This was a full-on “impulse buy:” I didn’t need it, I wasn’t looking for it; I was on the usual online site and saw it and went, “Ooooo, pretty” and hit “Buy It Now.” I love doing that, although of course like most collections I sometimes regret it. Not this time; this was an affordable impulse, and once I did my usual treatment to it I was pretty happy with the “unintended consequences.”
There are a lot of Chevelles in my muscle car fleet because…well, because I love Chevelles. Who doesn’t? Who couldn’t? My dear departed friend and mentor, an old time hotrodder who grew up in the ‘60’s and who taught me most of what I know about working on cars, was a Chevelle fanatic, and the 1970 model was his all-time favorite. For myself that honor goes to the 1967 model, but the ’70 is a looker, and it is even more loved today than when it was new, as the collector market for the real things makes perfectly clear.
It goes without saying that most of the survivor ‘70’s models out there are powered by a 454 today, whether they left the factory with one or not, but this car is a noteworthy exception: “Ghost Dancer”, a newly qualified entry brought to town by Serrano Tribe member Kino “Radar” Rowan, is a restored and slightly updated but mostly stock code L78 SS 396, a car sold new with a bench seat and a 4-speed lever for its Muncie M20 on the floor without a console. “Radar” Rowan, who got his nickname as a radar operator in the Navy, bought the rust-free California car from its 2nd owner when he was in the service and used it as a daily driver for nearly a decade until, having past 100,000 miles, she was due for an overhaul. She got one, in spades, with an engine built by the locals at the Outlaw Garage who worked their magic via a camshaft, heads, headers and transistorized ignition to push more power out of the “little big-block” than its makers ever intended! Brought back to its original Detroit-born state in “Astro Blue” with a recovered white vinyl top and the RPO D88 SS stripes on the domed (but non-cowl induction) hood, with matching all-blue vinyl interior, the manual steering remains, although the original manual drum brakes have been updated with manual discs to try to keep the power under control. 385 horsepower from high performance heads and an aluminum Edelbrock Performer RPM high-rise topped with a 750cfm Holley gets to the wheels via a 3.55:1 12-bolt Positraction axle.
Fresh faces and fresh cars are always crowd pleasers, so “Ghost Dancer” comes up to the plate with very respectable time trial results and a chance to show all those 454’s what a properly built 396 can do!
Forget about your Hemi’s and your GTO’s
Got a new machine, and she really goes.
When I pass you on the drag strip you’ll know darn well
You’ve been beat by a porcupine V8 Chevelle
Taching it up now, you better be quick
Cus’ nothing can outrun my SS 396.
There’s lots of chrome goodies sitting under the hood
She looks real pretty, like a tough one should.
On the redline tires, she sits real mean
She’s the coolest hot one… you’ve ever seen
Crusing the highways, getting my kicks
Everybody’s diggin’ my SS 396
Look at her go
She sits real low
Dealer tires grip the road
Her deep breathing fours
They’ll never sell ‘er short
Feel the rear end grab the load
Take you for a ride man, it’s really a treat
Strap yourself into a bucket seat.
The four speed tranny is starting to whine
You’ll know about the Super Sport
Once we get off the line
Crusing the highway, getting my kicks
Everybody’s diggin’ my…SS 396
Awesome acquisition, congrats.
The best reading of the day, and the soundtrack was perfect for my (at the job) Saturday morning.
Thank, man! Appreciate the compliment. Glad you enjoyed it!