Some people believe that the supply of fantastic barn finds is beginning to dry up, but this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 proves that this theory is far from true. This classic muscle car has been parked in a barn since the 1970s, and it is a vehicle that is ripe for restoration. When you look at what this car is and what it offers, it would seem to be well worth the time and effort. Located in Winter Garden, Florida, you will find the Chevelle listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at $20,300, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
The Chevelle is finished in Cortez Silver with a Black vinyl top. The vinyl may be original, but the Tag and Build Sheet both indicate that the vehicle has undergone a color change at some point before being parked in the 1970s. Both of these show paint code 78, which equates to a shade called Black Cherry. As well as the Silver paint, the Chevelle wears a heavy coating of dust. When you look below this, you find a car that shows a lot of promise as a project. The panels have accumulated a few dings and dents, but none of these are bad enough that they would justify panel replacement. What is more impressive is the lack of visible rust, especially in the lower extremities. The lower quarter panels and rockers look clean, while there is no evidence of bubbling under the vinyl top. The original owner ordered the SS with the ZL2 Cowl Induction Hood, and this remains intact. Most of the chrome and trim appear to be a restorable proposition, and the tinted glass seems to be free from apparent chips and cracks.
This photo probably tells the true story of this Chevelle better than any other supplied by the seller. It shows floors that wear a good coating of surface corrosion but no penetrating rust. All of the steel is claimed to be original, and the trunk pan and frame rails are just as sound as the floors. You would have to think that the best approach with this project would be to treat it to a frame-off restoration. Anything less wouldn’t be doing the car justice, and I suspect that the buyer would have later regrets if they didn’t adopt this approach.
The owner claims that the Chevelle is a numbers-matching classic. The Build Sheet indicates that what resides under the hood is the L34 version of the 402ci V8. This big-block would have pumped out 350hp in its prime, which found its way to the 3.31 Posi rear end via a 3-speed Hydramatic transmission. The original owner also chose to equip the SS with power steering and power front disc brakes. Performance figures were all that you might expect from this sort of combination, with the journey down the ¼ mile taking 14.8 seconds. The SS hasn’t fired a shot in anger for more than four decades, and it is undoubtedly going to take more than a spot of tinkering to coax that big-block into life. This car is a bit of a head-scratcher. The owner talks about the originality of components like the water pump, starter, and master cylinder. He also mentions the originality of the suspension components and how some items still wear their original tags. He doesn’t provide information on whether the original carburetor and air cleaner are included in the sale. I hope they are, but if you are considering joining the bidding party, I would probably contact the owner to ask that question first.
The Chevelle’s interior is complete, and while some components show deterioration, there are plenty of salvageable items. The dash and pad are in excellent order and should respond well to a clean and condition. The door trims and headliner are presentable for an original survivor, as are most of the seat covers. The driver’s seat has a split, and I think that this might be beyond salvation. The original owner ordered the car with a console, and while this looks okay, the lid is cracked and broken. The vehicle will also require a new carpet set. As well as the console, the original owner chose to equip the SS with an AM radio with an optional rear speaker, a clock, and the sports gauge pack with the factory tachometer.
The bidding on this 1970 Chevelle SS 396 has been spirited to this point, and it’s not hard to see why. It is a complete and numbers-matching classic that still features all of its original steel. It is not a rust bucket, and the buyer isn’t going to be faced with the trauma and expense of replacing enormous expanses of metal to make the car structurally sound. It is also a car that offers the potential of satisfying performance levels once it has been returned to a roadworthy state. With values on the SS 396 continuing to increase steadily, are you tempted to join the bidding war on this classic that is an authentic barn find?
This will get restored to a high or higher level.
I think if the paint code is correct it would be rare to have a Dark Cherry exterior with bright red interior.
Looks great in Cortez Silver.
Nice dust. At least $3k worth
Awesome ’70 Chevelle “SS” find. I sure hope Patrick Glenn Nichols gets a call on this to authenticate the car to the build sheet and just to do a complete walk around for his youtube channel. The man is a walking Chevelle RPO numbers expert.
There is no need for him to authenticate the car. He’s not likely to do it for free and the documentation shown in the ad does what it needs. If he films it for a feature for his YouTube channel and considers ad revenue as payment that would be great, since cars like this are pretty interesting and would draw plenty of attention.
This looks to be a great project, it’s just a matter of whether or not the asking price lines up with reality. I’d bet what this seller paid is more in line with the actual market.
Steve R
In your opinion…
Thank you sir. I’d definitely do a thorough inspection on this car. Definitely worthy of my services if the new owner wants to invest in the added exposure and provenance.
Ya they want $42,900 for it:
https://www.webeautos.com/details-1970-chevrolet-chevelle_ss-super_sport-used-136370k165906.html
I’ll pass
On their site for 43k
43K and they can’t afford a hose and a bucket of soap. Pffft…. pass.
I think they’re leaving that dust on to give it that …..
Just pulled out of the barn look.
Agreed. While having a shot of the car as found is useful it would be much easier to evaluate if had a basic cleaning before the other photos. On the other hand bidders are throwing money at it hand over fist so who knows?
pt barnum
pt barn-find
Great place to start!!!
That red interior is almost never seen on a 70 Chevelle, very rare. I’m going to bet money the Cortez silver is correct and that this car has never had a repaint.
Driven 10 years or less seems a bit hard to swallow, but certainly a good starter project for someone with deep pockets…
Looks like a rust bucket from underneath, you can get one for in the 60’s with four speed and completely done, your looking at minimum 30-40k to restore, where’s your money for aggravation and time to restore, learned a long time ago let someone else restore and buy it.
OK exhaust is rusted thru and floor looks pretty heavy in rust. Bring a expert to look at the body work done on this color change car. 25k is all this one is worth in my book.
I’m all for leaving the dust on it to show how it loooked when it came out of the barn, but for petes sake wash it. You are doing yourself no favors as a seller. Looking at the bids, its up to 29 large and looks like half the bids might be suspect. Still hasnt hit reserve. If it was a 4 speed rock crusher it would be up to 40, IMHO. Looker over good. Stay safe and good luck.
Cheers
GPC
No rust???? That North Dakota front license place says “I beg to differ”.
Gee,how about more pictures, especially after a wash!,and undercarriage etc.this is potentially too valuable to not market properly, people have really gotten lazy with listing cars,and bidders have gambling fever!
No Dak cars can be very rust free as they don’t use as much salt as a lot of other snow states.
Born, raised, and live in ND and until very recently salt was rarely if ever used. Probably only in the last 10 or so years. Now it’s bad like a lot of other states. It’s a bugaboo of mine because we all lived pretty decently before this poison and resulting slop were on our roads.
Road salt often contains anti caking agents such as sodium ferro cyanide! Sounds yummy as you drive down a salted road with the salt dust in the air.
I’m probably fighting a losing battle but I’d like to see the use of salt dramatically reduced if not eliminated
Reminds me of the time I was a manager of a auto repair shop in Naples, Florida. A man brought his wife’s one owner Chevelle 396 4 speed in for an oil change and tune up. It was in awesome condition even though it was pale yellow. Shortly afterward his wife passed away, and his friend brought the car to the shop to see if I was interested in buying it. I was not financially set well enough to buy another car at the time so I said I couldn’t afford it, he said make an offer he’ll probably take what ever you offer. I’m not the kind of person who takes advantage of another persons unfortunate circumstances so I told him what I thought the car was worth and said he could leave it at the shop and I would try to sell it for him. He agreed and I sold it for him for the right price.
God bless America
The right here now wow red interior seems unusual in either cortez silver and black stipes or dark cherry with either black or white stripes. On one hand you have the stealthy looking silver and black, kind of minimalistic yet hostile and you go and put a bright red interior in it. On the other hand theres dark cherry, solid color no doubt and tough looking and still the bright red interior doesn’t jive all that well. Other than that its the last of the high compression big block Chevelles, will look great when cleaned up.
In 1970 You could get a Chevelle brand new on a lot with Black Cherry and Red Interior. Seen a couple go through auctions and with Chevelle color makes these cars prices I think. Not my choice of a color combo. I’d stay with the color that it is. Silver, Black and Red have been Chevy’s Combo which started in 1955. I could be wrong on the date.
I have been trying to find the actual production #s for a factory built 70 Chevelle in Cortez silver with a black top and stripes with the red interior I was fortunate enough to buy one from a older lady in my town in the late 80s for 1,500 she bought the car brand new and the only thing that was ever changed was the hood under warranty because the cowl induction flap used to scare her so the dealership swapped it out for a non cowl induction and let her keep the original hood which remained in her car port in front of the Chevelle, she included the hood but she had bumped into it so much that it wasn’t really in great condition unfortunately it was a TH400 with a single trac 3:31 12 bolt and the New England winters had done a number on the sheet metal I threw a new set of points in along with new plugs and I drove it home smoldering that poly glass rear tire and I drove it year round all through high school untill a 70 GTO turned up and I sold the velle to buy the 4spd 4:33 posi goat for 200 more than I paid for it the kid that bought it from me let it sit in his driveway for a couple of years and I tried to buy it back with no luck then 1 day it was gone and I have not been able to find it since
The quantity of barn finds will never dry up. As the population ages and moves on. The cars left behind will surface to the market and move on as well. It’s a never ending cycle. We can’t take it with us.
Some people have a separation anxiety with items especially cars. It’s too bad the previous owner didn’t enjoy the car for what it was during his lifetime and at least reap the rewards of increased value. Very minimum at least put the car in a young persons hands who would love it as he.
Now the car is on the market by a flipper fly by night “collector car business” to be someones over restoration and investment further not being enjoyed.
Looks pretty solid. I would take a closer look at the lower corners of the rear window. See the bubbles? These GM A Bodies were notorious for rusting in that area especially which a vinyl top. Repair panels are readily available so not a deal breaker. Just something to consider.
Love silver but as mentioned here the red interior would be gorgeous with Black Cherry. That color is hardly ever seen. Patrick does not need to look car over. Build sheet is mint. Automatic and base 350 hp kill it for me. Worth like 25 large. 43,000 way to much. This car is 51 years old and anybody who knows how GM built cars then, well I do. Worked at Chevy dealer then. Planned obsolence. Was not made to last after five years. Saw these rotted out by 1976.
The grill looks more like a Malibu , not sure this is an SS
First car I ever sat in the driver’s seat and drove by myself was my uncle’s 70 SS396, 4sp Chevelle. I was 13-14. It ruined me. I’ve been shifting gears and chasing V8s ever since. If not for that car, I might have amounted to something.
Got pricey. But I knew that would happen. Now it’s about the cost of a brand new Veloster N with DCT. I know, not the same car. Yea. But that still seems mighty expensive for one that needs the work this does. And not even original color.
Well, at least there’s no “only 20k original miles” claim, thank God.