Hiding in this garage is one of the most desirable muscle cars ever built. It is a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 that spent decades in hibernation. Its backstory is unclear, but it has returned to active duty, ready to provide a new owner with classic motoring pleasure. If you feel you’re the right person, you will find the SS listed here on eBay in Cedar Hill, Texas. Bidding sits beyond the reserve at $50,000.
I have said it before, but it is worth repeating; If someone decides to list a desirable classic, the best thing they can do is supply decent photos in their listing. Doing otherwise hampers their chance of success because the images usually draw attention and interest. The shots in this listing aren’t great, but we can learn a bit from them and the supplied information. The seller indicates the car received a repaint in its original shade of Cranberry Red, but they didn’t specify when. It presents well, with a rich shine and no visible flaws. The panels are straight, but it seems that life in the Texas climate has beautifully preserved the classic steel. There are no visible rust issues, with the seller not mentioning problems in the listing. The chrome shines as impressively as the paint, and there are no visible faults with the Super Stock I wheels. The original owner ordered the Chevelle with tinted glass, which is flawless.
The Chevelle’s interior appears spotless, although the supplied shots aren’t what I would expect from an owner listing a car of this caliber. The Black vinyl upholstery shows no evidence of damage, with the same true of the dash and pad. The seller doesn’t provide clear shots of the carpet or headliner, but the condition of the rest of the car suggests there shouldn’t be many problems. It might be a genuine muscle car, but this Chevelle’s original owner combined practicality and comfort. The front bench seat covers practicality, while the air conditioning and radio/8-track player cater to the comfort factor. The seller says everything works as it should, meaning the successful bidder won’t spend a dime inside this beauty.
This Chevelle’s backstory is unclear, meaning potential bidders may decide to contact the seller seeking clarification. Its engine bay houses the L34 version of the 396 big-block, although a slight bore increase introduced in this model year meant the 396’s capacity was actually 402ci. Its 350hp feeds to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission, and since the SS is a genuine muscle car, its ¼-mile ET of 14.8 seconds is unsurprising. This Chevelle also scores power assistance for the steering and front disc brakes. While the seller confirms the car went into storage in 1977, they don’t reveal when this classic was revived. However, the impression is that it was only recently. The odometer reading of 78,000 original miles is plausible if that is accurate. It has some desirable paperwork, including three Build Sheets and its original documentation. It runs and drives well, ready to torture the tarmac with a new owner behind the wheel.
What a garage! I can only imagine how it must feel to open the door and be confronted with two iconic American classics. Choosing which to drive must be difficult, but this owner’s life is about to get less complicated as the Chevelle heads to a new home. And head it will because even though there has only been a single bid, it has passed the reserve. That makes this a “winner take all” auction where someone will walk away with a desirable prize. Are you tempted to submit a bid, hoping to be that person? If you do, I’m sure our readers will join me in wishing you luck.
Looks very inviting,,,,,build sheets and documentation give it credibility as a real “SS”…being in storage since “77 means deep pockets for probable rebuild and street worthiness….could be a great opportunity for someone that wants to put a classic on the road..
Wondering if I would buy this or the 3,000 mile ’79 W72 Trans Am for this money. Probably the Trans Am if I could afford the security for only one!
Should have buckets and center console right
Well its not “Melba Toast” with Mathew McConahey but super cool and sweet.
The 402 is a great engine back in the day
Good luck on sale
Buy a good camera dude and take the car out into the sunlight for pics.Looks like a nice car but I’d bam for sure.The bench with the column shift ain’t doin it for me.4 speed …oh yeah.imo.
Totally agree with you Maggy. 4 speed all the way. It is nice but column shift and bench seat? $50,000 is way too much.
+1 on the stupid bench seat and column shift. I prefer bucket seats in a muscle car.
You must not be a fan of mopars.They made a lot of muscle with bench seats.
Car is code 78 Black Cherry not Cranberry red
I’d rather have the Mopar parked next to it.
Puff and pass Smokey!
I’d kick that Mopar out of the garage and make room for a ’69 Nova!
Ill buy it right now for 25k.. you got 1 hour.
Do these sellers actually believe that showing off
their other cars really make someone decide to buy
the one that’s for sale?
Seems more like an ego trip to me.
The Cuda is on eBay as well.
What I don’t understand is if it was parked in 77 and it only has 78000 miles on it, it really shouldn’t need a repaint and the pictures don’t help and I’ve been screwed over enough times lately that the only way I’d try to buy this is either in person or 3rd party inspection, people lie to easy now days!!
Its like a plague to the car enthusiat world, all these ‘gotta be a 4 sp’ people ?!
The car with a 6 cylinder is impressive, the car in this condition is more so, these colors, documents.. would be worth significant money.
Through in AC, and oh its actually a 402 !
but no, you gotta push a clutch pedal ??
and just as short sighted as that ideocracy is the anti bench seat .
For those of us blessed with a romantic partner, ya, ill take a bench.
Bucket seats or for performance cars that have good handling and zig zag performance.
None of these muscle cars did. Hense all the silly 0-60 ratings. So a bench should serve plenty fine for goin straight ;)
For the record, my Chevelle has buckets and console, but it is a prefered automatic.
I bet id could beat most anyone in a race with my automatic to a manual.
So, please yall, refrain from condemning such an exceptional speciman because of such silly, bolt on options.
As for the ‘camera dude’ comment ,
If your a serious buyer, one pic is enough.
Multiple pics are eye candy for dreamers and trolls.
Sigh
I agree, with that bench you got one hand on the wheel and the other in the honey pot!
Amen to that Harry!!! Bench / Honey Pot all the way
Most of these people could not get their hands on the $50k to buy it. So they want to make you believe the reason they are not buying it is because it is an automatic.
$50 k one would expect quality photos and a pristine engine bay at the least. Plus hibernation factor of being parked since 77 and no mention of any maintenance. No 4sd or Console it’s a $30 k car Period.
IF a serious interest :
simply contact the seller and take it from there
” Period ” wow, such conviction, such an authority on car values and representative for all of us !
Whats the value on a Ford Escort GT, with moon roof, AC, and an other worldly 5sp ?,
how about a rotted, orange repaint, 69 Charger WITH the essential buckets and 4sp ?
how about a Volvo 850R wagon, again with the ordained 3rd pedal ..
how about Toyota tacoma single cab, short bed, 4 cyl, 250,000, some rust, grass clippings everywhere, no power nothin, 14″ steelies, but with the awesome 4sp and of course a US flag sticker .
Oh great Fant, i humbly await your command.
To be honest folks, id dont really care to effort such comments, but to call out those making such opinionted, baseless, outdated comments compells me to.
This comment section is a beautiful platform to learn, share, celebrate..
If were enthusiast, lets show more so
The reality is, this car is out of most of our leagues, pockets, driving capabilities.
A big block four speed with tiny tires …
most would wreck it first day.
how about Toyota tacoma single cab, short bed, 4 cyl, 250,000, some rust, grass clippings everywhere, no power nothin, 14″ steelies, but with the awesome 4sp and of course a US flag sticker .
Too funny. I had that exact truck, except it had 287k miles and a John Deere sticker! Guy was going to scrap it but “wouldn’t take less than $300”. AC still blew cold so I gave him 300 bucks, drove it a few months, got rear ended, and traded it for an equally ratty 4wd Silverado…which I later sold for $2300. I miss that ugly little Taco!
Bench seats are good for hummers
Bench seats are good for hummers. You know the H2
LOL
Picky, Picky, Picky,,,,give me a four speed, give me bucket seats, yea right! You would be lucky to be in the presents of this car, let alone have the ability to purchase it. Worth every cent at 50K,,,,its a Chevelle get real on here!
I will take the 3,000 mile Mayan Red TA for the same money. Probably faster. And certainly no rust. Beach seat. Ugh.
I doubt you get the T/A for the same money if it is in as good shape like the Chevelle. Some of the T/A’s and AAR Cuda’s hit the 6 figure sell button.
No, I think you get real. What is special about this car? It is a old Chevelle this and that. And when your done, you still have an old Chevelle with column shift and bench seats just like grandma drove.
$50,000? No way!!
Give me a break Neal! I work in this market, please do not make assumptions that have no merit. Bidding for this classic has already went above the reserve, and still climbing. The market dictates the value of everything! If you have a clue or taken ECON 101, you would have a better understanding of the current market place! You are not purchasing grandma’s car. If that is your explanation regarding the value of this car, please take a time out, and go back to class…once again, I suggest a basic ECON 101 class. I do provide a curriculum on this course you can purchase, Take care.
Maybe you should of made the car presentable. You should of buffed that paint 4times.. scrubbed everything. Better pictures?
Don’t give me your econ 101 crap. It looks like a grandma’s car that someone put SS emblems on. Is it a true SS? I grew up in the ’60s. I am saying that there are a lot of SS clones out there. Beware.
Bucket seats, console and 4 speed was what made the difference between grandmas car and the car we all wanted as kids but couldn’t afford. Those rumblings inside a person never go away. Even if you had an automatic transmission with console and buckets was better. Shift on the column made them look cheap.
So have a great day yourself.
The write up claims this car is Cranberry Red. Looks like code 78 Black Cherry to me. The Cranberry Red, code 75, is more of a true bright red.
Adam, Super Stock l wheels are the Oldsmobile branded Magnum 500 wheel. I’ve only ever heard the Chevrolet variety referred to as SS wheels. I agree on the color of the car, it looks Black Cherry to me. Nice car. Bench seat, auto on the column was the go-fast version of it’s era. A bench weighs less much less than a bucket seat/console car.
Yet another SS – who cares!
I’ll take the Barracuda custom with Hemi power and save 8Gs.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266200068158
Na, no way. But I do agree with others gentleman,
30,000 is enough.
Opening bid being 50k makes me think that something may be fishy here
just so you know opening bid was $50,000. and there’s only one bid and 2 days left, and I don’t care how long anyone has been in the business you can’t look at a picture and say that the car is worth $50,000. as far as you know it has a rod knock and certain options like a 4spd, buckets, and a console can make a car more valuable than others, what’s really BS is the fact that simple minded people get pissed off at other people’s opinion I didn’t know we’re still in High School!!