Unsure if your Chevelle SS is the real deal or a well-updated Malibu? There are many tricks people employ to make their Malibuīs look like bona fide Chevelle SSīs-which is fine as long as the ownerīs donīt try to pass the cars off as a genuine Chevelle SS to unsuspecting buyers. So if you happen to be in the market for a Chevelle SS, the following are some things to look for to insure that your car is authentic and not a clone.
- 1968-70 SS models only offered big-block engines. Small- and big-block engines became available on the 1971-72 models.
- The standard dashboard for 1970-72 SS had three large and three small "pods" for the speedometer and other gauges. The Malibu dash features a rectangular speedometer and no other gauges.
- The letters on the instruments of a genuine Chevelle SS dash had a green tint in 1970. The 1971-72 models have white letters on the instruments. The dash would also have had a black painted face.
- The grille of 1968-72 Chevelle SS was almost always painted black. Non-SS models, such as the Malibu, had silver or chrome trim and accents.
- Chevelle SS models made from 1970-72 all have 454 motors and a forged crankshaft.
One of the best ways to determine if your Chevelle SS is real is through the build sheet, protect-o-plate, original window sticker or VIN number. Unfortunately, even these items can be faked. If you see signs of recent welding under the dash around the VIN plate, be suspicious.
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