 chevelle did not have the little wing window either look it up. 68 was the last year for that little window. I don’t know what year this car is looks to be the frakenstien of chevelle’s.
The wagons, four doors, and El Caminos retained the wing windows until 1972 since they still used some of the 19
Older structure. The front fenders will not interchange between the two door and other models. Only the two door coupe lost the wing windows.
68 was the last year of the little window this car is fake or photoshopped
No it isn’t. The vents were still on the four doors and gone on the 2 doors after 1968.
Still available on 69 “300 Deluxe” series 2 doors
I’m enjoying gaining an education reading about the SS, SS clones, wagons and sedans posing as muscle cars etc. etc. What I find amusing is nobody has mentioned the fact that it has the green brocade cloth bench seat interior. One of the worst upholstery choices ever to appear on anything closely resembling a muscle or sports car. I gutted the patterned brocade on one of my Buicks back in high school because it screamed “faux sofa” to me.
Lots of issues here. First, the images are so saturated it’s hard to tell what the color is (look at the radioactive grass!) Citrus green was a Spring 1970 color, green mist was much duller (attached). Check the vinyl roof detail where it overlaps the back doors, not stock.
Note vinyl top detail on rear door. I suspect repainted and re-topped.
4 door hardtop Chevelles are hard to find.
Price is a tad high
Vent window is in the one in my period photo. Maybe it was an option?
Brochure picture.
Four doors still had the vents. 2 doors did not.
Ad has now been changed to read bench seat and….wait for it…the Rally Sport package not SS. Am I wrong with I say the RS package was strictly for Camaro? Agree about the incorrect vinyl top trim, and about the saturation of the photos…so much green…..so period incorrect.
Adam: The most common and easily understood contraction for air conditioning (in the U.S.) is “A/C”. “Air con” evokes other images! :-)
Everyone is waxing nostalgic about their Chevelle experiences, when I was a kid my father told us he was going to buy my mother a new Chevelle, we got all excited. The he said so she could Chevelle the snow. yuk
Dad humor. It’s what they do.
“Don’t let your meat loaf”.
1970 SS Chevelle’s had clear front turn signal lights with amber bulbs, regular Malibu’s had amber lens with clear bulbs.
Ad corrected, but still says cowl induction. WALK AWAY.
Well if ya’ll look at the mating surface of the front fenders on both sides they masked it off wrong so that they painted part of the engine compartment that is supposed to be black. Not a factory paint job on this car. This car actually has 108K miles. That would correspond with the over all condition of the interior. This car was well taken care of by someone previous to the lying POS who is trying to sell it now after he had it painted. I would bet money the seller works in a body shop. That car is worth about 9K cause he repainted it. 12K if it was original paint. If you had a ragged out 2 door that you wanted to get back up and running this would be a great parts donor. Not for what he is asking for it though. If he don’t get his mind right he will own this car until the day he dies.
I thin k a 4 door Chevelle SS clone done right would be super cool. Just do it as if it could have been ordered that way. Big block with a 4 speed, bucket seats and the right dash.Proper cowl induction, correct posi rear. Rally wheels and correct stripes. It would be like the way the Ford Falcon GT351 over in Australia is a 4 door muscle car.
In that era you could order a Chevy in almost any configuration you wanted if you were willing to wait 90 days for it to be built, and if the dealer went to bat for you with the factory rep – and in my case you put 1/3 down since “almost nobody else would want that car” and if I backed out, it would be hard to sell. ’68 Chevelle Malibu wagon with every heavy duty option, radiator, clutch, suspension, and economy rear axel, and big V8, and big wheels/tires, so I could pull horse trailer with it, but would have decent fuel economy when on the road without a load. Sat high. 4 speed allowed starts under heavy load, and most of the time with no load, skipped 2nd or 3rd, depending on the situation. One of the best vehicles I ever owned.
Love the comments keeps me smiling ! The ss never had a sweep dash , the ss option was a package and sweep dash wasnt an option . The wing windows were in wagons as well as 4 doors to 72 . Anyone can make a dream clone or car as long as you have money. !
I love this car I have one wish I could post a picture of mine