How do I tell if a 73 elky is an actual SS? I know by reading the vin you can tell what size motor came in the car ,but I think you have to read the cowl tag to tell if its an SS. What do I look for? I've looked high and low for info on these cars but it very limited and none of the decoding sites listed by the moderator were of any help.
Thanks , Mitch.

Nothing on the body tag to show an SS. The SS was just an option and to Chevy is was not any more important than a radio or any other options. Matter of fact it was less meaningful to them.

If you want to list the VIN and body tag info in exact order they appear, we can tell you all we know. But aside from that, there is little that can be found out unless you have some original paperwork with the truck that shows option content. Is there a warranty booklet in the glove box? Is the credit card size metal plate still attached? List that also, engine, trans, axle + other info coded that could rule out SS.

Thanks elcamino. I didnt figure there was any way to tell , just wanted to check. Car is gonna be auctioned soon and I wanted to go in w/ most knowledge possible. I'll let you know what I find out this weekend. BTW , should the vin read 1AC80... or 1AD80...? Should vin# on the block match the one on the dash or cowl tag? What should the suffix be on the engine stamping be (73-454) CWB or CWD sound right. :confused:
Thanks,Mitch. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

All that I can really ad is that the El Camino SS was based on the El Camino Custom (whatever model # that was). The SS that year was not offered with the 307; nor was a 3-speed manual offered. You could get it with a 350-2/th350; 350-4/th350 or Saginaw 4-speed; or a 454/th400 or Muncie M21(!) 4-speed. Contrary to popular belief, the swivel buckets were not standard on the SS (they were also optional on the Custom series). All 1973/4 El Camino SSs came from the factory with urethane on steel 14x7 Turbine I wheels. A true SS would have the round style dash whether equipped with idiot lights or optional gauges, whereas the others would come with a sweep-style speedo unless optional gauges were ordered. Dual sport mirrors were standard on the SS, as were wheel-opening moldings. Rocker moldings were not used on the SS; they used twin side stripes that started on the upper front fender behind the wheelwell and ran full length all the way around to the tailgate to the other side. The standard 2-spoke steering wheel would say 'SS' on the insert, although the rarely seen 4-spoke wheel just used a Chevy emblem regardless of series through at least '74. A 'Y' should be the 5th character in the v.i.n. if it is an original 454 vehicle. The 454 was available on all series Chevelles and El Caminos starting with the '73 models (and ending with the 75s, or '74 in California). Engine codes for the 454 on '73 Chevelles / El Caminos are:
CWS 454 245 TH-400 4bbl
CWD 454 245 TH-400 4bbl
CWA 454 245 Manual 4bbl
CWC 454 245 Manual 4bbl


Mitch, years ago I scanned a 2 page spread from the '73 brochure and recently removed all the seams from the scan. I could e-mail it to you if you don't mind a 580-kb file attachment.

Cam.

Cam,
You have mail.