VH SS Commodore - checking original compliance plates

[vc_resto]

Hi - How can you check if a car has original matching numbers i.e. chassis; engine; gearbox; and diff. for a VH SS Commodore? Car has all three compliance plates and I just want to confirm if numbers are original and matching. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.

[SL/ENUT]

Look at model code on the "build plate". Should have XV2 after the numbers, eng could be L31 or L36, gearbox(tran) is M21 and r/ratio GU4.

[vc_resto]

Thanks
engine # L36 trans # M21 axle GU4 paint 1f 075-D. Engine #VR 364 63. How do I tell if this is a matching #s vehicle ? Looking at buying this VH asking price $11,000. what are they worth?
Cheers Dave.

[SL/ENUT]

Depends on the condition, both internal and external and how low the kays are.
So its a 253 4 speed 3.08:1 diff, sounds like a VH SS to me.

[DerekP]

253 VH SS aren't worth a great deal, unless it is in exceptional original condition with low klm's you may get 15k - 18k tops. So 11k is probably in the ball park but would need a lot more info to give a more accurate appraisal.

[vc_resto]

Im told it is original with no rust or body damage. Front & rear seats are retrimmed in original materail, recoed g/box. Missing wheels, air cleaner, original steer/wheel. No work to motor , brakes , susp. or front end. Car is posted on carsales , it is a Adelaide build & is for sale in S.A. Would need some work but looks like a solid base as a resto project.

[DerekP]

This the one?

1982 HOLDEN COMMODORE SS VH Private Cars For Sale in SA - carsales.com.au

Non original bonnet & scoop, wheels, air cleaner, steering wheel, has A/C disconnected and looks a little lower than original (could be just me...). If the paint is original (which I doubt) it looks pretty good. No rust (allegedly) is another positive. The fact that it has been re-trimmed suggests to me it has not been garaged, or could have higher k's than advertised. I would ask why it was re-trimmed & how many owners has it had, does the odometer work etc etc. Ask plenty of questions about the car - this will usually open up holes in his / her sales pitch..

I have seen other 253 VH SS's for similar money / condition sit around on car sales for ages before being sold. Once you are satisfied with the answers to all the questions you may have, offer $9k - $9.5k cash, see if he / she bites.


Just remember - when modifications of any sort are made to a car it detracts from it's value. (Except for maybe custom rods...)

Derek

[vc_resto]

Thanks Derek
I was Thinking along those lines myself. That is the VH in question. Their still not bringing in $10k plus for cars in that condition, unless mint. I appreciate your input, will not rush into a decision just yet. There are 3-4 SS,s on the market around this price & arnt selling quickly.

[DerekP]

My advice would be to go for an original 308 SS if you can stretch it, but a good one (all original low k's) of those will sell for 4 - 5 times the price of a 253 which I'm sure you are quite aware. Even if you get a 308 that needs work for less money - would be a better investment.

And on second thoughts (after taking another look..) you could go in even lower than $9k on that one I reckon.

[nasty1]

theres a nice looking ss on ebay but with irmschers and grp3 kit

[Darren_L]

the original SS aircleaner is just a standard 4.2L aircleaner - only the Brocks had a HDT specific aircleaner
and the steering wheel was the same as any other Commodore (only Brocks got the momo), but the problem would be finding one in the dark claret colour. As far as I'm aware only the SS and SL/E were released with this trim colour (may have been an option on other models though) and the SL/E had the single spoke steering wheel, so I'm figuring you'd have to find an SS wheel

the standard rims shouldn't be that difficult to find, I see them pop on on e-bay fairly regularly.
the seat retrim is a big bonus. That fabric goes for a fortune. Would be at least $2K in fabric alone