This is an oft-told story, a rare valuable muscle car that has encountered a switcheroo that makes it less rare and less valuable. This example is a commonly found 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396, one of 53,000 produced in the model year 1970 and it is collectible, as is, in its own right. But stuff happens. This Chevy is located in Hickman, Nebraska and is available here on eBay for a current bid of $11,499, 42 bids tendered so far.
Before we get too far into the weeds, let’s take a walk around. This Chevelle presents well, the body is straight and there is no sign of rust-through, a very positive attribute for a half-century-old GM “A” body. That said, the frame has a rot problem in both front corners near the firewall. It’s a bit of a confusing situation because the seller states that it is either an $800 welding repair or a new frame that will be needed. Sounds like there is more to the story. The seller adds that new quarter panels have been correctly installed and there is a new front bumper in place too. As for the finish, it’s passable, actually presentable via these images, but the seller advises a repaint. The only other noticeable observation is that the wheel center caps are missing – minor in the scheme of things.
The interior has seen improvement in the form of new seat covers, carpet and door cards but the dash is a mess. The instrument cluster bezel should probably be replaced and the instruments may or may not be salvageable. The seller advises that he has a new dash pad that is included with the sale, apparently, the existing one has a small split on the driver’s side. The steering wheel has seen better days too but new ones are easily obtainable.
Now for the nitty-gritty. The ’70 SS 396 Chevelle came equipped with a 396 (really 402) CI V8 engine producing 350 gross HP. There was an unadvertised option known as L78 which developed 375 gross HP available too. There were only 2,144 L78 cars built in model year ’70 and they were all produced between September and November of ’69. The L78 gave away to the 454 CI, 450 HP LS6 engine which went into production in December of ’69 with job#1 rolling off of the Broening Highway (Baltimore) assembly plant on December 9th. The LS6 uber performer joined the lesser 360 HP 454 CI “LS5” engine that had been in production since the beginning of the ’70 model year. This particular Chevelle is listed as a “maybe” L78 equipped car because of the shredded build-sheet that accompanies it. While the RPO code “L78” can be ascertained on a piece of the sheet, there is no way to tie the remnants of the sheet back to this car as the VIN is not visible on any of the sheet pieces though it is provided in the listing. And the one sequence number that I can interpret from the sheet shreds does not match the six-digit sequence included in the VIN – it’s pretty fuzzy though. The trim tag indicates that this SS was produced the first week of November ’69 at the GM Atlanta assembly plant so it is possible that it is a genuine L78 car but there is no hard proof. In its favor, however, is the fact that it is a non-AC car, another stipulation for an L78 equipped example. The classic car dealership that is selling this vehicle mentions the potential L78 connection but doesn’t really drive it as a selling point.
So what’s under the hood now? It’s a pre ’69 big block, probably a 396 CI, 325 gross HP engine but the alpha code would need to be revealed to know for sure. The engine does not run and does not turn over. It is connected to the original Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic transmission and does have the correct twelve-bolt differential with boxed trailing arms bringing up the rear. There is no doubt that this is a genuine SS 396 Chevelle, the debate is regarding its original engine.
The listing does not initially reference a reserve but deep in the text, the seller states, “The car has a low reserve, and will most likely not recoup what we have in the car……” Considering the unknown and non-running engine provenance, the L78 “maybe” connection and the entire matter of the frame, I would suggest potential bidders tread lightly. This vintage Chevelle is infinitely rebuildable, you can’t get completely sideways with one but you can spend yourself into a deep hole pretty easily – it’s always about the money. I’d say “Caveat Emptor”, how about you?
If this had a six cylinder and a three speed manual, I’d like to buy it. While the wheels need those bias-ply white walls.
One of the tell tale signs on whether its a 396-375HP variant or a 325HP variant is fuel lines. The 375HP’s had a single fuel line feeding the big Holley, while the 350HPs had a dual fuel line with a return line. I can’t really tell from the pics which this has.
Looks like two lines to me.
Just food for thought and chime in with your own knowledge please. If this build sheet cannot be linked to this car since the VIN portion is missing, are we sure it’s a true SS? Again, respond with helpful tips and pointers.
The short answer is no way to know for sure unless you have a valid, legitimate build sheet.
The ’69 to ’72 Chevelle SS models are the easiest and very commonly cloned as the VIN does not authenticate the car, that stopped in ’68. The six-digit sequence number that I can obtain from the torn sheet is XX315? with “?” being a 6 or an 8, the X’s are torn off. None of that lines up with the VIN sequence of 108503, assuming that is correctly reported via the listing. The seller didn’t provide an image of the VIN taken from the dash tag.
The best legitimacy is the number on the transmission. It appears to line up with the VIN though it’s fuzzy. It’s a ’70 transmission and was sent to Atlanta for assembly and it is a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 gearbox which was only used with a big-block motor, at least in the Chevelle. That said, there was a 330 HP, 402 CI engine (called a “400” Turbo-Jet) offered in a non-SS equipped model but they are rare and it seems like a stretch that someone would clone a 402 equipped Malibu or Chevelle Deluxe model into an SS.
The truth of the matter is that whatever this car had as an original engine doesn’t matter a lick if it’s no longer there or available. What it “had” is not a value enhancer.
BTW, I was able to decode the existing engine block casting number, it’s a ’68 396 CI, low-performance engine.
1972 has the engine size in the vin # which only verifies a ss if it has the code for a 454. I believe the 402 and 350 could be had in a Malibu or SS in 72.
It is, or at least it was, a pretty neat car whether or not it came with this or that under the cowl induction hood. Being all about the money had no bearing on these machines for years, it was all about hard performance which led to hard core breakdowns sometimes. Could be nice again, especially with a stronger running bog block.
Are those 14″ wheels? they look a little small for this car.
A 396 got those?
I see my fav tires Grand Am(also made Prix) GT Radial OWL tires flipped around looking from underneath – they could be very old – maybe.
Can’t tell if that’s dirt, rust or worse, dried mud under the hood.
I believe 15 inch wheels became standard on the SS in 1971 up to 1970 14 inch wheels were standard on the SS.
Hmm frame bad..shifter rusty–dash looks possibly water damaged. some sheet metal replaced?? Engine locked? not running? doesn’t add up. Think it spent some time under water. Jim, Definitely Caveat Emptor. Better look this one over. Even the block is rusty. Could be lipstick on the pig. Look it over good. up to 15 large. Good luck. Stay safe!!
Cheers
GPC
Pass.
That’s a 2nd Gen. Firebird buildsheet – T93 is smoked taillamp treatment (1978-79) and Y90 is Custom Trim seats, Firebird. Coincidentally 1970s Firebirds had L78 as the RPO code for the Pontiac 400, which the seller knows and is trying to use for to snag unsuspecting buyers.
“* a partial build sheet that I was given in a zip lock bag that shows the L78 option ( see pic)”
“that I was given” means “not my fault if this car isn’t what I say it is”
I also see the “T93 BLK TAIL LAMP” A simple search for “T93 Build Sheet” found these:
https://www.firebirdtransamparts.com/techinfo/bingo/bingo.htm
https://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/GM_RPO_build_codes#More_RPO_codes
T93 : LAMP, TAIL & STOP, SPECIAL
T93 : TAIL & STOP LAMP, SMOKED
Someone who is decent with a photoshop program could piece the sheet fragments together much better than is presented. A little kid could arrange the bits more closely than the seller has.
Good Catch, DR.
Good catch DR. Code N33 is for a tilt column which this car doesn’t have. The build sheet appears to be a complete scam. I find that if you find a seller that is being dishonest about one thing there is probably other falsehoods. I wonder if the bids are real?
L-78 has an aluminum intake, this one does not.
Listed as NOM (Non-Original Motor) Pretty much guaranteed to be a lower-performance version of some sort.
Interesting to look at the bidding.
Current leader at $17K with two hours to go placed a bunch of bids, upping the ante against sniping? And there are two retractions by single feedback bidders, at $19.5K and $20K.
Yea… Eau de Salmon market.
I sent the seller a direct message about the T93 and the likelihood of the build sheet being from another GM car a decade younger than this one. No response.