Here’s another Chevy with its pedigree in question, as the seller of this 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle here on eBay isn’t sure if the car is a factory Super Sport model or not. But regardless of how this one left the assembly line, the car does tick several of the right boxes and seems like a good starting point if you’ve been in the market for an early seventies example. The Chevy is currently residing in West Milford, New Jersey, with the asking price set at $17,500, but there’s also a button provided to submit a lower offer for consideration if you’re finding that amount a bit optimistic.
The known history of the Chevelle is that the current owner says it was a barn find, and that’s literally the extent we get about the car’s background. The seller does say that the dirt has been washed off the body, so presumably, the car is still as it was when he acquired it, and with all things considered actually looks pretty decent. Any car looks better wet, and while the paint is stated to be very old, the body appears to be overall straight, with the biggest blunder I spotted being a dent in the driver’s side front fender, but not even that seems to be a very serious issue.
Back to the SS or not question, there’s nothing like a build sheet or other positive documentation for confirmation. But Team Chevelle has an informative post with a couple of helpful hints for the ’71 cars, one indicating that the Malibu cars came with a sweep speedometer and the Super Sports had the dial. This one has the latter, but who knows whether or not the cluster is original or if it’s been replaced, which is especially questionable here as the steering wheel is obviously not a factory item. As for condition, the interior still looks pretty good for the most part, and for a driver may be satisfactory just like it is, at least for the time being.
Two versions of the 350 were available on the 1971 Super Sport package, but they could also be had on the base Malibu, and while this one is running it’s from a can of gas, as the fuel in the tank is old. Some good news in the drivetrain department is there’s a 4-Speed transmission and a 12-Bolt rear end, plus the underside is said to be solid. The seller seems realistic in stating that he believes the car needs a complete restoration, but this one sure seems like a good starting point to move forward. What are your thoughts here?
Not terribly convinced that the body is “pretty decent”. It looks like someone’s about to find a shitton of mud under that paint…
Looks more like a ’72 to me
Agree based on the orange markets.
I would say it’s a 1971. Sixth digit of the vin is a 1. Front marker/indicator/parking lights look like 1971. The 72’s were one piece – they didn’t have the horizontal split in them.
Body tag photo looks like it says 71 but the water droplets make it hard to make out.
’71’s had the split blinker/running lights like this one. ’72’s were solid orange.
Bucket seats are from earlier model. 66-67? Seat release on side, no headrests. 70-72 had headrests and the holes in the dash, in the middle of nowhere are from the removal of the woodgrain found on the 70-72 Monte Carlo. Don’t believe it’s a real SS but can be a fun ride!
Front seats are from an earlier model, but it does have the SS dash and the ’71 front signals and side markers… look for larger diameter torsion bars and the 12 bolt rear end.
Save your money an buy one ready to go. Guys this is not the car for you unless you have a fat fat stuffed billfold.with draw your bid while you have time..
I say no to SS. Shouldn’t the serial number have the SS code? If gauge package was ordered it would come with the round gauge package. And ladder bars always say treated with kid gloves.
Lots of bondo under all that paint! Look at the right quarter follow the bubbles up into the roof line and down the a pillar. This one has some not so good history, Noooo thanks
When it comes to determining if this is a true SS Chevelle, you truly need a build sheet! These cars could be ordered with many different variations, some with a mixed bag of SS attributes and the normal stock parts! I have a 70 Chevelle I picked up several years ago through it in storage until I could figure it out and stii have. The car has all the normal attributes, dash bucket seats rear SS bumper pad, SS 396 on fenders, but the car arrived minus engine trans mission, and rearend. Vin checks out, and had the Infamous L code which if you are familiar with this code put it coming off the production line in KS,and according chevelle historians all chevelle L coded cars which was produced at this KS plant were SS! This car was sent to a dealership in Wisconsin, and sold at that point. So, it truly is difficult when it comes to identifying A true Chevelle SS after 1968, without a build sheet!0