Time to start building/restoring a second 70SS 454 for myself. It will have a fresh rebuilt LS6 that I already own. Obviously it will be a NOM car, non-numbers matching, but will use all year correct new parts primarily purchased from OPGI and Year One.

BIG question: I have the option of starting with a stock, plain jane, numbers matching, laser straight, rust free, 70 Malibu. OR find a piece of crap 70 Chevelle SS and put in a lot of sheet metal time and body work.

Since the car will never be numbers matching, using all reproduction parts, does it really matter if I start with the 70 Malibu body? Both bodies will be using an all new reproduction parts, which will all be SS trim, SS dash, SS gauges, SS emblems, 12 bolt, M-22, etc.....

The 70 Malibu body will save me a lot of time, and the end product will come out nicer (and cheaper). As I understand it, starting with a 70 Malibu body (shell) will be indistinguishable from starting with a Chevelle SS shell, no build sheet will ever be available with either starter bodies, the VIN won't even distinguish whether the original car started off as an SS or not, so does it really matter in the end? No, I am not going to try to sell a "fake" chevelle ss in the future, I want to know where I should put my money now. So, I don't know which way to start. Take an easier restoration route, or build a car I can always honestly claim started as a true Chevelle SS?

After the car is finished, will the 70 Malibu starter body always be considered a "clone", whereas the 70 Chevelle SS body can be claimed as a true Chevelle SS? With all the reproduction parts going into both, I am torn which way to go......maybe it doesn't matter?

After the car is finished, will the 70 Malibu starter body always be considered a "clone", whereas the 70 Chevelle SS body can be claimed as a true Chevelle SS? With all the reproduction parts going into both, I am torn which way to go......maybe it doesn't matter?
I'd go with the better body, but that's just me, I'm definately no body man.
As for the clone thing ?
Your opening up a whole can of worms with that question, but there are ways of telling an original 1970 SS body from a malibu body :yes:
You're going to get many different opinions on this and you may wish you never asked in the first place.

The real question is what matters most to YOU....

Spending less money or having a better all around product? Both cars will go just as fast, handle the same and look the same. Those little emblems never mattered much to me, and I have a car that anyone can tell is a Malibu if they ever get a peek at the VIN.....of course nothing else on the car tells you it is, in fact the grille and rear panel say it's an SS car but it's not.

if its not real its not real..use the better body

Thanks for the input. NOW I am thinking making the following modern modifications:
- modernize suspension (Detroit, etc..).
- upgraded Baer brakes, all around, changing to 15"+ wheels then.
- possible conversion of the carb to fuel injection
- 5 speed or even 6 speed tranny with overdrive (ie, Richmond)
- power windows (switches hidden under dash).

Visually, from the outside and inside it will appear all 70 year correct. Now I am thinking is there any future VALUE by using a 70 Chevelle body, or use that 70 Malibu shell and be considered a "clone/tribute." I've always thought "clones/tributes" were one step lower on the food change (no slam intended), even though many clones out there are fabulous.

Deep down, I "feel" the car will be more "valuable" if I start with a 70 Chevelle body, since all the mods are reversible. However, it is tempting to take the easier road and build a better car. I currently own a 70 454 LS5, NOM, restored, but used all new reproduction parts from OPGI and Year one. Does that mean my car is a "clone?" It is not numbers matching, inside is all 70 Chevelle SS correct looking. Exterior is all 70SS correct.

From my understanding, I understand that in year 70 a Malibu CAN be re-invented into a SS, and "pass" as an original 70SS. Not by VIN, not by engine stamp can you tell what the base car started as. I think only a build sheet is the only proof, however, since build sheets are rare by today's standards, heck, I don't even know if my current 70SS started as a Malibu..... Kind of disturbing.... however correct me if I am wrong with this statement.

It sure sounds to me like you really want to try and pass this off as a factory Super Sport car. No offense.

Otherwise, why the concern about the VIN being a way to tell a true SS?

Either way it's not going to be a "real deal" Chevelle SS LS6.

So, go with the laser straight, rust free sheet metal and concentrate on build quality.

Regards,
-Greg

Either way it's not going to be a "real deal" Chevelle SS LS6.

So, go with the laser straight, rust free sheet metal and concentrate on build quality.

Regards,
-Greg

:yes: :thumbsup:

Guess I'm confused what you are wanting to do. Your first post was talking about going "correct" with the LS-6, M-22, etc ... now Fuel Injection, 5 or 6 Speed Tranny, 15+ wheels, etc.

What is your end goal with the car … Restore and enjoy? Restore for a profit? You seem to be very concerned if someone could tell your build was a “real” SS or not.

There are a lot of differences of opinions when it comes to Cloning or if even is a car was originally built as an SS and the original drive train is missing does that mean its no longer an SS.

Personally, I believe a car built from the factory as an SS (if documented) is a piece of muscle car history thus I would bring the SS car back to life. However, reading your posts I think your better off taking the better of the two bodies and build your custom.

Yup, it is confusing for me too. I have the luxury of owning a nicely restored LS5 70SS, nom, everything else is GM year correct with no other aftermarket parts. However, I have always appreciated the fact that you can easily add aftermarket upgrades to make the car much more driveable.....

My first instinct when I became a first time owner 5 years ago was to always be "year correct" as much as possible. Enjoying the car, and more importantly "experience" the way the car was in 1970. Now that I can build a second 70SS, I am just getting everyones' ideas of they thought about clones, the real deal, etc......

Thanks to everyone offering their input, much appreciated.