What can cause this mis alignment of the hood? Can be it corrected easily?

 

Looks like it is the Headlight assembly that is low, not the hood high.

 

I’m on my phone, so the screen isn’t large, but I didn’t see a VIN number on the build sheet.

Steve R

 

It doesn't look like it's there. That corner appears to be missing.

 

I did some research on 731 trim tag and it says jade interior, this car has black. hmmm

 

Dark jade looks almost black. The belts look green.

 

Can you post a copy of the build sheet they sent you?

The work done and a claim of 56,000 miles with original paint don’t exactly go together.

Try to not talk yourself into buying the car before you see it. I have several friends that bought muscle cars with shiny paint that were priced under the market. They were all dogs with fleas, they couldn’t look past the paint and relatively low entry point to see obvious flaws and holes in the sellers story. This car may be a good deal, but it might not be either. I hope it turns out to be a nice car, but be willing to walk away if need be.

Steve R

 

Here is the build sheet and protecto plate picture. It's aged so I couldn't get the all the numbers identified.

 

May be an after market dash. Need better pictures. At the very least it has been rechromed and restored. International symbols on dash controls? Remote sport mirror and accompanying interior door panel control absent. This was standard on 71 SS.

Are the SS emblems on the door panels in the correct location??

Check rag joint, this will tell you if it had a big block originally. If it had a big block, it would have a 12 bolt rearend and turbo 400 trans. Small block got the turb0 350 trans. Learn to identify each by pan bolt pattern. Not all SS for 71 received a 12 bolt rearend. SS has f41 sport suspension, so it will have a large front swaybar, boxed rear lower control arms and a rear sway bar.


The pictures are pretty weak, but I would start by looking at the left lower front fender and door area. Looks a little funky.

Get a bunch of pictures and will tear her down for you. A picture of the bottom of the hood so we can see if it's a repop or original. This one appears to have that repop bend to it which makes it difficult to set to fenders.

Learn more here...https://www.chevellestuff.net/1971/71ss.htm

If you are on the hunt, buy one of these testers and try it out on your personal vehicle to get the hang of it. With this I can tell you if a panel was repainted or if there's bondo in the panel. I can have the entire car checked in 5 minutes. Well worth the investment if you intend to purchase a classic car. https://smile.amazon.com/AMTAST-Thi...+gauge&qid=1558046784&s=gateway&sprefix=paint+thickness++tester,aps,200&sr=8-15

If money is issue, this one does a pretty good job too. https://smile.amazon.com/allsun-EM2...r+gauge&qid=1558047013&s=gateway&sprefix=paint+thickness++tester,aps,200&sr=8-4

If the body is solid, $25,00 asking price is pretty good even if it's not an true SS.

 

Does vin number and on fisher body tag suppose to match? It's different:

 

Theres a rosary hanging off the rear view; its good, buy it already.

So the folks over at chevellestuff.com can do an "expert inspection" for you via phone video for a fee. Or simply do what I did, find someone well versed in Chevelle's and take them along with you. Cost me a dinner certificate for him and his wife.

PS, the prior owner of my car "had 3.55 gears installed".... yeah no, try 3.31. Common mistake on gear ratios, but this is why someone well versed in these cars would be key to have along.

 

I say go for it! Numbers matching is the most over used term in the industry. Say it had the original LS5 in it, but the cam, pistons, intake, etc was all changed. Would you be willing to put down another $10-15k for that? My car didn't come with the flapper either, but it's the original hood and it's an SS454.

Of course you'll need to take a closer look, drive it (or get a solid ride in it). Check for leaks or anything you will need to repair. Make sure it's not just a giant bondo job.

If it's as good as it appears, that car would sell up here for that price easily.

 

:thumbsup:

I agree... take a good look...

IMO, IF it is as good as it looks (big IF); nice paint, I am assuming no rust/rot or questionable repair jobs on the body, decent frame and runs and drives well, then $25k doesn't sound bad at all... Does it have a 12-bolt rearend?

Without paperwork to document it, it could just be a clone/tribute based on a Malibu anyway... But even so, it has the "SS" round pod dash, has the correct SS hood (as noted above, that is the standard SS hood, the "Cowl Induction" with the flapper was an extra cost option).

The hood stripes don't look correct to me (but I am not an expert).

But IMO, a nice, solid, running/driving, big block, bucket seat with SS gauges, etc for $25k asking, sounds reasonable...

As mentioned, the asking price is a starting place, and you can and should reduce your offers based on any issues you find...

 

Cowl Induction was an option. Not all SS cars had it.

 

I;m so use to seeing cowls on ss, i thought all came with z15 option. Thanks for the info.

 

If it has good skin... heck yes. Bring a magnet. Not as nuanced as Ole's analysis, but....

 

Yes, steel is good, bondo...not so. OP did say original paint, however?

 

Car looks nice to me. Does the "mechanic who did the work" still have the original 454? This car is similar to Hank Kalin's Chevelle but definitely not his car, as Hank's is a Malibu, not an SS, and Hank's is a 396/4 speed.

If I was looking for an automatic trans-equipped '71 SS Chevelle, I would definitely consider this car.

 

Mechanic sold the engine is what i heard. Sigh. So 25K is good deal for SS without original motor?

 

That looks a lot like the car that HKalin owns.

 

Do you know this fella? Is the car legit? Anything you know about the car? His nephew said, his uncle really took good care of the car.

 

Here it is.

 

not bad coin - but need photos to guesstimate....

 

More pics