To me, after my first 66 being a Deluxe 300 and my second being a Malibu. I built and sold a big block SS and currently have a Big block SS that we did a quick two week resto on for our wedding. She is part of the family and makes me happy when people ask, "Is that an SS." and I can proudly say "Yes it is." Nothing against clones, but to have an original SS from years ago is an honor.
What does "SS" mean to you?
Rodie40
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The "SS" to me, is a symbol of times past.
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SS= Sports Sedan !!! :thumbsup: 
WOW.......... better LOCK that collectors Piece up somewhere .....
maybe buy it a nitrogen bubble bag .. time capsule Vault !!!
l
its not a car ...... its a four wheeled Rembrandt !!!
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it represents the times my dad and uncles talked about...the start/finish lines that someone put on a road in front of my dad's high school, on the first page of his senior class yearbook, in '68. it makes me think of those days that you could order a 12 second car from the dealer, with no warranty, for less than 5 grand.
as far as my car, it is a malibu sport coupe, not an SS. i won't EVER SS clone it. not that cloning is bad, i like the clones, but i also like being able to tell the difference between a clone and a real SS. when i am through with all the things i'd like to change on my car, i will blow the doors off of any original SS, even though thats not the point. people always ask me is that a chevelle? yes. is it an SS? i smile and say no. what's under the hood? (always the next question)... i dont have a witty answer for that one yet.
as far as my car, it is a malibu sport coupe, not an SS. i won't EVER SS clone it. not that cloning is bad, i like the clones, but i also like being able to tell the difference between a clone and a real SS. when i am through with all the things i'd like to change on my car, i will blow the doors off of any original SS, even though thats not the point. people always ask me is that a chevelle? yes. is it an SS? i smile and say no. what's under the hood? (always the next question)... i dont have a witty answer for that one yet.
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5,159 Posts
Smile and tell them it's a 355 small block.
Derek hit it right on the nail. SS was a trim package. My 1964 chevelle could be ordered with a six banger and 3 on the tree and SS badges. What gets me is when people see my malibu they always ask "why don't you put SS badges on it, it'll be worth more" I just reply because it ain't. and it won't. I will be buying another chevelle and only looking at 72 chevelle with auto and big block don't care if its clone, ss or 300 because I'm going to make it fit my needs and at my price.
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Super Slow, as in how my restoration has gone and continues to go.....
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6,448 Posts
I can identify with Dan. In as factory built, including jetting, advance curve etc., they were Super Slow too. Been there with ours and road in lots of them back in the day. They may be big block cars, but I'm still going to have them running somewhere up to their potential. For me, that includes tuning, headers, Hurst shifter, and wheels. Day two I guess. Everyone has a different idea in what they want of their cars. To me, that's what makes the whole thing interesting. I don't even get involved with people with attitudes.
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One of my cars that is such a gas hog I can't afford to drive it.
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With gas at $1.20 a litre here, our cars won't be going nearly as far this year. I just rebuilt a Q'jet to replace the Holley on our el Camino. With 2.56 gears, we might just be able to have one car that is affordable to drive. If not, we will be doing a '94 LT1 swap. We'll see. Might even sell some along with a boat. We do have other interests.
My car is a NON matching number car that APPEARS to be an original SS car, at least I haven't found anything that tells me it's not, and I have been all through this car over the past 13 years..
I build it the way I want it, but I don't do anything to it that couldn't easily be changed back to stock..
IMHO, this is the best of both worlds...:thumbsup:
Now, if my car was a matching # documented car, I would have done a stock resto to it..
Either way, I run the SS badges with great pride :yes:
I build it the way I want it, but I don't do anything to it that couldn't easily be changed back to stock..
IMHO, this is the best of both worlds...:thumbsup:
Now, if my car was a matching # documented car, I would have done a stock resto to it..
Either way, I run the SS badges with great pride :yes:
Not at all... IMO, just about the only people that feel a car without SS tags is not worth owning, would be the people that are looking to sell/flip a car for profit...
Ask any "clone" owner if they added the SS emblems to make their car worth more, and I doubt you will find very many that did so...
I have built clones in the past, because that was what I had to start with and that I could afford... I like the look of the SS, the "sportiness" that comes with the blacked out grill and the special hoods... Of course, I also look to the buckets/console that weren't SS-specific or even SS-standard... But to me, a floor-shift is sporty (even if its a powerglide)...
For me, the oNLY place I see a "true" SS as being better, is if its original, or fully restored (to original)... Then maybe its something special...
Once you modify the car, or its original engine (etc) is gone, what does it matter if its "real" or a clone? Heritage is nice, but big deal if its missing stuff or modified...
Personally, if I was looking at non-original cars (missing engines, etc), I'd rather have a Malibu/clone with bucket seats/console than a "real" SS with a bench, especially a column-shifted auto...
Now, I do cringe at "incorrect" clones, ones that are obvious it was an attempt at a "clone", yet emblems in the wrong place, or incorrect trim...
I have my '70 Malibu with the SS hood, and I am pulling all the "Malibu" trim off the car... I am NOT adding SS emblems and I am not putting on stock wheels, but I did black the grll out and add the clear parking lights... I am debating if I want to add the wheel opening mouldings, and I wish I could find a "blank" rear bumper pad...
I think it just looks more sporty and muscular that way...
My '66 SS, looks like it will be modified quite a bit...
Its all personal preference...
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I notice it every year at Hot August Nights in Reno; every car in the show is either a COPO or an SS anymore, and like Tony pointed out most of them have emblems in the wrong place, or incorrect trim. I always get a kick when you see an '66 or '67 Camino with SS trim since they never built any. I asked one owner of a '67 Camino if it was an SS and he told me "yep, sure is." When I told him they didn't start making Camino with SS trim until '68 he told me I was wrong. I just had to laugh and checked out another SS Chevelle that turned out to be a Malibu according to the vin number, no 138 but the owner still told me it was an SS. It seems most of these owners don't seem to know that if it pre 1969 it better have a 138 in the vin. I was talking to OPGI and they told me over the phone SS items are a hot seller anymore. Its nice to see when someone restores a malibu an shows it at a show; to me they stand out when everything else is an "SS". '72 are the best for checking SS status; you will not beleive how many do not have a "W" in the vin for engine, but the owners still think they have an SS. Some of them spent alot of money on a clone that they bought thinking it was an SS when its not. Thats the problem with new SS trim, etc; people get hurt by it....
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My Malibu can beat up your SS.
You know it's almost funny. All the Malibus with the trim emblems of the Super Sports. Then you have a real one that doesn't have all the trim due to sheet metal being replaced. It's got the rubber bumper pad, steering wheel shroud with SS on it, and the dash. No grille emblem, no fender emblems, it does have the clear marker lenses and the blacked out grille.
I guess it's trying to go incognito.
I guess it's trying to go incognito.
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5,159 Posts
Michael, is the car in your link, still look like that?You know it's almost funny. All the Malibus with the trim emblems of the Super Sports. Then you have a real one that doesn't have all the trim due to sheet metal being replaced. It's got the rubber bumper pad, steering wheel shroud with SS on it, and the dash. No grille emblem, no fender emblems, it does have the clear marker lenses and the blacked out grille.
I guess it's trying to go incognito.
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