1970 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396

Registration No: FYY 112H
Chassis No: 124870L503366
MOT: Exempt

• 1 of just 600 L78-code SS 396 cars made during the 1970 model year
• Previously owned by the actor Nicholas Ball of Hazell, Footballers' Wives and East Enders fame etc
• Treated to a bodywork restoration in the 1990s and a major engine overhaul / upgrade during 2011 (dyno sheet records 450bhp)
• Further improved during the current ownership

Reportedly 1 of just 600 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396 cars to be completed to ‘L78’ specification during the 1970 model year, chassis 124870L503366 was built at Chevrolet’s Van Nuys, Los Angeles plant and supplied new in Las Vegas. Acquired by the British TV and Film actor Nicholas Ball during 1991 whilst he was living and working in California, he is understood to have pressed the Camaro into everyday service over the next three years. Treated to a re-spray and leather re-trim Stateside before being imported to the UK by the former Hazell, Footballers’ Wives and Eastenders star in 2000, Mr Ball appeared alongside ‘FYY 112H’ in an episode of ‘Car Cruzin’ five years later. Sold to its second UK keeper during 2010, he entrusted the Chevrolet to AC Motors of Walsall the following year for a thorough overhaul of its ‘big block’ V8 and TH400 automatic transmission. The work cost some £9,700 and an accompanying dyno sheet shows that the rejuvenated engine developed an impressive 450bhp! Further benefiting from the ministrations of Harris Coachworks of Bedfordshire during 2012, the Camaro had only covered 1,000 miles or so on its refreshed drivetrain before entering the current (third UK) ownership in 2021. A true ‘muscle car’ enthusiast, the vendor has added a further 4,000 miles to the odometer and put the Coupe back on period correct OEM wheels. He has also paid attention to the starter motor, ignition switch, dashboard circuit board cluster, instruments, air-conditioning and gearbox sump seal etc. Carried out by Wallace’s Garage in Kilmaurs, the improvements totalled circa £3,500. Deemed by the seller to be in ‘very good overall’ condition with regards to its engine, gearbox, electrical equipment, bodywork, paintwork and interior trim and looking particularly menacing in Black, this rare SS 396 is offered for sale with expired US Title, current UK V5C Registration Document, build details, owner’s manual and history file.

PLEASE NOTE: This lot does not come with the expired US Title or owner’s manual that are listed in the catalogue description. Instead, it is accompanied by the original sale agreement between Nick Ball and the previous keeper in 1991 and a repair manual. The build details are a decoding of the Fisher Body Plate. We have been unable to discern the engine number partially because the pad into which it is stamped is obscured by the alternator. The seller drove the Camaro last weekend and we have had it running and driving here at the auction. However, it is currently reluctant to idle for long periods of time which we believe to a be a fuelling issue.

For more information, please contact:
Damian Jones
damian.jones@handh.co.uk
07855 493737