So my car has had somewhat of a checkered past apparently. It is a real SS (I have the build sheet) but at some point before I bought it, it was utterly canibalized. They left the SS steering wheel and the SS door panels but jacked the drive train, disk brakes, etc etc.

Anyways, I am in the middle of a "restore to being a hot rod" job and noticed that the dashboard was a wood grain panel type (the wood grain was painted black to hide that I guess).

Wondering if I should keep the dash (the wood grain is kindo of cool in a retro way) or if I should try to get the original...

Is it impossible to have had this come stock in a Chevelle?


Thanks

JT

If you like itthats all that counts:yes:
From what I have read the Monte Carlo was made at a different plant so I would assume it is impossible for it to be the original dash?

The wood grain could be removed if you want, it's just a cover. Otherwise the dashes should be the same. Its possible that someone added it too.

The wood grain could be removed if you want, it's just a cover. Otherwise the dashes should be the same. Its possible that someone added it too.
Some have several 1/2" dia. holes under the wood grain panel, one through the center of the "WIPER"

Oh, OK. I thought they all had the tabs on the outer edges.

Another thought....you could have a real SS title/vin but perhaps it was used to rebody a Malibu.

Possible with 30 year old car.....

Personally, I suggest loosing the wood grain, and since you are going Hotrod, who cares if you have to fill holes.

Im blessed with the holes under the dash :)

I suppose the rebody is a possibility but there isnt much that would lead me to that conclusion. The rear suspension had the braces installed which I thought were kind of an SS calling card and the front suspension was all kinds of screwed up.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

you could spend 300 bucks and buy a repopped dash, with the monte dash you already have, you could transfer everything to the new shell. They say the shells not too bad, but not perfect. But for a hotrod I wouldnt care. and you can lose the woodgrain cover. jim

From what I have read the Monte Carlo was made at a different plant so I would assume it is impossible for it to be the original dash?

No mention is made of the year but in 1970 the MC was built at Baltimore, Flint, and Los Angeles intermixed with Chevelles and, in fact, used the same sequence numbering since they both are 13xxx series; 71 and 72 saw MCs built in KC and Oshawa as well. The Monte Carlo (from 70-72) was never built at a plant that didn't build Chevelles. Colvin's "...by the numbers..." book for 70-75 has a photo of a plant with MCs and Chevelles coming off the assembly line nose-to-tail. :)

While just about anything during assembly is possible I would seriously doubt a MC dash in a Chevelle would pass final inspection.

No such thing (in 70 or 71) of a 'real' SS title or VIN for a Chevelle and only one case of a 72 VIN proving an SS. The SS option was only available on a Malibu series (136xx) in 70-72. The VIN wouldn't indicate any option status and the title probably wouldn't indicate any more than the VIN and body style, e.g., Malibu 2-dr coupe, convertible, or El Camino. However, having the build sheet for the car with the SS option on it shows it began life that way.

Here is the build sheet.

Under the 37 years of other paint is the original white and there are all the holes for a vinyl top. I would love to know the whole story of the car, I wonder if carfax knows anything?

Here is the build sheet.

Under the 37 years of other paint is the original white and there are all the holes for a vinyl top. I would love to know the whole story of the car, I wonder if carfax knows anything?

Older vehicles do not have enough characters in the VIN to plug into carfax.

Since He Has A Good Photo Of His Build Sheet... Where Is The Production Date Printed On It ?? IS THIS WHERE ITS AT ??? How do you read the date ??

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j275/killerchevelle/BS.jpg