Hitting Paydirt: This Restored 1970 Chevelle SS 396 Ticked All The Boxes

As a youngster, Jerry Barker spent much of his formative years at the track, helping his brother with his drag racing endeavors. Eventually he took the helm of his own race car, competing in the NHRA’s Super Gas and Top Sportsman classes before turning his attention to bracket racing in the early 80s.

“I actually ended up buying a race track not long after that – Warner Robins Dragway in Georgia,” he notes. “It was my local track, and it came up for sale in 1984. I operated it for about a decade or so, but eventually I realized that running a race track actually made it harder for me to go racing. I really missed it, so I went back to racing again after that, and I ended up finding a lot of success in Top Sportsman divisional races.” The renewed effort would lead to Barker securing the southern eastern divisional championship in the class. It’s a motorsport path that his son Jeffery would follow after getting his start in Jr Dragsters. Now a Pro Mod tuner, Jeffery has two NHRA world championships under his belt as well.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 – Interior

Barker says that bucket seats, a horseshoe shifter, and factory air conditioning were all options that he was hoping to have on his next Chevelle, so this one fit the bill perfectly. Photo: Hemmings

Along the way, the elder Barker also became more deeply entrenched in the business side of automobiles as a dealer, but he says his interest in old school machines really blossomed after he hung up his helmet.

“When I stopped competing eight years ago or so, I decided get into classics. I’ve always had an interest in them, but I’ve got a few cars in the collection at this point, and I spend more time enjoying those now.”

A GM fanatic since his early days, Barker’s stable includes a number of C10 pickups, an LS-swapped bubble top Impala, and a ’57 Bel Air, among others. His latest acquisition, though, holds some special significance.

“I had a 1970 Chevelle back in high school,” he tells us. “And I’ve had a few more of them since then. So when I saw this one, it immediately caught my attention.”

Although he wasn’t actively on the hunt for a Chevelle, a post in a Facebook group sent Barker over to an active listing for this restored Cranberry Red SS, and he soon placed a bid.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 – Engine Bay

Although denoted as a 396, the big block was bored out to 402 cubic inches for the 1970 model year. The 350-hp numbers-matching V8 is mated to its original M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 transmission and 12-bolt rear end. Photo: Hemmings

“I was of course familiar with Hemmings, but I hadn’t used their auction process before,” he explains. “The spec definitely caught my eye; red with black stripes is a great color combination. I also wanted one that had bucket seats, along with the horseshoe shifter, and – believe it or not – I also wanted factory air conditioning. And this car had it all.”

The numbers-matching SS 396 had also undergone a body-off restoration that was completed back in 2010, and it maintains its highly-original look and feel today. Although Barker couldn’t make the trek to Jacksonville, Florida from his home in Byron, Georgia to see the car in person before bidding, the listing’s array of photographs allowed Barker to get a good look at the car from top to bottom. The Protect-O-Plate and the vehicle’s documentation – which included maintenance records, ownership history, and a detailed look at the restoration process – only sweetened the deal.

“I contacted the seller through Hemmings to ask a few questions, and he was really easy to communicate with, so that helped make the process easier as well,” he says. “It was a very easy process. One of the things that I really like about the design of Hemmings auctions is that the credit card requirement kind of weeds out the tire kickers, so everyone involved knows that both parties are serious about completing the transaction.”

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 – Underside

The undercarriage of the Chevelle is as spotless as the body and interior are. Photo: Hemmings

After winning the auction, Barker headed to Jacksonville to pick up the car personally, and he had the car back home within a week of the auction closing.

“I have an enclosed trailer, so I hopped in the truck early one morning and headed to Jacksonville, which is only about five hours away from us. I met the gentleman at his house to take a look at the car and it was more or less what I had expected.”

After taking care of a few odds and ends that are typical of rarely-driven vintage vehicles, Barker put the Chevelle back on the road. It now holds in a place of prominence in his collection.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 – Documentation

Extensive documentation that included the original owner’s manual, window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, and photos of the restoration added to the desirability of this particular Chevelle. Photo: Hemmings

“I love working on these cars, and I can do pretty much all of the mechanical work in my shop. The car runs great now, and it looks incredible; it was restored really well. It’s an investment – these cars aren’t doing anything but going up in value, so I plan to keep it for a while. It’s almost too nice to drive – there’s no rock chips, and the undercarriage is pristine – but it’s not going to just sit. I’m planning to take it to some local car shows and going on cruises with it when I can. I drive my cars. If I can’t drive it, I don’t want it.”

With a 350hp 402ci big-block V8 under the hood and a 3.31:1-geared Positraction differential out back, it’s not hard to understand the appeal.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 – Rear 3/4

1970 is the Chevelle’s pinnacle model year for many A-body fans, and a Super Sport in Cranberry Red with black stripes is a particularly sought-after combination. This car underwent a three-year body-off restoration back in 2007, and fourteen years after its completion, it’s still a total stunner. Photo: Hemmings

“It’s a fun car – I’ll never get bored of dropping the hammer and watching the cowl induction system on the hood open up. It’s just cool.” Barker says that while he plans to retain its originality and period-correct appearance, there is one small modification that he’d like to do.

“I don’t want to mess with it too much, but I am going to lower the suspension just a little bit. I don’t plan to do anything that will take away from the value of it, and I’m going to keep the original springs and whatnot so it can be returned to stock. But these old cars sit up really high, and I’d just like it to be dropped down a bit. Stance is everything – if the car doesn’t sit right, it just doesn’t work. Most guys my age don’t really think that way. I guess I’m just young at heart.”