Vehicle Description
1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Tribute
"There was another flavor of Chevelle from 70-72 called the Malibu
400. It was labeled the 400ci 4 barrel engine when it really
displaced 402ci. It was a marketing ploy, nothing more. The 396 was
actually redesigned in the late 1969 model year to displace 402ci.
The SS396 name wasn't dropped in 1970. The 396 emblem was dropped
off the fenders beginning in the 1971 model year. It was also noted
on the air cleaner decal that the engine was now referred to as a
402. The other thing was the fact that there was a corporate ban on
engines over 400ci in mid sized cars until 1970 when the ban was
lifted and the 454ci V8 became available." Thx to Chevelle.com
forum pages.
For consignment, a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS tribute with a
freshly rebuilt engine, a new vinyl top, lots of newer mechanical
items, and a presentation that will have the Chevy guys scratching
their heads.
Exterior
Beautiful Orange paint coats this car like a fresh persimmon, and
it's complemented by the black stripes and new black vinyl top. An
SS grille emblem begins the transformation and just behind it, a
cowl hood rises to the occasion and is held down with hood pins. Is
this the 396 or 454? Well, according to the emblems on the side,
it's a 454, but we'll find out soon. Clean chrome bumpers are
beautiful bookends to this car and the chrome is picked up by the
18-inch US Mag wheels which tuck the tires up into the well, and
these tires carry an early 2021 date code. Thus, the car has a
lowered stance and smooth body lines unencumbered by side molding.
The underappreciated rear side marker is a sporty little design
consisting of seven short bars, while epic round tail lights take
up residency in the back just above oval chrome exhaust tips. The
vinyl top, window trim and other metal work, and paint is in
fantastic condition. Imperfections include some rust and roughness
under the rocker panel, mostly out of sight. And that's it!
Interior
Clean and firm door panels with pleated insert design look stunning
in black vinyl and metallic trim, along with accompanying SS badge.
Black bucket seats, also vinyl, are tall backed and include
headrests and aside from one mark on the driver's seat, look
fantastically clean, and that condition transfers to the back bench
where the textured vinyl barely looks touched. The 3 spoke steering
wheel leads to a circle filled dash that includes gauges, knobs,
and lights in a symmetrical arrangement that provides essential
information to the driver. More toward the center, we find an AM/FM
radio and climate controls to the right of that. In the center
console, a stirrup style shifter, sometimes called a horseshoe
shifter, is epic in every way as it glides over the center
indicator panel. Chevrolet oughta bring this one back! Black looped
carpet covers the floor protected by factory type plastic sheets
while the headliner, also black, is high and tight. The trunk has a
small mat partially covering the floor.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, we find a very clean and very orange period correct
rebuilt 402ciV8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and 454 decals on the
air cleaner. It's been 100 miles since the rebuild. Based on the
free space in the engine bay, most people will recognize the
tribute. Headers route the exhaust downward. A resealed TH400
3-speed automatic sends power to the 12 bolt and 3.31 gears replete
with Positraction. Power brakes are supplied and split discs to the
front and drums to the rear. A new alternator and power steering
pump have been added.
Undercarriage
Newer exhaust work catches our eye in this clean underside with
dual exhaust finding stainless steel mufflers before heading out
via chrome tips. There's also a chrome differential cover and
spotless gas tank. Up front the flexplate and torque converter are
uncovered and what we're not seeing is oil leaks, very much surface
rust, nor grease build up on the knuckles. Coil springs are up
front and a four link with coils is out back.
Drive-Ability
A prime of the carb and off we went in this orange blast that
handled great, tracked well, and had decent acceleration. On top of
that, it happens to sound great too! Our test revealed a few things
that are not operational, and they include the clock, the horn, the
reverse lights, and the wipers. The A/C has been removed so
naturally that's not going to be available. All other items such as
lights and gauges work as intended. While Classic Auto Mall
represents that these functions were working at the time of our
test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at
the time of your purchase.
With or without the SS badges, this is a beauty. Nothing quite like
a clean A-body on 18-inch wheels and this one is gleaming with
chrome and color. All the goodness of an SS without the collector
car price, you will not be disappointed with this well sorted
Chevelle. Orange you glad you came to this website?
136371R111505
1-Chevrolet
36-Malibu V8
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
1-1971
R-Arlington, TX Assy Plant
111505-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
ST 71 13647-1971 Malibu 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BDY R08295-Arlington Body #
TR 705-Black Elk Coated Vinyl & Black Coated Vinyl
PNT 62 62-Burnt Orange
09B-2nd Week September
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
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