[scotty_t]

I was having a discussion with a buddy about old cars. A true SS with all the correct type of parts but nothing being original numbers matching vs just a malibu with a bbc, 12 bolt, SS hood, dressed as an SS. If nothing is original to the car does the little “8” in the VIN add any value? I know on other types of cars it seems to. I’m not talking about an L78 or anything rare just say a 325hp auto car. What do you guys think?

 

[DUTCH MAX HEADWORK]

YES.

 

[scotty_t]

soooo if both cars were basically the same. Non numbers matching, except for the "8", the real SS would be worth approximately how much more. 20% ? I've never been a "numbers" guy but having had old corvettes I've seen how crazy it can get!🤣

 

[Grock-co]

This is kind of like the four door guys saying they are just as good as everyone else. But we all know, now you just got to admit it to yourself.

 

[DUTCH MAX HEADWORK]

soooo if both cars were basically the same. Non numbers matching, except for the "8", the real SS would be worth approximately how much more. 20% ? I've never been a "numbers" guy but having had old corvettes I've seen how crazy it can get!🤣

I think you'll need numbers matching engine to pull 15-20 percent more. It's hard to put a number on it because every year and every car is a little different.

 

[FORDvsCHEVY]

Depends on the Buyer. Mines a Clone. Would i have paid 15% more for it to be an SS? No…. But i’m sure there is someone who is willing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[scotty_t]

Thanks for the answers. Seems to me that once all the “numbers” are gone it wouldn’t matter much what the car started out as. My buddy’s opinion is an SS vin would add a significant amount to the value.

 

[Leadhead]

Being a real 138 car would definitely add to the value. How much, who knows. Once you get to 69-72 it gets harder to know if it's real without an authentic buildsheet.

 

[HKalin]

This is a long read but it is my true outlook on these cars. It probably would add some value especially now if you could prove it was a True SS from the factory. I ordered a few brand new SS cars and I wouldn't buy anything used at one point unless they were True SS cars from the factory numbers matching or not. It wasn't the True SS value in the future that drove my desire to buy only a SS car but I felt a SS model was just the ultimate car at that time and I wasn't the type to claim the car was something it really wasn't by just adding a set of emblems to the car. Back then I don't think True SS values had kicked in like it is today. The thing that I think changed my thinking is I had bought a 69 Camaro that was a True SS car from the factory not number matching that needed a lot of work that after I started trying to make it nice again I didn't feel the car was worth it anymore and just ended up selling it for basically for what I had bought it for. After I had sold that car I found another 69 base Camaro that was going for around what I had into my True SS car at that time but it was totally redone all ready and was made to resemble more of a True SS or even Z-28 if you just wanted to add the emblems. It had the cowl hood with a functioning repro air cleaner set-up on it, the front and rear spoilers

but just needed the emblem change which I had no intention of doing. The guy I bought the car from even asked me not to change the emblems to SS or Z-28 and he didn't realize he was dealing with a person that felt the same way. It almost broke his heart when I told him as soon as I got it home the car was going to get a set of Cragar SS wheels I had from a prior car put on it. That car ended up being the car I owned for the longest period of time (15yrs with a total of around 40k driven miles by me) but I never changed the Blue Bowtie emblems to anything else. The car won it share of trophies just being a base Camaro I had made some changes to it like converted it over from a automatic to a 4 speed car, put together my own SBC for it and I had changed the wheel set-up on the car three times over the years. When I sold it the kid that was the first one that ever came to see the car told me he would have cash in hand and a dealer plate to drive away in it and that's exactly the way it went down. That car cured me of ever wanting a True SS car again and to tell you the truth I never really looked for one again because at that point the True SS values had kicked in big time. When I was looking for the car I have now my 71 Malibu it fit the bill just like my base Camaro did and I even received a compliment at a car show that the car was really nice and it was nice to see I didn't put SS emblems on it which I never will do. To me they are just Emblems and I never bought a car with the idea of what it was going to be worth in the future but bought the car because I saw it had potential to become a nice looking street car that I could do what I wanted to and not worry if I was devaluing the car or not and just drive it and enjoy it. To tell you the truth I get more people that give me the thumbs up or just compliment the car even more than any True SS car I owned did. In the end it's your decision is it the value down the road or the enjoyment of just owning and driving a car you made to your liking with no regrets in anything you did to make the car meet the look you wanted.

 

[Alwhite00]

uMy 67 is not an SS but i did put SS emblems on it because in 10th grade a kid in school had one and I thought and still think that the 1/4 emblems on a 67 SS with that tail light are the sexiest ever on a car. I never leave anything stock so I have never bought a true SS because I would just butcher it anyway.

 

[vortec710]

I kinda guess a lot of this depends upon whether or not you are a owner of a factory SS or a clone. If you own a factory SS, a clone is “an imposter”, if you own a good clone...”what’s the difference” from the factory effort. The discussion / battle continues. Lively topic.

 

[billdini]

I will never forget the sale on Mecum for a 67 Shelby that was so well done that it brought in $150,000 dollars but it was originally just a regular Stang made to look and run like a real Shelby. Resto mods are another example of cars that can easily bring more then even a number matching car but you can also expect the outlay of cash to make any car that nice is gonna be expensive, but it is possible. However a #2 SS will always bring more then a # 2 Malibu clone and at todays values my guess would be 10k difference. Let's take my 68, it's not a SS but it is very likely a one of one today number matching L79 as equipped. Rarity should dictate more value but not always. It comes down to that one guy that is carrying the checkbook and how much he or she wants it..

 

[SS4Real]

Thanks for the answers. Seems to me that once all the “numbers” are gone it wouldn’t matter much what the car started out as. My buddy’s opinion is an SS vin would add a significant amount to the value.

Your buddy is correct. The market price of these cars proves that over and over again.

 

[DZAUTO]

This is a very debatable issue with LOTS of opinions.
I think that first and foremost, does the owner/buyer feel that having a GENUINE SS is vitally important?
Next, how does the owner/buyer want the car to be equipped?
For SOME people, being a true SS car is the ultimate item of importance.
I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW ( you DO NOT have to remind me!!!!!!!!!!!!), that more and more people are going with automatic transmissions, especially OD trannys. But the fact remains, the person (and I'm one of them) who wants a manual transmission WILL PAY extra to get it, particularly if it is a factory 4sp car to begin with! For cars such as early Corvettes, 57 Chevys, muscle/performance cars, etc, you could not pay me enough to have one of those cars with an auto tranny!
Even though today's new, modern V8 engines with all kinds of computer programming, power, fuel efficiency, etc, etc will run circles around the old BBs, they just do not have the magical attraction of a well built, nice looking BB. Personally, when I look under the hood of a car and see all that plumbing, spider web wiring, black plastic covering, coils on top of the valve corers, serpentine routing, etc, I'm turned off and gone.
Yep, I'm just too old school for all the modern hi-tech gee whiz stuff.
So, bottom line, will an SS command more than a Malibu? I feel it depends on how it is equipped and what the owner wants.
I went from 1976 to 1998 WITHOUT a Chevelle (I've always lusted over them). When we decided to buy one, there were two mandatory requirements before I would even go look at a car: 4sp and MUST have factory air cond. The AC did not have to work (I could fix it), but it HAD TO BE factory AC.
I found a 70 Malibu conv with 307, PS, PB, factory AC, and it was originally 3sp on the column which had to be replaced with a Saginaw 4sp. There was no question that same car as a real SS would have $10,000 more. Now we have a SUPER NICE (many of you know the car) 70 conv with a strong SB400 (pure swap for the 307), M22W, COLD AC, FULL CI hood system, 2.73 12bolt posi and many added options which were available back in the day (factory cruise, trunk release, map light mirror, etc, etc). It runs, drives super, will go anywhere in any weather, and needs NO apology! FOR A HECK OF A LOT LESS MONEY THAN AN EQUAL SS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[scotty_t]

Tom how about a 56 airbox vette? I’ve seen the pictures of your chevelle along with all the others in your stable. Personally, i was too broke now i’m too cheap to pay a premium for a car that can be fairly easily copied/cloned/faked ( what ever the kids are calling it these days).

 

[DZAUTO]

Tom how about a 56 airbox vette? I’ve seen the pictures of your chevelle along with all the others in your stable. Personally, i was too broke now i’m too cheap to pay a premium for a car that can be fairly easily copied/cloned/faked ( what ever the kids are calling it these days).

 

[RAIDER SS]

In the exact same condition - the Malibu is worth X, the clone is worth a little more than X, and a 138 car is worth more than both.
How much more? That depends on what the buyer wants to save or spend.

I chose to keep my Malibu a Malibu. I get many positive opinions at cruise nights where they appreciate it not being a clone, as all everyone sees anymore is a clone or the real SS.
And being a Malibu I have no problem with my headers and disc brakes not being original because it is what I want and I prolly would not have done that to a real 138.

 

[72soft-top]

I'm with Tom and David here.
During restoration of my 72 Malibu convertible, I added all the 1972 options I would want including: 454, 4 speed Muncie, power windows, power locks, Cowl Induction hood, Sport mirrors, SS wheels, SS suspension, bumper guards, front seat shoulder belts, and power trunk release.
As it stands, my convertible has all SS options, but no SS badges or stripes. It’s a Malibu!

 

[DZAUTO]

I'm with Tom and David here.
During restoration of my 72 Malibu convertible, I added all the 1972 options I would want including: 454, 4 speed Muncie, power windows, power locks, Cowl Induction hood, Sport mirrors, SS wheels, SS suspension, bumper guards, front seat shoulder belts, and power trunk release.
As it stands, my convertible has all SS options, but no SS badges or stripes. It’s a Malibu!

Yep, I kept the 70 as a Malibu, BUUUUUUUUUT, when it got repaired and painted after being rearended, I had the Malibu emblem on the front fenders and the spears on top of the fenders removed for a cleaner look (but kept the original 307 emblems).

 

[SFD]