1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 Convertible

Despite being in production for just 13 years – less time than the Cadillac CTS nameplate – the Chevrolet Chevelle has been heralded as one of the best, most accomplished vehicles ever to don the bowtie. While late-model Chevelles are best left forgotten (like most vehicles produced in the mid-seventies), models like the 1970 Chevelle SS 396 are bound to get any red-blooded enthusiast weak at the knees. Due to its place in the cannon of GM, much of the history of the Chevelle is an open book. However, one interesting fact is it was created as an intended successor to the widely popular Tri-Five (1955-57) and the designers saw it as a spiritual successor to the Bel Air 210. Why? It shared the same 110-inch wheelbase, and, like the Bel Air, buyers could choose from a crazy number of body styles and variants.

With a big presence in our Classic Auto Mall's Hallowed Halls, this fully restored car with its recently rebuilt numbers matching engine sits awaiting its opportunity to make the next enthusiast weak in the knees and paint a perma-smile on their face. As advertising states, “In 10 seconds your resistance will self-destruct”.

Exterior
With its iconic air-gulping cowl induction hood, wide white stripes running the distance, and an underpainting of a color change to black, (is there any other color?), which covers all straight rust free steel panels that do show some alignment issues at the gaps, most pronouncedly at the rear of the passenger's side of the functional cowl induction hood. All chrome, brite-work and badging is very nice. As to correctness there are several items of note including correct side trimmings, correct front markers and grille, correct bumper pads. 215/70R14 BF Goodrich raised white letter rubber wrap 14-inch Magnum 500 wheels all polished to the nines upfront. On back we see the same size BFG's with more 14-inch Magnum 500 wheels shining like a freshly picked McIntosh green apple! A clean and mean black canvas power convertible top looking nearly new leads back to a sloping deck and continues with the wide white dual stripes and are backed up by a pristine taillight embedded bumper and dual chrome tipped exhaust pipes. If you lend your ears, you will be blessed with the sound of 350hp bending them.

Interior
A flip of the door and we are brought back to the showroom of your local Chevy dealer, with clean straight interior door panels covered in tuck and roll black vinyl and has a touch of chromed trim winding its way around the tuck and roll. A bit of trivia— look closely at the shape of these tuck and roll panels and you will see a hint of bowtie in there…huh?? Slipping our backside inside, we are met with a dual front bucket seat setup in black vinyl, looking all good. The dash has been retained as the original and let's call it simple but elegant. A flat black panel houses black faced chrome bezel round instruments with speedo and tach in front of a factory SS wheel, and a cluster of warning light rounds to drivers right and left. All showroom quality here with temp and fan sliders and an AM/FM radio neatly mounted within. Black carpet in excellent condition covers the feet areas. Kudos to the trunk which has been completely redone with the correct splatter paint and looks showroom original.

Drivetrain
A recently rebuilt numbers matching 1970 396ci L34 V-8 straight out of the Tonawanda engine plant sits inside a gleaming engine bay. It carries the CTW stamping sufix along with the partial VIN and 3969854 J69 casting numbers, making it all correct. A single Rochester 4-barrel carburetor, and original intake and cowl induction air cleaner are atop. A correct but unverifiable as original TH400 3-speed automatic is on the back. Way back a 12-bolt rear axle that has had all of its stamping and casting data ground off.

Undercarriage
We see mean black pressed steel floor pans and trunk pan structural steel along with a solid and strong black perimeter frame. All remains structurally sound and the only rust to note are areas of surface scale where the undercoating and black paint did not reach. A shiny new Flowmaster exhaust system snakes its way from the engine through this beautiful undercarriage. Power disc brakes are upfront, and power drum brakes on the rear are noted on the way. Just beautifully restored and no sign of even road dirt under here. Independent coil sprung suspension is on front and in the rear is a 4 link and coil spring arrangement. More of being correct on bottom, as we see the correct HD steering shaft, correct rear lower control arms and supports.

Drive-Ability
This car roared to a start and after the 8 candles were lit, it was off to the test track…quickly I might add! Here it accelerated like the wind during a summer storm, handled nicely, and came to a straight panic stop. All functions were working swimmingly and being about to put the top down in a big block muscle car is one of the joys of life that cannot be explained in words, it MUST be experienced! The only fault we noted during our drive was when my crack decoder and close pal opened the hood and noticed that the passenger side hood hinge has excessive play, which explains the panel fit issue described above.

In short, this car is in truly great shape, with a no rust exterior, very nice paint, perfect undercarriage, a top that goes down and a numbers matching engine. Hop in, light those 8 candles, and start burning some fossils, and maybe even some rubber. Great year, great SS396 model and a great time to be had. And you will be smiling all the way to the cruise night! You may come forward and pick up your trophy for best of show(room) at Classic Auto Mall!

VIN DECODE
136670B118214
1-Chevrolet
36-Malibu V8
67-Convertible
0-1970
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
118214-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG ON CAR
ST 70 13667-1970 Malibu V8 Convertible
BDY B421021-Baltimore Body #
TR 755-Black Coated Fabric Bench
PNT 78B-Black Cherry, Black Top

TRIM TAG INCLUDED BUT OFF CAR
ST 70 13667-1970 Malibu V8 Convertible
BDY B421821-Baltimore Body #
TR 755-Black Coated Fabric Bench
PNT 10B-Classic White, Black Top

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.