Identifying Stock Chevelles

I have nothing against non original cars! Modifications are great and I have certainly done my share of them. Your car is your car, and you are more than welcome to do as you please with it.
This info is presented for anyone who is looking for stock and is about to shell out the bigger dollars some of these sell for.

Besides, there is no guide for modified cars, so I would have nothing to type!

Note:
This page was made quite some time ago and is directed at 1967 Chevelles... some info applies to other years. I have also added (as of Jan 97) a list of questions to ask when buying a car.... this has been the question I have been asked the most since putting the chevelles on the internet and you are welcome to it.

This guide is aimed at identifying SS396 cars and components.

Basically all the other models are what they should be, I haven't seen anyone ambitious enough to try and turn a sedan into a Malibu. If you are buying a Malibu, check the codes, tags etc, and match them up to what they should be. Quite often you will find a Malibu that has had bucket seats and a console added in place of the original bench seat, now this may be what you want, but when it comes time to sell you may get 'bit' over this simple fact. My rule of thumb for add-ons is this....if it can be added or removed without physical damage then it does not really matter, and usually makes the car more driveable, eg, tilt steering, AM/FM. Please see more than just the paint when you buy, there is nothing worse than that horrible sick feeling you get when things turn out to be all wrong.

SS396 cars are always worth more and for this reason deserve a little closer look before you park it in your garage.
If you know a few extra tricks please share them with us.

The Obvious!

There is no such thing as a Malibu SS in 1967, in '65 sure, but not in 1967, no, no, no!
The grill should be correct, no emblem (about 10 inches long and skinny) or holes in the top of the grill.
No chrome trim running down the beltline of the fenders, doors and quarters. SS has one long rocker molding.
The hood should have a couple big lumps, accept no substitute, these hoods are very pricey to buy seperately.
The glove box should have an emblem that says Super Sport, not Malibu, see item 1 above.
An interesting often overlooked clue is to check for on an original big block car is the fuel line size, at the gas tank for the larger 3/8 dia. tube

Now the not so obvious.

Dash gauges, may or may not be there, these were an option and did not come standard on SS's.
Firewall should be painted semi-gloss black, or evidence should be there that it once was.
Rear panel between tail lights should also be semi-gloss black, or evidence that it once was, open trunk lid.
Motor mounts are different for 396, the fronts are rounded, with a deep grove in the top. Tough to spot.
Engine numbers and ident codes should be correct.
Accent strip on top of dash, (with ignition key in it) should be crinkle black, not woodgrain.
Front stabilizer bar is a larger diameter on SS.
If the cowl tag is pop-riveted on, keep going, it should have the correct open holed rivets.
For a complete inspection, the ident numbers are stamped on the top of the frame, behind left rear tire.
The "rag-joint" on the steering column should have a splined and bolted flange, allows removal on 396 cars.
The power steering should have a remote fill canister bolted to the left fender and front rad support.
The rear differential should be a 12 bolt, count'em if you have to.
Check for extra support struts while you're down there, they go from the front of the rear control arms to the upper frame.
The rear panel beneath the trunk should have an SS396 emblem and no Malibu emblem on the right.
The SS396 Grill emblem should have a bracket that keeps it out flat, not tight to the grill like some cheap repos.

Beam me UP!

Send me Back!