BaT Auction: 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 4-Speed

This 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 is finished in black with silver stripes over a black vinyl interior and is powered by a numbers-matching 402ci V8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission and a Positraction rear end. Equipment includes 15″ Rally-style wheels, power-assisted brakes and steering, a cowl-induction hood, tubular exhaust headers, a dual exhaust system, an MSD distributor and ignition coil, bucket seating, a Hurst shifter, and a retro-style AM/FM radio. The seller’s family purchased the truck about 16 years ago, and the seller acquired it in 2007. The interior is said to have been redone in 2008, the body was refinished in 2012, and the battery was replaced in 2019. This El Camino is now offered with a removed factory distributor, instrumentation, and AM radio, as well as service records from current ownership, an owner’s manual, a 1970 El Camino brochure, and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

The body was originally finished in Tuxedo Black (19) and was reportedly stripped and repainted in 2012 due to a deteriorating previous finish. Equipment includes a cowl-induction hood with hold-down pins, “SS 396” badging on the tailgate and fenders, and chrome-finished bumpers, the latter of which were replaced during the repaint. The bed is finished in a textured coating, and indentations are noted. The seller states that the reverse lights and the windshield wipers are inoperative.

Black-finished 15″ Rally-style wheels wear chrome trim rings and are mounted with 235/60 and 275/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires. The seller states that the tires were replaced in 2015 along with the front and rear dampers.

The cabin features bucket seats trimmed in black vinyl with headrests and a matching dashboard, door panels, and carpeting. Equipment includes power-assisted steering and brakes, a Hurst shifter, lap belts, and a retro-style AM/FM radio.

Instrumentation includes a 120-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, a clock, and auxiliary gauges. The instrumentation was replaced in 2008 along with the dashboard and the wiring harness, according to the seller. The five-digit odometer indicates 4k miles, which reflects distance accumulated since replacement of the gauges. Actual chassis mileage is unknown, and the removed speedometer cluster is pictured in the gallery below.

The numbers-matching 402ci L34 V8 was factory rated to make 350 horsepower with a four-barrel carburetor; Chevrolet marketed this engine as a 396ci V8. Modifications include an MSD distributor and ignition coil, tubular headers, and an aftermarket dual exhaust system. The seller states that the engine was rebuilt during previous ownership, and work since 2019 has included replacing the battery and changing the oil.

Engine stamping 142212 shown above matches the final six digits of the vehicle’s serial number. Another stamping on the engine shows the suffix CTX, indicating a 402ci V8 application paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Additional casting numbers and a matching transmission serial-number stamping are pictured in the gallery below.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Muncie M-21 four-speed manual transmission and a 12-bolt Positraction rear end with 3.73:1 gears. The seller states that the clutch and throwout bearing were both replaced during a 2015 service approximately 1k miles ago. Additional images showing the condition of the underside are included in the gallery.

The Fisher body tag decodes as follows:

  • 7013680 – 1970 Chevrolet Malibu-series El Camino
  • BL 04979 – Van Nuys, California assembly plant; Fisher body number
  • 755 – Black vinyl interior with bench seat
  • 19 A – Tuxedo Black exterior w/ white vinyl top
  • 11B – Built during the second week of November
  • 286764 120572 – Van Nuys, California plant numbers

Comments