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71 Chevelle SS clone - 8.1L Swap

I like Chevelles--had a '72 Nomad wagon on a 4x4 chassis years ago..
But they are getting to be so common at cruise nights and car shows,they are like the '67-69 Camaro's--everybody has one..:surepal:

The SS ones with 396 or 454's were the most desirable and rarest,those are the ones worth the big money..
Now that all the car restoration shows on cable have made everyone with grandma's rusted Chevelle with a 307 & powerglide think they are worth 10+ grand in "unrestored" condition,its tough to buy a decent Chevelle now for a reasonable cost..

I must have passed on a dozen 68-72 Chevelle's years ago that were decent daily driver 2 door cars for $500-$1000...4 door ones were usually under $700,even in nice shape..

For 15K I think I'd want a "perfect" body that needs no work,if I were buying one at that price...

I think the first generation Monte Carlo's were nicer ,and less common..
I know a woman who is the original owner of a '71 Monte-Carlo with a 402,TH400,she bought it new for around $5500 ,it is still mint too..she has refused $20K for it!..
 
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tRustyK5 said:
Here is a numbers matching SS 396 Chevelle, Texas car brought up to Edmonton. Needs nothing $54K

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-car...ss/1330333263?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

You'd be money ahead, and it wouldn't lose value as long as you kept up it's condition.
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I am a huge fan of the 71/72 single headlight cars, but not so much of the earlier models or the quad beam 70. I have no idea why, just what appeals best to me. I'm flip flopping hard on this car.

I agree with everyone who has concerns about the condition under the paint job, that was definitely not lost on me. I did take a magnet and was checking the regular rust areas and didn't find any other bondo on the car. I looked it over really closely and the quarter panel was the only bondo I could find. I don't think this car was restored by a hack, I think it was hit in the rear quarter and the whole thing was re-painted with cheap single stage over the factory ugly leaf green color after the quarter panel was "fixed". Again, I am not looking for a show car and having some faults lends to it being something I am willing to drive without fear of a rock chip or something. I honestly wouldn't be too put out to spend 10k on paint and body on this car in the future. I expect the interior will cost 10k as well. But even then, I only have 35k into the car and if push comes to shove I could re-sell it for only a minor loss. I could buy a nice one already done for that but I wouldn't get the joy and satisfaction of fixing it up myself.

I also don't know if I will ever buy a classic car if I don't buy one now. I can see myself putting it off until after we've decided to have kids and not being able to get one due to a lack of availability or the cost of a classic car that is pushing 70 years old at that point.

I don't know guys! I want it, but I also want a mint one for the same price haha!
 
Buy it. Drive it. Enjoy it.

Don't start tearing it apart until after you've driven it a year. You might just like it as is. Or you may be annoyed with it. At which point, you sell it and get something else or start tearing it apart and changing it for your tastes.

It's all about DRIVING these cars. My trazer project blew up into way bigger than I wanted, then it wasn't streetable, then I was barely enjoying it.

I went the opposite approach with my 52 Dodge Coronet. Doing whatever necessary to keep it on the road and being enjoyed. Only doing small projects on it, preferably late or early in the year.

My Apache project will be similar. Body won't be touched until its driving and the bugs are worked out. Then one winter I'll have the bed body work done, following winter the cab and front nose, then the next winter it will get paint.

Good luck to you
 
Russell said:
I also don't know if I will ever buy a classic car if I don't buy one now. I can see myself putting it off until after we've decided to have kids and not being able to get one due to a lack of availability or the cost of a classic car that is pushing 70 years old at that point.

I don't know guys! I want it, but I also want a mint one for the same price haha!
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I don't buy that. You make it a priority, then its a priority.
 
10k doesn’t go very far in the body and paint world anymore, if they find some hidden damage or rust that bill can double in a heartbeat .

The 71/72 Chevelle/Malibu is not nearly as popular as the 70 . So you have that on your side when looking for a quality one .

If your serious about getting one don’t get emotional wrapped up , shop around I think you will be surprised what you can find . Especially with the power of CK5
 
yellowK20 said:
10k doesn’t go very far in the body and paint world anymore, if they find some hidden damage or rust that bill can double in a heartbeat .

The 71/72 Chevelle/Malibu is not nearly as popular as the 70 . So you have that on your side when looking for a quality one .

If your serious about getting one don’t get emotional wrapped up , shop around I think you will be surprised what you can find . Especially with the power of CK5
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Exactly.
By the way back home one of my neighbors had the 72 ss with the manual and the big block.
I wanted that thing so bad, he wanted $3500 and I thought it was too much.
I found a regular 350/auto for $500 that needed work and then I changed my mind and bough a78 monte carlo for $500 and that was a blast
 
I get what you're saying Russ, but this car is 0 for 3. No big block, needs body/paint, needs interior (I saw the ad and the pics...)

If 1 of those 3 was good I'd say sure why not, but for what is there the price is just too much IMHO.

I still say this one is a miss. You can find better with a little patience, and you'll be much happier in the end.
 
The way you're waffling makes it pretty clear. If you don't strongly think buying is a good idea, it probably isn't. Wait for one that you firmly want, none of this half hearted stuff.

And I agree it's too far gone for the price.
 
Russell said:
If CK5 can find me a 71/72 anywhere in Canada or the US in good shape for 20k CND or less, I will make a road trip out of it!

I am leaning towards a no on this one.
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I know you feel you need to get one before it's too late, but give it a couple of months.
Don't rush it you will regret not trying harder.
If in a few months you don't find better you can be comfortable with your choice.
 
Car show season is coming to an end (for some of the US) now is the time that they will start popping up because people don't want to deal with storing them.
 
muddermilitia said:
Car show season is coming to an end (for some of the US) now is the time that they will start popping up because people don't want to deal with storing them.
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This is true...now that the sun sets at 6:30 pm and sooner each passing day,our local "cruises" are starting to dwindle,fewer people can get home from work and get to the place they hold them before it gets dark out now...
As noted,many of the owners are deciding to sell their cars rather than store them..

A quick look on Boston's craigslist shows at least a dozen Chevelle's for sale,most over 20K,some as high as the 30K to 40K range,but I saw a few that looked decent for less..

Built big block 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

1972 Chevelle SS 454 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale
 
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