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Project or Parts? 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396

The Super Sport first appeared on the Chevy Impala in 1961 and again when the Chevelle debuted in 1964. As the muscle car movement picked up steam in the mid-1960s, Chevrolet stepped up and made the Chevelle SS 396 a series of its own. That distinction would continue for three years, 1966-68. The seller’s ambitious project (or donor car) is a 1967 model and no longer has its big-block engine. Located in Cudahy, Wisconsin, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $2,750 but the reserve is still unmet.

When you bought an SS, buckets seats, a console, special badging, and a big motor were usually part of the deal. In the first year as a series, the SS 396 sold 72,272 copies, then 63,006 the following year, and finally 62,785. So, the demand was there, and the car would continue to post decent numbers through the balance of the second generation of the Chevelle, or 1972. By then, muscle car mania had waned for a variety of reasons, including higher insurance premiums, and detuning to meet growing Federal emissions standards.

The VIN on this car verifies as a real deal SS 396. But we’re told the car hasn’t run in at least 20 years and time and Mother Nature haven’t been kind. The 396 cubic-inch motor disappeared some time back, and a small block like a 283 or 307 is there now. The shifter gives us and the seller the impression the car has a 4-speed manual transmission. The condition of the drivetrain is unknown, so you would have to assume rebuilds are in order.

There is plenty of rust on the Chevy, and it has overtaken a good bit of both rear quarter panels. Surface rust is also present and the old dark green paint has started to peel away in several places. Both dual headlight assemblies are missing. The interior is extremely rough, and you’d have to pull it all out and start from scratch. There is no title, but the seller says the car’s previous owner may be able to apply for a lost one for a transfer. Based on what’s presented, is this a viable car to save or would you harvest it for parts instead?

Comments

  1. Avatar SMS

    Yeah, a lot of work to do here. Hope someone takes it on. Friend in High School had one. Fast and roomy

    Like 3
  2. Avatar Sam Shive

    Go Pull It wouldn’t even give $500.scrap.

    Like 4
  3. Avatar Steve Weiman

    It never ceases amaze me how a car so fantastic in it original form was incrementally totally degraded and destroyed by every owner doing
    “ modifications” to improve and make it better(??!!) :(

    Like 15
    • Avatar AMCFAN

      Maybe you didn’t but I lived through these times. By 1970’s and 80’s this was no more than a very cheap used car. They were everywhere. Chevrolet made thousands of them and were no longer special because if something broke or wrecked you could easily get another for a few hundred. Not just this particular junk Chevelle but everything made in this time period. They were only a few thousand new.

      My guess is the previous owners of this rag did whatever to keep it going. There wasn’t a thought to make it as new. That would be stupid. It wasn’t worth it.

      By the 1990’s did we see an increase in vintage car prices.Along with it the oems taking note and re issuing parts for them. Then the blow up with cheap quality chinese parts that we have now.

      If the previous owners beat it and didn’t care left it for dead what compels someone to want to jump in with an open checkbook to save this particular car. 15 years ago it may have been possible. These rusted piles were actually bringing more then. People think they are still worth it.

      Times they are a changing. Disposable income is gone and those with it who played their cards right are over 65 and above. Who has the time to restore when life changing events happen at split second? Enjoy what life you have and simply move on. Buy a nice driver.

      Like 29
      • Avatar Doug Schmit

        I got one in 75 68000 miles like new Boy wish i had it now

        Like 0
  4. Avatar gaspumpchas

    Another shame to see in this condition. Again the seller took no pains to clean it up. Lots of suspect bids. If you could clean this out you would have an idea of whether you want to take it on. These are very cool cars, built to go fast!
    Good luck and happy motoring.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 9
  5. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    A lot to like about a 67 Chevelle, but not so much about this one. It’s seen it’s better days and will take a bunch of time and money if it ever wants to be brought back. Even someone like me that would love another one would have to do some real soul searching before considering this one.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Rustytech Member

    I bought one of these in 1973, just after getting married. It was blue with black vinyl top and interior, automatic transmission ( so the new bride could drive it ). I lived the car, and kept it till the first baby came along. I’d love to have one now, but this is a little too much project for me!

    Like 1
    • Avatar Chuck Simons

      I did as well (not getting married tho). Blue with black vynil. Bench seat, always armor-alled the front bench for those right hand turns.
      Sucked a valve in Tucumcari, NM.

      Miss that car.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Jack

      I bought one (‘66) back in 1973 as well. I still have it. I drove mine until it needed most everything as well and then it sat for about 10 years. The difference between the ‘67 in this ad and my ‘66 is mine was kept dry in a garage. This ‘67 obviously was left to languish outside. I loved my car even back in the ‘70’s and 80’s when it wasn’t worth much. It wasn’t the $$ it was the car itself.
      It’s worth the restoration for the right new owner.

      Like 2
  7. Avatar timothy r herrod

    The memories that come back from seeing the old cars on here are what i like the most about this site, my brother bought one of these when i was around 14 or so, had a 70 396 motor in it with a 4 speed. He paid 150 for it if i remember correctly. He drove it for awhile then sold the motor to a guy for 300 and put a 250 6 cylinder in it and drove it like that. He then sold the 6 to someone for who knows what and finally sold the body and 4 speed for 200, that guy came out to get it in the dark, wired up a battery for lights and pulled it with chain to wherever he lived.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar mike gordon

    I would never buy any vehicle without a title. The price seems pretty high too. It’s a $500 car for me and even then I would pass.

    Like 2
  9. Avatar Richard F

    Good grief…even if this car were free, you would be buried in it by the time the restoration was complete. It’s not like they only made 5 of ’em. A person would be way more money – and time – ahead to buy one already done. It would be insanity to ever attempt to resurrect this hulking piece of rust. It looks like it would bend in half if you jacked it up, which is probably why the seller wouldn’t even change the front tires. No thanks – hard pass!

    Like 1
  10. Avatar 427Turbojet Member

    While in high school( circa 1974) I bought a ’67 SS 396 that the body was probably worse than this one – not rusty, but inches of Bondo. It had been hit hard enough that they just drilled new holes in the frame for the rear control arms to get the rear end somewhat straight. Marina blue with custom lace paint panels and ” cobweb” effects on the roof. Didn’t realize how special the 375 hp engine was at the time, but was rarely beat on our 1/4 miles marked county road just out of town. After a year of fun, I pulled the engine and trans and traded the body to a dirt track racer. I last rode in it, engineless, for 60 miles on a 6 foot chain behind the buyers ’68 C10. I think my knuckles were white for a couple of days after that ride! I did keep the engine, trans, SS hood, factory gauges and blinker tach, wasn’t much else worth saving

    Like 5
  11. Avatar ray sebesian

    The golden blazing days of pure muscle. When I was a junior in high school, I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase a brand new 67 butternut yellow SS 350 horse 4 speed 396 chevelle for 2300 dollars out the door. I was only seventeen so Dad had to drive it off the lot. He gets on the on ramp and has to throttle it to merg, drops into 3rd gear and punches it. 415 pounds of torque immediate throttle response nicely pushes me firmly into the passenger seat. Dad looks over to me with the look of OMG, a 17 year old behind the wheel of this power, OHHH NOOO. He was preety much correct , I had alot of fun with this car cruising van nuys boulevard on friday and saturday nites, stop lite drag racing, freeway speed contest at the cost at about 20 speeding tics in one year. Made a shambles out of my parent’s insurance policy. Fond ,fond memories. Made payments of 60 dollars a month and totaled it amonth after paying it off. Me bad , Hell on wheels.

    Like 5
  12. Avatar butchb

    Bought one of these rusty 67 SS 396 Chevelle’s in 1979 no motor or trans for $50.00. It did have the 12 bolt Posi left in it. I don’t remember how much I sold it for, probably less then $300.

    Like 2
    • Avatar erik johnston

      Yea in late 70s got a 66 ss chevelle ss the 396 was ready to p/u at a shop but the $500 took all i had. the 4spd was still with it and found a 350. That car ripped!!! A guy i went to school with offered me . $1500 for it. Away it went for a 71 340 Duster through thru the years i had ggothers { many} .I dont remember which was fastest but the chevelle was a fav.. I got a 1968 ss chevelle conv. i had for 12 years very nice/automatic. just not nick snapping, nice cruser

      Like 0
  13. Avatar John Payzant

    Wow, what a find, that’s really deluxe, 396, 4-speed manual, Chevelle SS, quite the car. Insurance & emission standards too, it’s a sports car, impractical for everyday use in the City for everyday driving. It’s like a prototype that got into main production.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar bikefixr

    Someone will buy it for the Title, VIN plate and the hidden-VIN. In a few years it’ll re-emerge like magic with an original drivetrain for $75,000

    Like 1
  15. Avatar E.L. Puko

    We were young and dumb and full of… In the 70s. Free love, hot cars, cheap gas and bad weed.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar 454RAT Member

    Current bid is $5,100.00 and climbing. This means one of two things; the commenters on this car know nothing about cars, OR, Chevy’s are worth much more than whatever their brand loyalty is.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Jack

      I disagree.
      I will guess that the new owner is a DIYer who has the skills to remove the rusted metal and weld into the new. To the all around DIYer the price of $6,000 or less is cheap money for this labor of love?

      Like 0
  17. Avatar butchb

    I’m curious to see if this seller also puts the 67 Mustang fastback shell behind the Chevelle up for sale. That would be an entertaining auction.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar DUANE HAYES

    Some of the commentators and Russ Dixon are really ignorant about Chevelle’s. Anything remotely resembling a Chevelle ss396 is desirable and unless rusted or wrecked into oblivion will be restored by somebody. The car sold for $5,200.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Jackie Smith

    In ‘73 I bought a silver ‘65 Super Sport, 396 auto with Console and white bucket seat interior for $350 in Oklahoma. It smoked really bad when I drove it off the car lot. Went home and fixed a half dozen vacuum leaks and it ran perfect. Got a divorce and ex needed some transportation so I let her keep it. Not sorry I helped her but I would give anything to be able to have another one. Plenty classy ride for sure!

    Like 0

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