1974 El Camino SS 454 Help with Verification please.

[97lt4ss]

Hi, new member as of tonight.
Need some assistance in determining if a 1974 El Camino SS that I am about to purchase is in fact an SS. Data Plate (1AD80) & VIN (1D80Y4B465955) check out as far as being a 454 car because of the Code Y (but any El Camino could be ordered with the 454, right). But lack of Side SS Stripes, front Grille not being Blacked out, Front Grille SS badge not being correct, and no SS badge on the dash leads me to believe it might not be a correct SS. But, it does have the SS gauges, Tach, SS on the shifter knob, and it has the 454 but no origial paperwork. My 1971 Z28 is easier to document Any help would be greatly appreciated because money has not changed hands yet and no time is available to look for a Build Sheet anyway.
Please see the ebay Link below.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...spagenameZWDVW

Thanks for your time,
Eric

[a73elkyss]

Welcome to ECC/NECOA Eric. Sorry,didn't see your post until after the auction ended. I was watching that Elco, as I really liked the looks of it.

The forth gen's are very difficult to properly verify if they are true SS's without a build sheet. The VIN does not help.

According to a book I have the SS package included: black finished grill w/SS emblem, remote drivers rear view sport mirror, manual passenger sport mirror, SS fender / door / body, wrap around to tailgate striping, SS steering wheel, special instrument cluster (does NOT have to be gauges).

Either way, I'm in MA and we have a good following of Elco's up here. If you'd like me to add your name to my NE regional email list of cars shows and events, send me a quick email at jlevitan@holycross.edu

[a73elkyss]

I just looked over the pic's again. I would say that you got a good deal. The grill does have the SS emblem, the dash is one for SS, and posi. Those would be three good indicators as it being a true SS. The book might be wrong about a "blacked out" grill. I'll have to read some more on that. The SS stripes were a tape on type stripe, so they could have been deleted at the factory, or removed later without any damage to the paint.

Good looking, good options, good milage. I like the int/ext color option. And you got it for a good price. That actually seems cheap to me.

Keep me posted on how you make out with it. Are you going to drive it back from Ohio?

[97lt4ss]

I was going to fly out and drive her home, but during the course of 600 miles anything can happen...not much around in PA except cows.

Reading an old Chevelle report and it did not mention an SS steering wheel. Guess the SS dash emblem could have come off, Guage package is only for SS and Sprint cars, right. Owner added the SS emblem to the Grille, and the car has been repainted...original owner claimed the stripes came off during the re-spray and repos could not be located at the time.

Thanks again, time to break open the wallet.

Eric

[theresthatguy]

I'd say the swivel bucket seats are a good indication that it's also an SS.

[97lt4ss]

Possibly so, but couldn't the swivel buckets be ordered from the factory for any '73-77. At the very least I know the car came from the factory with the Saddle Swivel bucket seats because of the Trim code on the Data Plate TR 714 AN7

After 100k miles the original SS Grille could have been damaged and during the re-spray replaced with a regular El Camino piece.

Bottom line, even if it's not an SS, it's still a solid '74 El Camino with a Matching Numbers 454 and almost every Option available with a great Color combination.

Was never able to locate the Build Sheet on my '71 Z28 so not all GM cars rolled off the line with the sheet. I might have to drop the Gas tank from the El Camino one day to see if it's still in place.

Thanks

[a73elkyss]

Your correct Eric about the swivel buckets. You could order a "Classic" with buckets and console.

I think that is the correct grill. But I think the center emblem should be the "Bowtie" with a small "SS" emblem in the lower drivers side corner. I'm still checking on that.

The more I think about it, there are two major indicators to confirm that it is a true SS. One is the sport mirrors. You could ONLY get that with a SS package. And second is the dash. The round pod type with black only vinyl could only come from a SS package also.

A few more hints at it being a true SS would be that there is no lower rocker moldings or any indication of body side moldings. SS's didn't have either.

I'm jealous. I did want the BB and those power options. It is a sweet ride.

I couldn't tell, does it have a vinyl roof, or is that paint?

[a73elkyss]

Here is a sales brochure for a '74 El Camino on eBay. Might be worth the few bucks for some pictures.

Here is a body manual also on ebay

Never know, it might help??

[97lt4ss]

Didn't SS equipped cars come with ONLY Wheel Well Moldings? Not sure when GM switched the location of the SS Grille emblem...'73-74 it was located in the Center and had a 3-D look to it, I think.

The Top is Saddle Vinyl, more than likely the car came with White SS Stripes to not only go with the interior but the roof as well.

Thanks

[a73elkyss]

D'oh! My mistake. Your correct about the grill and SS badge. I just found a GM Media Archives photo of a '74 SS El Camino and the grill/SS badge is exactly like yours.



And the more I look, the more I cannot find a true reference to a SS type steering wheel. I do see an option N31 called "Sport Styled Steering Wheel", but not sure if that is part of the SS package or could be ordered separately??

The wheel well molding on my '73 extend down all the way to the bottom of the rocker panel. It has a different part number than the wheel well molding on the "Classic" which does not go all the way to the bottom, but leaves room to "connect" up to the lower rocker molding.

Not sure if your interested, but while looking around I found out that there were 51,223 El Camino's produced in '74, with 4,543 equipped with the SS package. That would include both the Z03 SS package and the Z15 454 SS package.

4th gen's are tough and finding information that doesn't conflict is like being a detective.

Didn't mean to turn your quest for info into such a mess. I was the same way for my '73 and found it very difficult to get info. Plus, during the 4th gen run, they changed some minor things and kinda muddied up the waters so to speak.

[87ElCamino]

The SS was supposed to come with bright wheel opening molding. I don't see it in the pictures. It seems to have everything but the SS stripe, turbine wheels, and bright wheel opening molding.

Also, I don't find any RPO for white headliner and door panels for an SS with white seats. My data book says only black or blue headliner and door panels were allowed with white seats. I don't think that variations from accepted combinations were approved either.

My $.02

[97lt4ss]

Hi, thanks for the reply but I'm not sure what you are referring too. The trim code is 714 which is listed as Lt. Neutral Vinyl for all '74 Chevelles & El Caminos. This trim code can be selected for 59 Golden Brown Metallic and the R means Vinyl Top.

I'm getting my 1974 Trim Combination info on Page 43 from 1970-75 Chevrolet by the Numbers.

My 1971 Z28 came with Saddle interior and the Door Panels/Headliner are also Saddle. It just hit 42k miles this summer & it's all original.

Not sure if this is what you are referring too, if not then my mistake because all '74 info is new to me. Thank you

[97lt4ss]

Yes you are correct with the first part of your reply, sorry.

"The SS was supposed to come with bright wheel opening molding. I don't see it in the pictures. It seems to have everything but the SS stripe, turbine wheels, and bright wheel opening molding."

When the body was stripped and then re-sprayed maybe the mouldings were shot and just tossed. As far as I no NOS stripes are hard to find and the Turbines were exchanged for Rallyes...not sure why maybe the previous owner wanted 15" rims and sold the Stock 14" Turbines? Thanks again

[Caveman49]

Nice ride, I was watching that one on eBay. SS or not, it's looking good. It looks like there may be a dash cover on it, if that's the case, you won't see the emblem.

My 74 was repainted as well, it has similar badging, all the same, the 454 matches, can't go wrong there.

Would sure like to have those doors with power windows!

Congrats on your purchase

[a73elkyss]

97lt4ss wrote:

When the body was stripped and then re-sprayed maybe the moldings were shot and just tossed. As far as I no NOS stripes are hard to find

I'll bet that is what happened. Every now and again I see the moldings on eBay. They do get decent money for them. If you go to put them on, remember that there are different ones for the SS than the "Classsic".

For the stripe, if you want that try Stencils & Stripes Unlimited (about the middle of the page for a 4th gen stripe kit in either white or black). I've used them before and they are a good vendor.

I see you've "met" 87ElCamino". His name is Ernie and is a very knowledgeable guy. He is from little Rhodey and has this real nice '87. I'm sure you will meet him next spring at some car shows.