maybe you guys can give me some opinions..
I have a 1970 el camino... nice car, runs & looks & sounds great.. but I really want an SS and something a little different.. I have really had this one particular car on my mind.. this is what I know about it:
its a 1970 SS-396 el camino..
i first saw it at the Pomona car show a few weeks ago.. (didnt have a for-sale sign on it, and it was with 3 other show cars none were advertised for sale, had to ask)
its this dark purple/maroon sort of color.. sort of different but the paint is a 9+ out of 10... (didnt really look at it that hard but I know its very nice, recent)
its got a very very clean interior, possibly new. of course SS guages with factory tach, clock, and full ammeter, etc guages no dummy lites.. its a console auto (i assume t400 owner didnt know for sure) ... bench seat, tilt, AC, power windows & door locks, .. i didnt notice any flaws in the interior.. exterior is flawless also (from what I remember)... stock-type rally wheels, all the chrome, etc.. cowl induction hood, engine compartment was clean, looked fairly stock, but I remember it had headers, dont know for sure what else.. asked about the rear end (on phone.. in person at the show, only the wife was there and didnt know much technical stuff) and he wasnt sure, says its geared low.. i asked his overall opinion about the car.. says HE thinks you probably wont find a nicer one around.. (also owns a 70 SS-454 comparable condition, along with many other classics/muscle cars) reason for selling is he wants to get rid of some cars because he just sold his house, etc.. and doesnt have anywhere to keep them all.
asked what documentation he had.. no build sheet, etc. says he only has pictures and he bought it from a guy in fallbrook who did all the work and "cant remember his name or phone number"
the guy is probably in his mid-late 50's and admitted that he didnt want to deal with looky loo's and i assured him im serious.. hes a self-admitted grumpy old fart.
basically he told me when you come bring your money because you will buy this one. I will probably go look the car over within the weekend... BTW he wants $11,000 even for it. (funny because his wife told me 10.5K) what do you guys think? also he claims it probably doesnt have even 2500 miles on the full drivetrain (said in not so many words).
bottom line is yes i like the car from what i remember, and i heard it run, looked in it, etc was very very nice... this was a car show and people were standing around admiring it, so you know its pretty nice (though it didnt get as many looks as the 454
)
if you're still with me, thanks for keeping on reading
ALSO on a 70 SS-396 what are tell tale signs that it IS and ISNT a true SS. Not owning an SS im not real good in that area but a few I know about are boxed control arms, and well actually thats the only one I can think of. is a 12 bolt standard? Im not real concerned about #'s matching, this is going to be a driver but I definately want a true SS, im not paying 11K for a phoney.
if I think of anything else I'll post another post.
thanks guys,
Mike Reeh
Gold #34
I have a 1970 el camino... nice car, runs & looks & sounds great.. but I really want an SS and something a little different.. I have really had this one particular car on my mind.. this is what I know about it:
its a 1970 SS-396 el camino..
i first saw it at the Pomona car show a few weeks ago.. (didnt have a for-sale sign on it, and it was with 3 other show cars none were advertised for sale, had to ask)
its this dark purple/maroon sort of color.. sort of different but the paint is a 9+ out of 10... (didnt really look at it that hard but I know its very nice, recent)
its got a very very clean interior, possibly new. of course SS guages with factory tach, clock, and full ammeter, etc guages no dummy lites.. its a console auto (i assume t400 owner didnt know for sure) ... bench seat, tilt, AC, power windows & door locks, .. i didnt notice any flaws in the interior.. exterior is flawless also (from what I remember)... stock-type rally wheels, all the chrome, etc.. cowl induction hood, engine compartment was clean, looked fairly stock, but I remember it had headers, dont know for sure what else.. asked about the rear end (on phone.. in person at the show, only the wife was there and didnt know much technical stuff) and he wasnt sure, says its geared low.. i asked his overall opinion about the car.. says HE thinks you probably wont find a nicer one around.. (also owns a 70 SS-454 comparable condition, along with many other classics/muscle cars) reason for selling is he wants to get rid of some cars because he just sold his house, etc.. and doesnt have anywhere to keep them all.
asked what documentation he had.. no build sheet, etc. says he only has pictures and he bought it from a guy in fallbrook who did all the work and "cant remember his name or phone number"
the guy is probably in his mid-late 50's and admitted that he didnt want to deal with looky loo's and i assured him im serious.. hes a self-admitted grumpy old fart.

bottom line is yes i like the car from what i remember, and i heard it run, looked in it, etc was very very nice... this was a car show and people were standing around admiring it, so you know its pretty nice (though it didnt get as many looks as the 454

if you're still with me, thanks for keeping on reading

ALSO on a 70 SS-396 what are tell tale signs that it IS and ISNT a true SS. Not owning an SS im not real good in that area but a few I know about are boxed control arms, and well actually thats the only one I can think of. is a 12 bolt standard? Im not real concerned about #'s matching, this is going to be a driver but I definately want a true SS, im not paying 11K for a phoney.
if I think of anything else I'll post another post.
thanks guys,
Mike Reeh
Gold #34