I have a slight dilema here that I'm facing in my current project. I picked up another 70 this weekend (exciting stuff!) that is is very good shape. Hardly any rust, frame is in excelent condition, floor pans are great, hasn't been molested at all. It's an original L48, 4 speed, bench car with a limited slip 12 bolt. The engine is numbers match, trans and rear end are all original, and the best part is it has all the documentation you could want. Came with 2 copies of the build sheet, original invoice, dealer check-in sheet, and protect-o-plate.

Since this is such a well documented car, I'm torn between restoring it to original or go the whole modified route and throw in a big block, tremec, and paint it the color I want. Funny thing is the original color of this 70 is the same exact color of the 70 I have already!

So my question is, how much would a car like this fetch if restored to original with all the documentation included? I'd love to go to the modified route, but part of me feels like it would be a shame to change everything on such an original specimen.

Justin,you already know the best answer to your own question since your asking this question in the 1st palce.

Its such an original/documented find with #'s matching and is fairly desrieable car(2nd to an SS) being a 350 4spd car in the 1st palce. If my memory is right the L48 is the more desireable 350/300hp motor too. If thats the case you can install a little more cam in it to easily get 325-330 very streetable hp out of it making it a fun car to drive too. Maybe even 345-350+hp with headers and good flowing exhaust out the back while retaining the q-jet, stock intake, & underhood appearance with the exception of maybe headers. You can keep stock ex manifolds for re-sale with car later down the road.

If it were a plain jane 6cy or 307 auto i would likely say go for it but a well documeneted 350/300hp 4 speed chevelle is not easy to come by at all,restore it to original or sell it to some that will restore it original IMHO.

Scott

That sounds like a very cool find! I would have to agree with Scott on this. That is a rare car, you could easily mak 350+hp on the s/b and have a heck of a sleeper. I would keep it the way it left the factory, same color and all. I think it would be cool to have two '70s the same color as well. IMO, 15-20K if put back to orig., maybe more, how rare is it?

Shame on you if you bastardize such an original, documented and well preserved car.

Or you could modify it, and make everyone else's worth more.

I would keep it stock just because it is so well documented, unlike my red-headed stepchild who had a donkey for a parent at one time...

IMO, 15-20K if put back to orig., maybe more, how rare is it?

Thats my question. I don't know how much a car like this will fetch once restored? If I can get $20k+ out of it then I think my mind is made up (more than it was already that is ;) )

I'd have to agree with the others. A fully Documented, All original L34 4speed car is too desirable to modify.

This sounds like a KEEPER! I would go out of my way to restore back to it's original shape and would be so glad that I found this treasure! You should just keep it, nevermind what it's worth. One day it will be impossible to find a car like that.

You could probably sell as is with all that documentation and do another clone with the money from the one you just sold. That way the original car will be restored and you can do what you want with a 70 clone.

With all the docs and as clean as it is, I'd restore it. Find something a lot less desirable to modify. You'd feel better and we'd feel better. :)

Dave

I would bet if that car is really all original matching and its restored correctly & done well it could easily bring 25k+ these days.

I have been in this this car game for over 36+yrs and i have only seen 3-4 of these chevelles like you have at all the shows/cruises i have been to over the yrs.

Again,either restore it or sell it to some that will restore it to keep that nice car in the original state for yrs to come.

You were a lucky to find that car and be able to afford to buy it let allone afford to restore it at todays prices even if you do majority of work your self.
are you going to post any pics of it in the current state it's in?

scott

Justin, you already have a modified 70. Why do another one? Sell the the L48 car and use that $$$ to buy another project.

Personally, I like the fact that it has the 4 speed and docs. I would buy something like that. I would prefer to buy it in it's original condition. Not after it has been restored by someone else.

OR...

Why not have a little of both with some "soft" mods? Restore the car to original with the original drivetrain components, interior, color, etc. Do some internal engine mods and headers for performance but otherwise keep the under hood look pretty much stock. Add power discs all the way around for great stopping, aftermarket suspension for great handling and a stance you like with wheels and tires. All bolt-on stuff, requires no cutting or major modification. Keep the original parts should you or someone else want it all original. It helps cure the mod bug and can make a car a little more fun as an ongoing project. This is what I am doing with my family owned since new '65 L79 (see "L79Man" photos in the '65 section of the Showroom). This car has provenance with every detail of history known, all original number matching components, and documentation to back it up. Since I am never planning to sell the car, I guessed I might as well enjoy it the way I wanted to, not the way others think is proper.

My first new car was 70 as you have found--red on red buckets. I traded it in in Memphis in 73. These were great cars. It would light those wide ovaries up. Keep it original or price it to me as is!!! The only downside was those god awful hubcaps.

I'd be inclined to keep it mostly stock appearing, as it sounds like a cool/fun car as equipped from the factory.

Maybe add a few "factory" options that would make it more fun to drive and dress it up, such as disc brakes, tach-dash, ralley wheels, etc, and do whatever you want with things like gear ratio, cam, compression, and exhaust.

...but since it's not an original bigblock car, I wouldn't get too carried away with the "numbers" thing. If it can't do what you want it to do with what it has, start cutting and build what you want. ;)

Thanks for all the comments guys. I've pretty much decided to keep it all stock since the docs are so extensive. I even found a 3rd copy of the build sheet and tracked down all but 2 of the original owners. One even lives in town here and had some of the stock engine parts laying around.

Another question: How important is it to keep the stock intake on the car? I'd really like to put an aluminum one on, but if the stock one helps with value I might just leave it on.

If you are planning to restore to original and either sell it or keep it as stock in a collection 'cause you like that type of thing, then leave the original intake on. If you want to drive it awhile with some changes you like, throw on the aftermarket stuff but keep the original in storage. Who cares about value if you want to keep and drive the car a little. Now, if you want to prep it for BJ or some other auction, keep it all original for the big bucks .
:yes::yes::yes:

These numbers matching, well documented cars like this are the ones that bring big bucks at BJ. Really a cool find.

Sid

When I first got my 66 it had a 4spd m20, buckets, and a 650 DP holley on it .....as well as other non original, not correct items. I was fortunate enough to be able to recover all the original items ...even the original tranny that had been taken out almost a year before I bought the car and located 1/2 way across the country.
I put the original 3 spd BW, holley single feed Carb and bench seat all back in... as well as other corrections.
Not because of value, but because of all the documentation I had saying this was the way the car came as well as the fact that ....that is the way the car came. I could have put all the parts to the side and drove it as was... but to me.... there is something that is intriguing about an original correctly restored car and the fact that they are few and far between even makes it that much better.....:yes: Keep it original:thumbsup:

If you are planning to restore to original and either sell it or keep it as stock in a collection 'cause you like that type of thing, then leave the original intake on. If you want to drive it awhile with some changes you like, throw on the aftermarket stuff but keep the original in storage.

I tend to agree with L79man and Derek... Its up to you. If you want to keep it completely "stock" then thats your choice... Personally, I'd add a few modifications to make it a better driver... Afterall, what are you going to do with this car? Keep it as a trailer-queen/perfect restored original? Sell it?

Personally, I'd even repaint it MY favorite color (IF the original paint is gone or not worth saving)... IMO, anything that can be unbolted and saved, should be. I probably wouldn't do anything really drastic, but maybe go so far as to swap buckets for a bench (if this car was so equipped), just to make it more enjoyable (to me, buckets are nicer).

But, to me, DRIVING it is the enjoyable part. Some people like to restore everything perfectly, some people like to modify everything... It all just depends on the owner's taste...

But we're all different in what we like...

Who cares about value if you want to keep and drive the car a little.

Exactly. And IMO, doing little "bolt-on" mods won't hurt the value significantly, and pretty much everything can be returned to stock quickly and easily (even the paint color) IF you ever want to sell or show as original...

The only time modifications really bug me, is when its something really nice and pristine and rare/desirable, and someone does MAJOR cutting/welding, etc...

Of course, I now realize I am in the "Restoration Forum: Where originality comes first"... Carry on....

I basically have the same car as you short of the four speed shifter. At first I wanted to clone it and even purchased a 396 to drop in it and replace the L48. After awhile I found a buildsheet and realized that it may be better original. It has been 6 months now and it will be completely original by December.(Hopefully) As others have posted it is your car and you can do whatever you want to it. If I had to make the choice again I woul still keep it stock. I have a blast driving it and it smokes the tires just fine. Thanks for your time and please post us some pics. Justin