A Comprehensive Guide To Maintenance Costs, Reliability, And Average Prices

Summary

• The 1971 Chevy Chevelle SS is a highly sought-after classic muscle car that has a powerful engine and aggressive styling.
• Repairs and maintenance on a Chevelle SS are relatively affordable compared to other Chevrolet models, with an average cost of $289 for repairs.
• The reliability of the 1971 Chevelle SS is rated highly by owners, with no major complaints about the quality of the car, but running costs can be high due to its fuel consumption.

The Chevy Chevelle is one of the most iconic muscle cars of the classic era and by far the coolest thing Chevrolet ever made, which wasn’t a Corvette. The second generation, from 1969 to 1972, is when the car got its most aggressive, muscular styling as well as finally getting some serious power under the hood. A 1971 Chevy Chevlle SS is was the best of the best back then, and makes for a great collector car now. With legendary GM reliability, and affordable, available parts, a ’71 Chevelle SS isn’t just a solid daily driver, it’s an investment that will always deliver a return.

This guide provides comprehensive information provided by the manufacturer. Top Speed sourced additional data for maintenance costs (CarEdge, RepairPal), reliability (Carsurvey.org), and average prices (Hagerty Valuation Tool, Classic.com).

Maintenance And Repairs

CarEdge doesn’t have specific information on the 1971 Chevelle SS, but states that the average cost of maintaining a Chevrolet of any kind is $9,625 over the first ten years of ownership, which is $2,811 more than the industry standard. That price likely doesn’t reflect on the Chevelle, as YourMechanic reports the average cost of repair on a Chevelle from any year is only $289.

Most Common Chevrolet Chevelle Problems Reported

• Brake caliper replacement
• Car door lock actuator replacement
• Wheel bearings replacement
• Control arm assembly replacement
• Oil pump replacement

YourMechanic has over 1,600 repair shops in its network and has only reported 297 repairs on Chevelles. For the second-gen Chevelle, eight repairs were performed and the ’71 has been in the shop only twice. Much of this is probably due to the scarcity of Chevelles, but is also a testament to how solid they are.

Repairs And Pricing Info

Generally speaking, most owners of a classic Chevelle muscle car are going to do the repair and maintenance work themselves, so the big issue is the cost and availability of parts. Chevy made a ton of Chevelles between 1964 and 1977 so parts are abundant and affordable. There’s nothing on a ’71 Chevelle that is going to bankrupt an owner to fix.

Recalls And Safety Investigations

The recall was for all GM cars from 1970 through 1971 and was related to the throttle lever retaining clip on the carburetor. It wasn’t a faulty clip, but rather the possibility that some had been improperly installed and could hold the throttle wide open.

Reliability, Running Costs, And Expected Mileage

Neither J.D. Power nor CarEdge have ratings on cars as old as a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, but luckily CarSurvey.org has several owner reviews that give a good indication of the reliability of the vehicle. The general consensus is that it is a solid ride, in which everything mechanical is easily fixed or replaced. Also, all reviewers ranked it as the fastest car they have ever owned.

Reliability Rating: 9/10

Two 1971 Chevelle SS owners provided reliability scores on Carsurvey.org, totaling the average reliability to 9 out of 10:

None of the reviews have any complaints with the quality of the ’71 Chevelle SS. A couple mentioned that they got beat up drag racing, but that kind of abuse is to be expected with any car. One owner commented, “I am very please[d] with how well it held up.”

Running Costs: 4/10

Two 1971 Chevelle SS owners provided running cost scores on Carsurvey.org, totaling the average reliability to 4 out of 10:

The running cost ratings are low for the simple reason that a ’71 Chevelle SS is a gas guzzler. Most of the reviewers have 400 cubic inch-plus V-8 engines, that were before detuning and environmental regulations robbed them of their potential, so these are powerful cars that burn through fuel. Not one reviewer complained about having a fast car and these ratings are just observations on the reality of owning a classic muscle car.

Highest Miles Reported: 160,000

Two 1971 Chevelle SS owners provided the highest miles reported scores on Carsurvey.org, totaling the average miles reported to 100,450:

None of the reviewers reported insanely high mileage but certainly expressed how much enjoyment they got out of those miles. “The fastest car I have ever driven!” proclaimed one owner, while another noted in a good way, “This car is dangerously fast.” A third summed up the entire 1971 Chevelle experience by saying, “Old Chevy’s never die… they just go faster!”

Pricing And Values

Valuation Highlights

The Hagerty valuation tool only lists the 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle base model with the 307ci V-8, and doesn’t give a lot of prices for various conditions. Classic.com gives a better picture of the Chevelle’s value with an average price of $52,188. The highest price for a ’71 Chevelle sold at auction is $195,000 and the lowest is $15,488.

What To Look For Before Buying

When shopping for a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, the first, most important thing to do is decide if originality matters. Many Chevelles from this year have been resto-modded and look radically different from a stock classic. All original, matching numbers cars for Chevies aren’t as important as in Mopar collecting, but presumably a Chevelle buyer wants a Chevelle and not some pimped-out low-rider.

First Thing To Look For

As is the case with all collectible muscle cars, engine size matters. The 1971 Chevelle SS came standard with a 350ci V-8, which ain’t bad, but cars with bigger engines are substantially more valuable. There was a four-barrel carb version of the 350 that put out more horsepower, a 402ci V-8, and the ultimate option in the 454ci V-8. That last one is not cheap, so a prospective buyer has to weigh the cost-to-power ratio when shopping for a ’71 SS.

Second Thing To Look For

The second thing to look for are the letters “SS” on the grille and front fender. If they aren’t there, it’s not a Chevelle SS. Another issue is that many restored Chevelle SS cars are actually clones made from base model Malibu trims. Unfortunately, for 1971, the SS was a style, not performance option, and it is not reflected in the VIN, so an original build sheet is necessary to tell if it’s real.

Third Thing To Look For

If the car was built when Richard Nixon was President, chances are it has rust. Finding corrosion in the floor, trunk, and even wheel wells is easy, but spotting it on fenders, doors and rocker panels can be difficult if they have been hastily repaired with Bondo. Some lazy restorers even fill in dents with Bondo and then paint over them, so bringing a magnet is a must.

Is It Worth Buying a Chevrolet Chevelle SS?

A 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS is one of the coolest, and fastest, classic muscle cars ever made, so owning one is well worth it. This, however, is a car that should be purchased as a project because one in decent can be picked up for $13,000 according to Hagerty, restored for another $20,000, and suddenly it’s a 100-point street terror worth $60,000 and up. On the other hand, one can be bought at auction for six figures, and it’s still only worth six figures, plus high-dollar rides like that tend sit in a garage, rather than being enjoyed.