The second-generation Chevrolet Chevelle SS spans model years 1968–1972. The SS-396 defines the 1968–69 lineup; the SS-454 arrived for 1970, and horsepower comparisons across the period need care because 1972 ratings used a different method. There is no single dependable price for every car: year, engine, condition, originality, and documentation all matter.
What years and engine options define the 1968–1972 Chevelle SS?
The engine figures below come primarily from CLASSIC.COM’s second-generation SS market overview, a secondary summary rather than a factory specification sheet. Chevrolet’s 1968 information kit provides a primary-source check for that year, but it does not establish a complete option list for every year.
| Model year | What the available sources establish |
|---|---|
| 1968 | CLASSIC.COM lists SS-396 L35 at 325 hp, L34 at 350 hp, and solid-lifter L78 at 375 hp. Chevrolet’s 1968 kit specifically lists the optional 396-cubic-inch L78 V8 at 375 hp. |
| 1969 | CLASSIC.COM lists SS-396 L35 at 325 hp, L34 at 350 hp, and solid-lifter L78 at 375 hp. A year-specific factory engine table was not verified here. |
| 1970 | The SS-454 joined the lineup, with LS5 at 360 hp and LS6 at 450 hp; SS-396 offerings also continued. The available overview does not establish the 1970 SS-396 engine-output list. |
| 1971 | CLASSIC.COM describes lower reported power and a transition in horsepower reporting. A complete year-specific engine and output list is not stated in the sources cited here. |
| 1972 | Hagerty reports that the SS could be ordered with 350- or 402-cubic-inch V8s; the SS 454 LS5 was rated at 270 net hp and 390 lb-ft. See the rating-method explanation below. |
The factory archive lists downloadable information kits for 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972. The exact factory engine lists and original prices for 1969 and 1971 are not established by the sources cited here, so figures for neighboring years should not be used to fill those gaps.
What the 1968 factory kit confirms
Chevrolet’s 1968 information kit identifies SS 396 body styles as a two-door sport coupe, two-door convertible, and two-door sedan pickup. It lists the optional L78 396-cubic-inch V8 at 375 hp. The kit was issued October 15, 1967, and says specifications reflect the date compiled and are subject to change; it is a useful period reference, not a guarantee that every production car matches those details. Read Chevrolet’s 1968 Chevelle information kit.
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What is the difference between a 1970 Chevelle SS 396 and SS 454?
The principal distinction is the engine family indicated by the badging: the SS-396 used a 396-cubic-inch engine, while the SS-454 introduced a 454-cubic-inch V8. CLASSIC.COM’s summary lists the 1970 SS-454 LS5 at 360 hp and LS6 at 450 hp, alongside continuing SS-396 offerings. Those are reported horsepower figures in a secondary overview; the detailed factory option table for 1970 is not reproduced here. A badge alone should not be treated as proof of the engine currently in a car.
When evaluating a specific example, compare the claimed year and engine with year-specific factory documentation and the car’s records. The GM Heritage Archive provides the relevant model-year kits, but the cited sources do not supply a VIN-decoding procedure or establish the authenticity of any individual vehicle.
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Why do 1972 horsepower figures look lower?
Hagerty’s 2024 report says Chevrolet reported net horsepower in 1972, while earlier figures often used gross output. Net and gross figures are not directly comparable as though they were measured on the same basis. For the 1972 Chevelle SS 454 LS5, Hagerty reports 270 net hp and 390 lb-ft. When comparing a 1972 rating with a 1968–70 figure, keep the year and rating method attached to each number rather than interpreting the difference as a like-for-like performance change. Hagerty’s report was published August 27, 2024.
How much is a 1968–1972 Chevelle SS worth?
CLASSIC.COM displayed a $87,219 Market Benchmark for the 1968–72 second-generation Chevelle SS when its page was reviewed in 2026. The site says its benchmark is based on accumulated market data and cautions that a particular car’s value depends on factors such as condition. It is a market reference, not an appraisal; asking prices shown in listings are not completed-sale prices.
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For a dated, condition-specific comparison, Hagerty’s August 27, 2024 report gives the following guide values for a 1972 Chevelle SS 454 LS5 sport coupe:
| Hagerty condition category | Guide value in the August 27, 2024 report |
|---|---|
| Concours | $76,800 |
| Excellent | $60,700 |
| Good | $48,600 |
| Fair | $30,500 |
These are historical guide values for that specific model and body style, not a current guaranteed price or a promise of what a particular car will sell for. The same Hagerty report displayed a generation-level highest sale of $1,265,000 and most recent sale of $119,700. Those figures describe the report’s displayed sale data, not typical values for ordinary examples.
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How to compare two cars fairly
A useful comparison separates evidence that can otherwise get blurred together:
- Model year and engine: distinguish SS-396 from SS-454 and confirm which specific engine is claimed.
- Body style and transmission: compare like with like where possible; the 1972 Hagerty values above apply to a sport coupe.
- Condition and restoration quality: a broad benchmark cannot account for the details of an individual car.
- Originality and documentation: assess claims about original or matching components against records and year-specific references.
- Provenance and sale type: keep completed sales, asking prices, insurance values, and guide estimates distinct. They answer different questions.
Use current market listings and completed-sale data for the relevant year and configuration when making a purchase decision. The CLASSIC.COM benchmark and Hagerty guide values provide context, but neither substitutes for evaluating the actual car.
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Which references help with a purchase or restoration?
For factory details, start with the model-year information kits in the GM Heritage Archive and match the reference to the car’s year. Chevrolet’s 1968 kit illustrates why that matters: it is a dated document that names specific body styles and an L78 specification, and it explicitly notes that specifications may change. The archive establishes that kits are available for all five years covered, but the material cited here does not verify every engine table or original price for every year.
A year-specific service or restoration manual can also be useful for maintenance and restoration work. Before relying on or buying one, verify that its edition covers the correct model year and the work you intend to do; availability or coverage of any particular retail listing is not established here. Owners comparing insurance should likewise distinguish a quote or insured value from a market benchmark or completed sale.
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