How to tell a 1964 SS from a clone

I am negotiating to buy what I think is a 1964 Chevelle SS. I recently believe it to be a clone due to the placement of the side trim moding along the center of door and panels instead of across the top like I see on SS pictures. My question is how do you know if it is a SS? The car doesn't have original motor. I bought the Chevelle ID Guide that tells about VIN and explains code but there isn't anything in the VIN about it being a SS. Any assistance would be appreciated. --jack

I copied this from a site. Hope it helps.

1969From 1969 on, the SS was no longer a separate model. Instead, it was now an "SS" option package added to a 300 Deluxe model, Malibu model, or El Camino Custom model. 1969 was the only model year that the SS package could be ordered on the base model Chevelle 300 Deluxe (as a 2-door coupe or a 2-door post sedan). The only SS option in '69 was the "Z25" SS-396 package. The '69 and up cars are harder to authenticate because the VIN can not be used to confirm if the car is an SS. There were two colors that were exclusive to the '69 SS. "Monaco Orange" (code 72) and "Daytona Yellow" (code 76). If either of these paint codes appear on the cowl tag (and the cowl tag is genuine) then that would prove the car to be a genuine SS. If someone had a nice '69 Malibu, and a rusted out '69 SS, it would be easy for them to simply move the SS equipment over to the Malibu. As long as they did not alter or move the VIN plates or cowl tags, this would be perfectly legal, and since the VIN tag doesn't tell you much, there would be almost no way for you to know. From '69 on, single-piston disk brakes were STANDARD equipment with the SS package. These brakes are easier to find parts for than the earlier four-piston disk brakes.Chevrolet literature indicates that the only way to get a 396 was with the SS package. However, there appears to be at least one late-production Chevelle that was built with a 396 and all the required SS equipment, but the "Z25" SS-396 option was not listed on the car's build sheet. It is believed that this car came from the factory with "SS" emblems, but that is not 100% certain.Again in 1969, the only available SS engine was the 396 (in the same flavors as in 1968). In 1969, however, it was possible (if you knew who to talk to) to order something called a COPO 427 Chevelle. COPO stands for "Central Office Production Order". The COPO program allowed dealers to order equipment that was not usually available (such as special paint, special engines, etc.) Unlike the '68s, the '69 Chevelles had their 427 engines installed at the FACTORY, not the dealership. This makes the '69 427s more legitimate in the eyes of collectors today. You didn't necessarily have to go to Yenko or some other special dealer in '69 to get a 427 Chevelle. Your local dealer could usually get you one if you filled out the right paperwork. While the '69 COPO 427s had basically the same equipment as the SS-396s, they were not generally considered SSs because they did not have any external "SS" or "427" identification. They were the ultimate sleepers. Any genuine '69 COPO 427 Chevelle is quite valuable today. There are also unconfirmed reports of a '69 COPO 427 El Camino. In addition, there was an "L89" aluminum head option available for the '69 375 HP 396. Few were ordered. 1969 SSs had "SS/396" emblems on the front, back, fenders, door panels, on the dash above the glove box, and on the standard SS steering wheel. The '69 SS also had the twin-bulge hood like the '68s, but the bolt holes where the hood hinges attached were slightly different. The '69 SS came with 14" SS wheels with "SS" center caps. The '69 SS stripe option consisted of a black, white, or red stripe which ran along the upper body sides. There are also reports of a few '69 SSs with dealer-painted hood stripes, similar to the stripes used on many '70-'72 SSs. Another rare car, produced only in '69, was an SS Chevelle built on the 2-door post sedan, the "Chevelle 300". This was the only year that a 2-door post sedan SS was produced. Most of the '69 SSs, and all the '70-'72 SSs, were built upon the 2-door Malibu pillarless coupe.

I believe I've found what you're looking for. Go to http://www.chevelles.com and scroll down the site. A little past half way down, on the left side there will be some columns. Look for "Years" in red lettering and click on "1964". Scroll about half way down again and look for "reference" on the right side of the page, and click on that. On the next page click on "VIN Information" on the left column. And then you'll see the 1964 VIN chart. The second and third numbers in your VIN should be 57, or 58. That'll tell you if it's an SS or not. Have Fun :).

oops! I misread 64 for 69. Sorry about that.

That's a nice 72 Chevelle DGB :). Can you believe that about 10 years ago, I got an almost perfectly straight and un-rusted 71 Chevelle coupe for FREE...pulled the engine an trans...and threw the car away? Man my butt hurts so bad...from kicking myself for the past 10 years :).

300 Deluxe in 64 has side/mid door moldings (I have one) whereas the SS has them along the top seam of the fenders, doors, and qtrs. Get the owner to pull a door panel and look for bondo filling 1/4 inch holes at the top edge.

64 SS dash door bezel/emblem is supposedly black and the 65 is red.

Next hints are all by model for the year....

64 starter/ignition switch has 1 more or 1 less position than the 65 (AND A DIFFERENT HARNESS)....for "lock" on the dash console.

65 dash console is angled, 64 is flat

If Malibu tags have been replaced with Malibu/ss tags on rear qtrs, look in the trunk for extra holes...they dont line up for the two dif tags

Check the trunk lid for poorly mounted ss emblem on rear...it's coved and fits very tight to the curved body.

lastly...the vin tag on the door jamb should give you a code that works.

Good luck

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