Just read the post on "brings the most money because you can't tell if it's a clone or not" and it got me thinking about my own car.

Basically just curious if I can get some thoughts from folks that are knowledgeable in the area.

None of the "good stuff" like a build sheet, etc. just far too much aged SS equipment and body parts to believe that someone would have or even could have "cloned" the car and had it all age the same way.

I have no intention of ever attempting to pass it off as a "real" SS, but I was thinking it would be nice to try to badge it for what it probably was when built. Simply a 396 or 454 badge, that's it. No tom-foolery, just another conversation piece.

A few details:
The car was built in Van Nuys, 1st week of November 1969,
12 bolt prod date coincides with build date,
it had the rear sway bar removed at some point, a 1 1/4 ft sway bar,
3/8 fuel line,
pwr. ft. disc rear drums,
no A/C,
manual stg,
SS dash that when I recently removed had years of dust and light rust "shadows" that pretty much proved the dash was there from day 1,
all the body parts are painted the same color,
the front fenders are not patched/re-drilled for SS emblems,
factory 4 speed floorpan,
SS hood but no pins (another early production November correct match), correct interior panels,
when I pulled the frame end big block motor mounts, they were a perfect match to the frame without the years of accumulated grime on top, etc., etc., etc.

Are there any production records that might help me determine if it was probably more likely to be a 396 or 454? If more likely a 396, any info available that might indicate what type?

Also has anyone ever reached out to MV agencies to determine history?

Thanks all and have a great Father's Day!

Well, I'll say this. My car was cloned a loooong time ago. At first glance, it appeared to be an SS because of all the things you mentioned. However, my car was painfully easy to discover it was a clone. I have a 68 136 car. I guess people that bought a bb car and couldn't afford, or justify the option price, just added to their new car a little at a time. Either that or they found a wrecked SS in the junk yard back in the day. I remember I found a relatively nice Ranchero GT in the junk yard. There may still be a '73 Grand Torino Squire station wagon GT running around. If it said GT, or was specific to the Gt option, I grabbed it and put it on my car. I think I paid $50 for everything. (a few years ago, like 20, maybe)

Nope, you're missing the point. They didn't put SS stuff on, they took SS stuff off.

The info on the details is just for interest anyway. If it was built as an SS, the 1st week of November in Van Nuys or a Malibu that was somehow made without a sweep dash, no chrome on the fenders, no Chevelle emblems, a 3/8" fuel line, big block motor, 4 speed, date correct 12 bolt, that was stripped down to bare metal, painted to match, and that could have found a way to get all the rusted parts to rust the same way, to get the same kind of dirt that's in the dash and the quarters, etc....

does anyone have a factual piece of data that show that one vs. the other, it's more likely to have been a 396 vs. a 454?

Yes, you're right, I did miss the point. I get it now. Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't the actual vin of the car have the engine designation in it?