One of the best things about attending the major collector car auctions is getting to see some of the best examples of rare cars. There will be good cars, some great cars, and a few that are the acme of their brand and model. One of those was this exceedingly rare 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS convertible that just traded hands at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in Florida last week.
This Chevy Chevelle was exceptional for a number of reasons. General Motors had a corporate policy prohibiting V8 engines larger than 400 cubic inches in A-Body platform cars. This was lifted for the 1970 model year, allowing the LS5 and LS6 454s to be installed in Chevelles. This example was optioned with the King Kong of American muscle, the 450 horsepower LS6 454, a one-year-only engine for the Chevy Chevelle. The monstrous Big Block was backed by the Muncie M22 “Rockcrusher” close-ratio four speed transmission, and a 3.31 Positraction rear end. The entirety of the drivetrain is original with matching numbers. It is optioned with the F41 standard heavy-duty suspension, power steering and power brakes with front discs, a Delco AM radio, five-spoke SS wheels and Firestone Wide Oval tires.
There were plenty of Chevy Chevelles with similar equipment lists, and a number of them were LS6 cars. It is what is not on this car that sets it apart. This Chevy Chevelle lacked the D88 rally stripes and cowl induction, but rather had the dual-snorkel air cleaner found on cars that lacked cowl induction. It had a bench seat rather than the far more common buckets. It is a deep Fathom Blue with blue vinyl interior and white soft top. It has the SS interior trim and black ball-topped four-speed shifter, but little else to indicate the beast within.
The restoration on this unique Chevy Chevelle is something to behold. Gary Thurlow has done amazing work on the car, and it is the first Chevy Chevelle LS6 to be Diamond Certified by Chevelle expert Jeff Dotterer. This Chevelle has a known owner history including one-time ownership by Dana Mecum, extensive documentation including two original build sheets and a title search. It was this combination of factors-rarity, top of the line drivetrain, outstanding restoration with exacting attention to detail, history, and documentation, that pushed this Chevy Chevelle to sell for more than $100,000 above Hagerty Price Guide #1 condition value.
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Comments
Beautiful. Love the color. They don’t make them like this anymore. Sad.
I own a 1966 SS Chevelle 396 327, that i bought after I came back from serving one year in Vietnam and would like to restore it
Any advice.
The text states dual snorkel air cleaner, but the picture is a single snorkel.
nice hope it gets to see sunshine and not live in a collectors vault
James-
It is a dual snorkel, but the pic is poorly lit. I looked at it for a long time, too. You can barely see the neck of the second snorkel.
Ah yes. Looking closer I also see it as very black blending into the shadows unlike the very visible one on the driver side.
WOW! Now that’s what made GM the GENERAL. This car had style, class and turned heads. And the sound of a big block you can not beat.
My god that is beautiful! I wish current GM designs were the equal of those GM A bodies. If they were GM might still be in the CAR building business.
I love these cars, I have a 70 L34 396 350 horse 4 speed bench seat that I have had for 33 years now. Would love to have an LS6 someday!
MY GOD. $400,000 for a car that costed $3,500 when it was brand new in 1970. Wtf??? Lol.
Stunning Chevelle! Dream car for sure. A steal at $385K…..OK…..maybe not a steal but worth pretty close to that.
Nice ride
This auction queen has changed hands as often as Jenna Jameson. The reproduction upholstery is an abomination but these über-rich guys have no clue and no real love for the cars; for them it’s just whipping it out auction masturbation. The El Camino grille emblem is a little easter egg thumbing its nose at them.