This 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS coupe was first delivered to Sankey Auto Company of Colusa, California and was reportedly acquired by the seller in 2006 out of Southern California and relocated to Virginia. The car is said to have subsequently undergone a body-off refurbishment that included refinishing the body in silver with black stripes, refreshing the black interior, and rebuilding the 402ci V8 and the three-speed automatic transmission. Other features include a black vinyl roof, a cowl-induction hood, 15″ SS wheels, power-assisted steering and brakes, front disc brakes, air conditioning, and a Delco push-button AM/FM radio. Work since 2019 has included flushing the transmission and brake fluid as well as the coolant. This Chevelle is offered with a factory build sheet, service records from current ownership, and a clean Virginia title in the seller’s name.
A body-off refurbishment conducted during the seller’s ownership reportedly included refinishing the body in the factory Cortez Silver (14) with a black vinyl roof and twin black stripes. The seller states that the work was carried out by Hibernia Auto Restorations of Hibernia, New Jersey and included the replacement of a fender, due to previous accident damage. Additional equipment includes a cowl-induction hood, chrome bumpers and trim, dual exhaust outlets, and SS 396 badging. A scratch is noted on the front bumper, and the side glass exhibits wear.
15″ SS wheels are wrapped in 245/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires that show 2009 date codes. Equipment includes power steering, power-assisted brakes utilizing front discs and rear drums, and the F41 performance suspension package with front and rear sway bars and boxed rear lower control arms.
The cabin features front bucket seats and a rear bench trimmed in black upholstery with matching door panels, dashboard, and carpeting. The automatic transmission is column shifted, and amenities include air conditioning and a Delco push-button AM/FM radio. During the refurbishment, work reportedly included removing the dashboard, rebuilding the gauges and the steering column, as well as replacing the wiring harness, seat cushions and covers, and the headliner.
Instrumentation consists of a 120-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, a clock, and gauges for amperage, water temperature, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows just over 83k miles, approximately 5k of which were added by the current owner. True mileage is unknown.
The 402ci L34 V8 was factory rated at 350 horsepower and had a four-barrel carburetor; Chevrolet marketed this engine as a 396ci V8. This car’s powerplant reportedly was rebuilt during the seller’s refurbishment with work that included porting the cylinder heads, upgrading the camshaft, and boring the cylinders .010″ over. The seller states that the fluids were changed during a 2019 service.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a rebuilt three-speed automatic transmission and a 3.31:1 12-bolt rear end. The seller states that a resonator was added to the factory-style chambered exhaust. Additional images of the underside are included in the photo gallery below.
The transmission bears a serial number that matches the last nine characters of the vehicle’s chassis number, as shown above. The seller states that the stamping pad on the engine block is blank and that the engine was decked during the rebuild; a partial stamping “70L1” is present on an orange-painted alternate pad next to the oil filter, as pictured in the gallery.
The Fisher body tag decodes as follows:
- 70–13637 – 1970 Chevelle Malibu V8 sport coupe
- BL 17927 – Van Nuys, California assembly plant; Fisher body number
- 755 – Black vinyl interior
- 14 B – Cortez Silver paint w/ black vinyl roof
- 11C – Built during the third week of November
- 316532 200030 – Van Nuys, California plant numbers
The accompanying build sheet shows initial delivery to Sankey Auto Company in Colusa, California along with production information including SS door emblems (B22), special performance suspension (F41), a 396ci V8 (L34), and the SS 396 conversion (ZL3).
A walk-around video is provided above, and a tour of the engine compartment below features the engine idling.
