RARE SURVIVOR CHEVELLE 396 SS, NUMBERS L34, 4BBL, MUNCIE 4-SPEED, PWR FRNT DISC

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 Description

If you're the kind of guy who only likes shiny cars, well, it's time to move on. But if you are one of those sophisticated collectors who understands how important originality has become in today's marketplace, this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 is a very special car. A matching-numbers survivor with just 45,157 original miles, it's the very definition of what "original" should mean.
That's factory-applied Cranberry Red paint on almost every square inch of this Chevelle's bodywork. Is it a little faded with a few signs of use and age? Of course! But the fact that it has survived nearly 50 years in such condition is a real testament to the care it has received over the years. Better still, original paint means that there are no nasty surprises hiding from you, no rust, no botched bondo work, no questionable repairs in the past. If factory sheetmetal and factory quality matter to you, this car nails it. It should also lay to rest that these cars were perfect from the factory, because the gaps are OK but not amazing, which is just how it was built in 1970. The chrome and stainless is likewise quite nice but also a good example of what production plating looked like, and it wasn't perfect. People are tired of row after row of perfectly restored cars, but an all-original Chevelle SS? Just wait until you see the crowds this car attracts! You just have to be man enough to drive a less than perfect car, your buddies' comments notwithstanding. With a car like this, you either get it or you don't.
The interior is also almost entirely original save for a set of reproduction seat covers on the front buckets and the carpets. But a quick glance inside will reveal that this is an original bucket seat 4-speed car with nothing to hide. The steering wheel, dash pad, and door panels are excellent and the headliner, for being 47 years old, is amazing. This car doesn't have the optional gauge package, so someone has added a tach on the steering column and auxiliary gauges under the dash, which are harmless upgrades that make it more fun to drive. The original (and rare) AM/8-track radio is still in the dash and it's probably worth rebuilding and reinstalling rather than replacing, just to keep everything authentic. The trunk is likewise well preserved and with zero rust issues, and includes a full-sized spare tire that probably dates to the early '70s.
That's the original, numbers-matching L34 396 cubic inch V8 with 350 horsepower. Original decals are still clinging to the cowl induction air cleaner and that's factory Chevy Orange paint on the block. It looks like the alternator has been rebuilt, but otherwise it's completely stock and original, including the factory 4-barrel Rochester carb. It runs the way only a low-mileage original engine does, with a smoothness that's hard to duplicate. Cast iron exhaust manifolds lead to a replacement exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers that have probably been there since 1978, and it's equipped with the good stuff: M21 4-speed close-ratio manual transmission, F41 performance suspension, G94 3.31 gears inside a 12-bolt rear end, and exactly zero rust. Dirty and grungy? Yep. Rusty? No way! This sucker is solid and clean. Even the original SS wheels remain in place, now wearing a set of 225/70/14 white letter radials.
Documentation includes a build sheet so you know this car is legit, and with a lifetime in South Carolina and Georgia, it's not a rust bucket. If you appreciate originality and are the sort who understands why untouched cars are special, this Chevelle is an amazing find. Call today!