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Parked For 26 Years: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle

This 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle has been sitting in storage for the last 26-years. It has now emerged from its long slumber and has been brought back to life. It needs some work, but it looks like it is a really good prospect for restoration. It is located in Keyser, West Virginia, and is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has currently reached $10,100, and I’m not that surprised that the reserve hasn’t been met.

The Chevelle seems none the worse for wear after its extended hibernation. The owner says that the floors are nice and solid, and while there is some rust present in the vehicle, none of it seems to be too severe. On the passenger side, it looks to be confined to a small spot in the bottom of the fender, and a similar sized spot in the lower quarter panel. Neither of these would necessitate panel replacement, as they could be easily dealt with by fitting a patch. The driver’s side looks to be quite clean, and there is no sign of any problems around the rear window. The car is fitted with a different trunk lid, and there are a few minor dings to be attended to. The original Black Cherry paint is also looking tired, but a repaint should have it looking pretty good.

As with the rest of the car, there are a few issues to address inside the Chevelle, but there is nothing catastrophically wrong there. The wheel has a couple of cracks in it, there is also what the owner refers to as a rip in the driver’s seat. To me, this looks more like a seam separation, and this might be able to be repaired without having to resort to a new cover. The kick panels also don’t match the rest of the interior trim, but I can’t tell if they have been replaced, or whether they are the victims of some form of weird fading. The rest of the interior looks really good, with the dash, pad, headliner, rear seat, and carpet all appearing to be in good order.

There will be one or two of you who might be slightly disappointed with what’s under the hood of the Chevelle, but I really don’t think that a 307ci V8 that produces 200hp is a bad thing. This is backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission, while the car is also fitted with power steering. The good news is that the car runs and drives. The owner says that the engine will need a tune-up, while the brakes will need to also be checked, as they are weak. The car is also said to have 88,000 original miles on the odometer, and given its extended inactivity, this claim could well be true. The 8″ Rallye wheels and tires are so new that the tires still have the stickers on the tread. The Chevelle comes with a reasonable assortment of documentation, including the original Build Sheet, Protect-O-Plate, and the original Bill of Sale.

Chevelles of this type are not what I would refer to as “big bucks” cars, but they are still a nice thing to own. This one looks like a solid car, and with so little rust apparent, it also looks like a pretty good project car. It is pretty apparent that many people would love to get there hands on a nice SS396, but with nice examples starting to command some really high prices, it is cars like this that offer a more affordable entry into the world of Chevelle ownership.

Comments

  1. Avatar Sandy Claws

    I sure hope this stays a nice standard car, of course it will not, and that is a shame. Almost all of us drove cars like these, not some silly 396. I will never understand why an otherwise reasonable middle aged man feels the needs to squeal tires with a front heavy big block instead of showing mature driving.

    Like 18
    • Avatar slickb

      Because Mature driving is against my religion

      Like 52
    • Avatar Chris M.

      Foolish hot rodders!! Lol

      Like 11
      • Avatar Justin Brown

        I’d be taking that out for an LS swap with a 6 speed so no worries

        Like 11
      • Avatar bruce baker

        But Resto Modes are so cool, & resale well. Yeah the 396 Big B. or 400 small block ( Chevy pick up) or 402 GMC big block (pick up) or 427 B. B. or 454 B. B.. or Justin Browns LS swap or 502. Yup, long stroke engines have a lot of launch torque, & a heavy valve spring kit can solve top end valve floating problems on both truck engines. “Been there done that”, & won races with out losing with either engine. I still have my 402 Sig Erson engine on a cart.

        Like 8
    • Avatar Jack in RI

      Silly 396?
      Get off my lawn!!!
      Darn kids!

      Like 22
    • Avatar Tim M

      I love being a kid at heart and not being square. A stick in the mud is not for me i love showing off.

      Like 18
    • Avatar MB

      Because most of us never mature past 16 when it comes to cars.

      Like 26
    • Avatar Camaro guy

      really ???? 👴

      Like 2
      • Avatar Fred Alexander

        really !!! ,

        Like 2
    • Avatar Patrick Farmer

      Silly 396! Listen, there is nothing more silly than a 307. Maybe a 305. And dude, a 396 is a waste of time today. A new 502 is cheaper and far more powerful. Cars like these were designed to haul mule. Period. Why anyone would want to restore a cheap version back to stock? That is really stupid. Why don’t you go check the prices on today’s tribute cars. There are running anywhere between 3/4 to roughly 1/2 the value of a genuine musclecar. They are not cheap and like it or not, they are more of an investment vehicle than a personal vehicle. If you want to restore a pedestrian car go for a 4-door. I do see what you are getting at, but supply and demand has taken over. Just like land, they are not making anymore of it.

      Like 14
      • Avatar John Taylor

        Interesting, this car will increase in value being a standard restored car being such a good example to start off with. I funny thing so many knocking the 307, I got through to the finals at a street rod drag meet with a 307 and dusting so many big block cars along the way. So everyone who wants to stuff a BBC in there is really telling me they don’t know or understand how to get a SBC running and reliable. I did over 80,000 mile in 2 years driving that car to meets and winning against BBC cars. Personally I would restore the body and just breath on the 307 so it is still a numbers matching car and even leave the column auto, well maybe change it out for a powerglide.

        Like 5
  2. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    Understand, Sandy Claws, but I never grew up, still love smoking the hides and i’m a 66 YO gray hair car nut. Mature driving, yeah but still try to get rubber in all 4 gears!!
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 41
    • Avatar Camaro guy

      73 and still playing with cars👍

      Like 16
      • Avatar Patrick Farmer

        I am a lifer in the hobby as well.

        Like 5
      • Avatar John Taylor

        We are the same age and yes I still lake bagging the hides, I do however have a BBC in my 33 roadster but mate you can get that 307 humming and have a real sleeper in that car.

        Like 5
    • Avatar bruce baker

      @ John Taylor, yeah my Uncles stock 1978 V 8 Monte Carlo surprised me with it’s ability beat my Sig Erson street cam 350 1973 Monte Carlo off the line. Yeah for about a 100 feet before i would blow by him every time. The problem was his 305 or “307” as he called it, was junk at only 60,000 miles as the oil pick up screen was totally clogged with nylon timing gear teeth. Plus at only 15, 000 miles the A/C compressor started losing mounting bolts. He blew both head gaskets 5,000 miles a part luckily while still under engine warranty. Which meant the car was good on it’s service records. I’m still puzzled why the missing nylon teeth didn’t get noticed or drained out during all those 3,000 mile oil changes at the Chevy dealership?

      Like 3
  3. Avatar HydTech

    Having it repainted would make it look pretty good.

    Like 8
  4. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    On the other hand, it’s a slushbox bench seat with a small block. Why would you want it? Take the wheels off of it, put the steelies and hubcaps back on and what, make it a present to your grandfather?

    Like 7
    • Avatar TimS

      Wow, you tell ’em, open-minded car dude. Four-speed and a big block with buckets or nothing for you, hotshot.

      Like 16
  5. Avatar Willte

    Would make a nice cruiser, fresh paint and a nice set of wheels. If only I had the $$$ I’d jump on this one.

    Like 7
  6. Avatar TimM

    Great starting point!! Tremec with a big block and some buckets!!

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Keith

    This Would look great with either cragers or old chrome rims with baby moon hub caps. Nice Car.

    Like 3
  8. Avatar Bill OBrien

    I spent many nights under the hood of one of these when I was 17.
    I never drove it maturely, that poor car……..

    Like 8
  9. Avatar Matt steele

    A 307 is a 283 with a small journal 327 crankshaft what you want to do is have the reverse.. 327 with A 283 crankshaft =302.. You don’t ever really hear about people doing that especially and putting them in chevelles. I suppose because it’s much easier to build A 350.. I had a 70 Chevelle with a 400 small block it had a 2 barrel carburetor and it was a pooch. I want a couple cars with a 400 small block and I never really cared for the motor

    Like 5
  10. Avatar Matt steele

    A 307 is a 283 with a small journal 327 crankshaft what you want to do is have the reverse.. 327 with A 283 crankshaft =302.. You don’t ever really hear about people doing that especially and putting them in chevelles. I suppose because it’s much easier to build A 350.. I had a 70 Chevelle with a 400 small block it had a 2 barrel carburetor and it was a pooch. Had a couple cars with a 400 small block and I never really cared for the motor..

    Like 1
    • Avatar Patrick Farmer

      I had an 1980 Camaro that I made into a project that my dad and I could do together. He was a mechanical engineer and he insisted on leaving all the pollution control from the original 305 on it. I really pushed not to do this, but the car was not yet a classic and the laws in Houston were stricter than elsewhere in the state and the Department of Public Safety was very eager to impound and hold the car for years and then auction it. The car want super fast but it was a lot of fun. You definitely have to make sure the steam holes are clear.

      Like 1
    • Avatar John Taylor

      Shhh you are giving all the good secrets away hahaha, everyone used to look at my 307 and wonder how it went so well, out here in Ozz back in the day all the chev engines have the CI stamped on the block just in front of the heads with the first 3 numbers being the size, :) and that was the first thing people would look at, gezz mate you have got this 307 and a Powerglide going alright with just a stock carbbie hahaha, yes I even ran a Quadrajet and Ram Horn manifolds just to keep that stock look about it and not real lumpy cam., why would you swap one of those out for say a 600 Holley when those Q/jets did a good job with some careful work. This was in a Model A roadster pickup and also a column shift so I could get 3 in the front seat.

      Like 3
    • Avatar Norman Wrensch

      307 was a large journal engine, any small block 68 and newer is a large journal. You can make a small journal 307, but that is not how GM did it. Now 302’s the 67 was small journal and the 68 and 69 were big journal. And they were a screamer, but you had to twist them pretty hard. I’ve ran 13’s with a 302 small journal in a Chevy Luv, but I was singing it close to 8,000. One of these days I need to put that thing back together, it was a blast. And I’m 66.

      Like 2
  11. Avatar karl

    Imagine after a little work and a new maroon paint job going to a car show and have the only Chevelle that has its original motor and isn’t a real or cloned SS !

    Like 18
    • Avatar andyp

      I agree. I pretty nice car without all the fake stuff. But…
      No docs to for the mileage claim. No undercarriage pics. It’s all about the potential rust repair on this car.

      Like 4
  12. Avatar NovaTom

    Those wheels/tires do it for me

    Like 4
  13. Avatar Lynn Dockey Member

    Pull the boat anchor and get a LS3. Enough SS s have been smashed by now you should be able to get one.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Hollywood Collier

    a 70 Chevelle of any style or shape is on my bucket list. in my town back in the dairy bar cruising days you could get em for 800 bucks….and everybody had one so I went with a 70 firebird. dropped a ram air motor out of a Judge in it. it would fly but….I never had the pleasure of owning a 70 Chevelle. had a 69 Malibu but not my dream car. the taillights make the 70 model my dream car.

    Like 2
  15. Avatar Bubb

    Throw some headers and some flowmasters on it and drive it like you stole it?

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Patrick Farmer

    It looks very solid and would make a great daily driver after a powertrain upgrade. Right now it looks like a stud but is really a dud. Anything from a 327 to a 383. If you want a small block engine 400 and above you can go for a Dart block.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar TimM

    I have a 396 punched out .030 with trick flow heads a mild cam and the holly fuel injection carb!! It runs sweet its self tuning and it’s the original cast iron block!! So it’s still numbers matching!! If your ever in New York I’ll take you for a ride in my silly 396!!! I’ll bet you a grand it puts a smile on your face when I cherp all for gears and throw your head back in the seat!!!

    Like 5
  18. Avatar John

    One of these in gold took my wife back and forth to work for nearly 15 years. In that time, I can’t remember it ever having been down for anything. I put the same 15 inch corvette wheels on it with the fattest Goodyears I could find. All that did was make it burn more gas. But it looked better. my brand new daughter came home from the hospital in it. Very good little cars.

    Like 3

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