1971 Chevelle SS 454

I am close to sealing the deal on a 71 chevelle but I have a few questions to see if it is a real SS. Was a 454 only available with an SS or could it be ordered in an ordinary malibu? Was it necessary to have stripes on the SS or was it an option?
Thanks,
Nick

Actually, there is no way to tell if a USA built Chevelle was/is a true SS by any numbers anywhere on the car in the 1971 model year.

You have to have some form of documentation such as a build sheet, protect-to-plate.

The exception to the rule is if it was assembled in Canada.

Starting in 1971 you could get an SS Chevelle with a small block or a big block 402 or 454.

Go to Team Chevelle at http://www.chevelles.com and go to the message board forums for anything you want to know about Chevelles

Oh, by the way, you could get an SS chevelle without stripes or without cowl induction hood.

Thanks for your response. Another issue that I am facing is that this chevelle does not have the remote driver side miror. From what I have read this came standard with the SS package. Do you know if this is true, are there any exceptions to this?
Thanks again