Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many 1970 SS396 convertibles were built?
A: There is no known breakdown
of 1970 SS396 optioned Chevelles by body style or how many came with
optional gear ratios, etc. and will probably never be known unless we
can register and document all known 1970 SS396 convertible cars sold,
which isn't in the realm of possibility for obvious reasons. See
How Many SS396's Based On Body Style
Were Sold? for more insight on SS396 numbers vs. body styles.
Q: Didn't all SS396 cars have gauges and a tachometer?
A: No. The Instrument Panel Gauges, or Special Instrumentation, sold
under RPO U14 was always an option regardless of year.
Q: Is my SS396 real?
A: This can be tricky at best. To some, 'real' means the car has
the correct and original engine it was born with and can be matched
to some form of documentation. To some, it means if the documentation
says it was born with the SS396 option, it doesn't (relatively) matter
that the engine has been replaced for one reason or another; whether
by a dealer under warranty or an over-avid enthusiast 'back-in-the-day'
due to out of warranty breakage. Consider if the car has a warranty
engine with CE code 396 engine, but has documentation that is original
to the car as noted by the VIN sequence and other information of the
sheet matching the trim tag.
As far as the SS396 Registry is concerned, correct and valid documentation is the primary objective in the registry, not current engine.
