The Chevelle SS 396 was one of the most popular muscle cars of the 1960s. And it was so much in demand that Chevrolet made it a series of its own from 1966 to 1968 (before and after that, it was an option package). More than 50,000 copies were sold in 1970 alone, the year the seller’s car was built. But it’s been sitting for ages and no longer has its original engine. A 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile 442 V8 is under the hood these days. Does that make this car a Chevelle SS 455 or a Malibu 442? At any rate, it’s available here on eBay in Hanover, Pennsylvania where the bidding has reached $13,100, the reserve is unmet, and the pass-go price is $17,000.
Buyers of a 1970 Chevelle Malibu could turn their mid-size family car into a beast by ordering either RPO Z25 which got them the SS 396 or RPO Z15 which resulted in the new SS 454. The former was now actually 402 cubic inches, though still marketed as a 396. Perhaps that was an attempt to pull one over on the insurance companies who knew full well what a 396 was when pricing a muscle car insurance policy. Is this Chevy a real-deal SS 396? It’s hard to tell without a build sheet or window sticker since it was an option (the VIN doesn’t help with that).
While this Chevy looks rough, we’re told the frame is solid and it’s never been wrecked. The Slate Grey paint is said to be the original color, which implies that the tired finish is an older re-do. The interior has seen better days, so the entire car awaits the budget and time for a full restoration. We don’t know how it came about that this auto ended up with an Oldsmobile engine from a 1969 Olds 442 (Cutlass). So, if you redid the car and kept the motor, you’d have an interesting conversation piece, we suppose.
We’re told the Chevelle runs if you hook up a bottle or can of gasoline to the carburetor. The seller says it needs a gas tank, but does that mean it really needs a new one or just a thorough cleaning of the fuel system after a long hibernation? If you don’t mind it not looking pretty, the seller believes the SS could soon be a driver as it “wouldn’t take much.” The purchase of a home is causing the sale of this car and the seller also has a SS 396 from 1969 available, although it has no engine at all.
Holey Kow! 17K for this? What has the world come to?
Agree. Though its an SS. Its in very rough shape and the original engine was swapped out. Cant see paying 13g or more for a car that will need extensive work! But some people just have more money then they know what to do with.
I have been saying that for years on here. People have completely lost their minds and are paying $15,000 or better for something that needs another 35 to $40,000 of work. Yes only a classic muscle car is a cool thing but stupidity has seemed to overrun the market. I mean when you are paying more than $5,000 maybe 8,000 for something that needs every single nut involved gone over all I can say is wow wow wow
Sellers have Mecumosis or Barret-Jacksonitis.
Exactly I’ll sell my 70 big block chevelle clone for 30k.
The no profanity policy prevents me from saying how I really feel about the price of this somewhat classic car.
That thing looks like it sat for a few years in a creek. And it has an Olds 455 of undetermined origin and it’s up to $17k???
He’ll never get that much for it. I’d be worried about frame rot.
First off, ’69 442’s did not get 455 engines. Secondly, that engine probably isn’t from ’69, or at least the intake isn’t: there was not an EGR valve in ’69 and the engines were not painted that shade of blue. Seller doesn’t know enough to confirm details. Buyers are chumps on this thing.
Blew the 400cid out of my 69 442 and replaced it with a 455 out of a 1972 vista cruiser station wagon. It was a blue motor exactly like this one.
Well, it’s not an Olds Toronado because it’s rwd. So, considering the combination, is this a Chevrolet Torpedo?
Just might still have the 12 bolt but body is not gone. Going to need engine and tranny as that BOP transmission isn’t going to cut it. The wiring from under the hood through the fender and in the door jam that’s classic backyard cobble! The prices are getting totally unreasonable for project cars.
When I was 18 there was a guy at the local supermarket car show where gear heads would just meet up and this one guy had a 70 Chevelle with a early 70″s 472 caddy engine.I was like wtf? Never saw one before or after that.Tire scorcher leaving the parking lot.17 k for this? Not for me glwts.
There was a guy near me at a car show that had a mid 70’s Pontiac Ventura with a 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine in it,You really had to look twice to tell that it wasn’t factory. The engine fit so nice.
Looks like Billy Bob slapped this thing together during a long weekend with a couple of buddies and lots of cheap beer. I love the custom wiring job, too.
Hanover, Pennsylvania Says it I grew up in Harrisburg and had family from Hanover. The roads were like the Potato Chips ( UTZ ) Salty. The floors already need patches. and I’m sure a lot more. This car wouldn’t pass the State Inspection and that’s most likely the reason it was parked. It’s NO LONGER A SS 396 AND NEIITHER IN THE OTHER ONE. The Heartbeat Of America Is NOT BEATING IN THIS ANY MORE. Your Buying A Vin, and Gas Cap
Er mi gerd!!!
Now i can leave this world happy – finally seen a non chevy motor in a chevy. The icing on the cake would be a big cube tin indian in another chevy.
lol
Finally a chevy with some torque. They most likely got the motor out of the Vista Cruiser wagon it got beat by street racing back in the day.
Just to point out something here, the story reads: “where the bidding has reached $13,100, the reserve is unmet, and the pass-go price is $17,000.” The point is, the pricing on the car is only at 13,100. It has NOT reached 17,000 yet. ;)
Even at 13,000 they are paying about $10,000 too much for something that needs every nothing ball gone over
Ahh …. a high school death trap …. wouldn’t change a thing .Riding around blasting Blue Oyster Cult and pounding Bud talls .
PLEASE!!!! NO anheuser busch products!!!! Thank You!!!
Not me no Busch products here!
This car is the pile of the day!
Couldn’t afford gas for cruzin a car AND namebrand beer in high school.! But occasionally we’d pool $ together, and get cheap gas, and a PBR twelve pack.
Once again, the market will dictate the final price! Really does not matter what you think of the car one way or another. These rare muscle cars are getting scooped up as soon as they hit the market place. Initial investment of 17k, plus a total remake, will place this car in another dollar orbit regarding purchase. That is the new market place, do not look at what you see, look at the selling potential….play long game…that is where the Big Money is located.
For the amount of money it will take to restore this car you will never make any profit. Even if you do all the work yourself. The end result will be you worked for maybe a dollar an hour. People are just fools with their money when it comes to muscle cars anymore. Hopefully reality snaps in soon this car is worth maybe three to five thousand dollars. It is not numbers matching it’s nothing special it’s just a Chevelle at this point
John, the car will never ever be returned to number matching…this car will be returned to a resto mode conversion, with very high end equipment…aka motor and transmission. The reality of the situation according to the market place, is around the asking value, along with having the Chevelle name. The car will sell. However, people need to accept the reality of the NEW MARKET! That does not mean you have to purchase these old muscle cars, just accept the true reality of the market place. Thank you!
69 Olds 4-4-2s weren’t 455 ci engines- they were 400 ci. The only one that had the 455 ci was the 69 Hurst Olds.