“SS454” is one of those magic alphanumeric combinations that send a little shiver through muscle car lovers. When Chevrolet fitted its largest engine into the Chevelle platform it created an American performance icon that is still revered today (and this is coming from a non-GM guy!). And this one is very original, although in need of some help in more ways than one. The car is currently in South San Francisco, California. It’s listed for sale here on eBay where bidding has just exceeded $12,000. That may be a bargain to some of you — read on to learn more.
The seller tells us that they purchased the car from Arizona Muscle Cars. The seller tells us that the shop purchased the vehicle from the original owner in Seattle years ago. The included documentation with the original title and license plate confirms that the car has not been registered since 1980. Either the storage or the 10 years of use were pretty rough on the car from a corrosion standpoint.
You can see some of the corrosion in this picture. Personally I would prefer it to appear like this rather than have filler smoothed over it; at least now you know exactly what you are getting. Replacement panels are readily available for these cars, or you could go with patches to save as much original sheet metal as possible. Or I suppose you could leave it as it is. Which would you choose if you had the car?
Similar damage appears at other corners of the car as well. Do you think this is the original Cranberry Red paint as the seller asserts?
The interior is complete but all soft parts will need replacing. Actually, this picture is more significant in that the rear floor area appears to be solid. I would want to see under-car pictures before buying it, though.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with a 327 V8, seeing it in this engine compartment is very disappointing. I wonder what happened to the original big-block? Probably in someone’s drag racing car? If you are trying to restore the car to original, locating an age-appropriate LS5 engine might be difficult as well as expensive. But if you prefer a small-block Chevy engine, I think it would make more sense to start with a plainer Chevelle instead of paying the premium for this SS 454. What’s your opinion?
Rust and rot on all lower parts. I wonder what the floors are like?. Interior looks a bit shabby and the motor is wrong. I’d pass on this one.
I wonder if that brake booster sucks more life out of that little 327? Maybe when trying to power brake it and do burnouts. Hmmm
Cars in the PNW just simply don’t rot like this. I’d be asking a lot of questions.
I wouldn’t consider this a 454 Chevelle SS at this point. It USED to be a 454, now it’s an SS Chevelle with a small block. It needs a ton of work and it will never be a matching number car so unless you have a 454 with a 4-speed sitting in your garage, you’d be better off buying a small block Chevelle SS in better condition. I don’t see the point in tackling this one unless you can get it for cheap money.
Someone must have a a 327 sitting around and decided to remove the big block for some mechanical failure. “It will fit right in” says the backyard weekend mechanic. 1969 Chevy discontinued 327. So who knows what other corners were cut to do this and yet keep the 454 emblems on it. Not worth a dime to me.
Couldn’t agree more. This is a 453 shell of a car that needs everything, and without the 454 powerplant, it is not worth it.
The certificate of authenticity isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. To accurately document any 1970 Chevelle you need either a build sheet, protect-o-plate, original dealer paperwork or matching numbers. If you don’t have any of those, the best you can do is an educated guess. This is likely a real SS, but can’t be verified. Regardless of the lack of documentation it is a red 1970 Chevelle, someone will buy it, probably for more than it should sell for.
Steve R
Pass to much rust …
It had a 454 but not including ? This now is a NOM car so devaluation occurred.
I have a large bank account but i am not including funds for buying 😅
Original paint 1970 Chevelle SS454 RPO-Z15 454 4 speed 12 bolt car.
Factory code 75 75 Cranberry Red
Factory code 756 Black bucket seats
RPO-Z15 SS454 Big Block Engine (not included. Currently has SB 327)
Factory 4 speed car (have not confirm what is in now)
Factory 12 bolt rearend
I agree Steve, look behind the door panels for build sheet .verify the brake booster numbers for accuracy. Check rear seat upper for broadcast sheet . Hood is a repaint or replacement by the red paint under the stripe verses the trunk lid where no red paint under black stripes, just rust showing thru . No GM documents of proof .remove black plastic vent in door jamb above door latch stud and look for Malibu trim holes that have been welded over or filled with filler.
Those darn small block Chevys found their way into just about everything, this swap doesn’t surprise me, especially considering when it was sidelined. An expensive candidate for a ’70 Chevelle street machine, it’s never going to be original anyways.
When new with heavy 454 & p/b & p/s & empty bed, this must have been 1 heck of a challenge to drive in the snow or even rain, even w/o a/c.
Could the ’70 Chevelle have been made with worse steel than earlier ones?
That’s for SURE, regarding camaro/firebird.
Odd AMC & Chrysler had no such vehicles – back then.
Gee, what happened to the original engine?
Missed 2-3 shift, threw a rod, windowed the block. End of story.
But…if you want to invest the time and money to fix it right then you have a perfect candidate for modern LS power.
If someone wanted to do an LS swap they would be light years ahead financially by starting with a really nice Malibu and “cloning” it. There is too much rust to make this car a sensible candidate for a high end build, it’s the inexperienced that start a project like that with a car in this condition.
Steve R
I saw a 70 chevelle SS 454 clone sell for a 100k last month at BJ. It probably started out a Malibu and it was a nice car but still just a clone. Non-matching numbers doesn’t mean much to some people. Someone will probably put a dated coded block in it.
Agreed. For whatever reason, the 70 chevelle ss seems to be the only muscle car immune to devaluation because of non originality. Numbers matching doesn’t matter, cloning doesn’t matter. As long as it has ss badges and looks the part, people pay big bucks.
Movie cars , jack reacher used a 70 chevelle . John Wick used a 70 chevelle .
To me it would be as if I took a Cosworth Vega, remove the engine and put either an Iron Duke 2.5 or early Nova 4 banger in it which would be an improvement. Then keep trying to pass it off as original?
In my opinion if the original equipment is out of the car it’s at its pinical of price point!! It will never again be a matching number 454 SS car again and with the body work needed it isn’t worth much more considering the amount of work to make it nice again!!!
Yes indeed. Even if it had a modern LS in it
I’d like to see a pic of the speedometer, should be round and not the horizontal of a Malibu. Also my ’70 Chevelle SS had a blacked out grill. Like the ’70 SS El Camino a few stories down the page.
The eBay ad has pictures of the instrument cluster as well as the speedometer. Gauges were also optional on Malibu’s they are also available through restoration suppliers, so you can’t go by that alone.
Steve R
Why don’t people actually read articles here and click on the links? People are always complaining or pointing out something that has been addressed or pictured. The hyperlink is red for a reason people… click on it then comment! As others here have commented, documentation is the key.
This Chevelle although it’s everything you want except all the Rot and worst of all the Number’s Matching 454 Big Block and probably same go with the transmission, anything over $12k is a lot of money and to think of all the metal work hours that have to go in to get it straight and good metal work not the Chicken Wire and Newspaper with a ton of mud! Right Shorty?? LoL
If I could get this car I would..why not.. forget about the correctness..my Chevelle isn’t correct and I’ve owned my 69 Malibu convertible since 1980.. it was a 6 popper,3 on the tree…now it’s a built up 283, Muncie,3:73 posi…so what if it’s wrong…I can still smoke the crap out of it and have fun!! Go back to your correct little desk and type your correct little crap and watch guys like me drive past you on the weekends..😎🤠😁
Because the seller is asking a premium based on their claim. I don’t particularly care if it’s matching numbers or minute details are “correct”, but I want to know if it’s a real SS before I pay more extra more than a Malibu in similar condition. If the car left the factory as an SS it’s still an SS no matter what engine currently resides up front, even though the value has is diminished, a real verified SS is still worth a premium over a clone.
Steve R
Remember 1973-1974?
The world came to an end when gas doubled in price AND long lines waiting to buy gas if gas was available at all in some parts of the good ole USA!
This 1970 Chevelle SS 454 in 1973 was just another used up old car with a big engine that got 10 MPG or less. Lot’s of folks swapped even or paid boot to have a small block installed to replace that original BB to save money on gas.
Did this happen to this car?
Nobody knows however the loss of the original engine due to the Arab Oil Embargo is just as possible as blown up BB engine as this car was an LS5 car not an LS6.
An over zealous 4 speed driver might not have helped!
That’s a pre-’68 small block,or at least the intake manifold is. Too much not seen,and what is seen is discouraging and disappointing in this condition A car not loved by a car guy,but a flipper. So sad.
Nearly a million miles on the car. They must of driven it alot in those 10 years.
How much will they pay you to haul it away.
Keep an eye on the temp gage, since the short big block fan shroud is still in there, i think.
Power disc brakes & manual steering? You don’t see that combo too often.
I think it doesn;t run because 1 spark plug wire & the coil to distibutor wire are both missing! lol