Chevelle SS/Chevy Malibu

Unsure if your Chevelle SS is the real deal or a well-updated Malibu? There are many tricks people employ to make their Malibu’s look like bona fide Chevelle SS’s—which is fine as long as the owner’s don’t 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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