The Chevy Chevelle debuted for the 1964 model year. Taken from either Hebrew or French, Chevelle is said to mean “beautiful and bold.” Aimed at the Ford Fairlane, the Chevelle was built on GM’s new mid-size A-body platform. It rapidly became one of Chevrolet’s best sellers. As it evolved throughout the 1960s, the V8 powered two-door coupe and convertible Chevelles would emerge as heavy hitters in the muscle car wars.
The 1970 model year would be the pinnacle for power in GM muscle cars. Government fuel economy and emissions regulations, combined with insurance companies’ reluctance to cover young drivers in increasingly high-powered cars, marked the end for big-horsepower factory specials. Rather than quietly exit the muscle car stage, GM removed their rule limiting displacement on mid-size passenger cars to 400 cubic inches, and let each division go for broke. Chevy stuffed Chevelles full of Big Block goodness in the form of the 454 cubic-inch LS5 and LS6.
The Chevy Chevelle LS5 was a beast, to be sure. The 454 Big Block was underrated at 360 horsepower, with 500 pound-feet of torque. But the Godzilla powerplant was the LS6. The same displacement as the LS5, the LS6 was rated at 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Those in the know claimed 500 ponies was a more accurate figure. The LS6 had an iron block, 11.25 compression, solid lifters, a radical cam, and a Holley 800 CFM carburetor sitting atop a Winters aluminum intake. The LS6 could be paired with either a three-speed Hydramatic automatic or four-speed Muncie manual transmission.
Our feature 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS LS6 convertible has had a frame-off restoration. Finished in Fathom Blue with white SS stripes and white vinyl convertible top over a Parchment vinyl interior, it is powered by the 454 cubic-inch Big Block V8 producing 450 (likely more) horsepower. The monstrous LS6 moves power to the rear wheels with a Muncie M22 “Rockcrusher” close-ratio four-speed manual. The Chevelle is equipped with power steering, power brakes, pushbutton AM/FM/eight-track stereo, and tilt steering column. It rolls on SS wheels wrapped in Goodyear PolyGlass raised white-letter bias-plies. According to the Chevrolet SS Muscle Car Red Book, only 4,475 Chevelle LS6 coupes and convertibles were built in 1970.
This rare Chevy Chevelle SS LS6 convertible will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Indy Fall Special event taking place October 5th through the 7th.
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Comments
Beautiful, lone the colors.
We need some line for pontic
Yepper, fake, fake, fake!! I own 3 LS-6 CARS. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. HAVE ALL DOCUMENTS. Dramatic changes here.
Its not too rare as its a clone. Too much wrong with the car to even consider it, Reproduction LS6 tach and reproduction dash. No smog equipment, wrong master cylinder, 1969 horn shroud and notice no mention of build sheet. Its a beautiful car no doubt but not the real deal.
Blitz: Thank you for your assessment on this car. I am a novice regarding this stuff. I owned a legitimate 1970 LS6 4 speed stick Coupe. I “gave it away” in 1999 for $5,000 when I moved across country. Mine was black with a saddle interior, and has since been restored by what I believe to be the best LS6 restoration company in the US, sadly not for me, but for the current owner who lives in California. I wish I still owned the car, but I don’t. I have looked at the dash on this car and cannot see much difference from what mine looked like. I know there are clones out there. Mine was an original Tennessee car with a smog pump, so I assume all of them had smog pumps. I can see that this one does not have a smog pump, so that indicates a clone. In addition, mine not only had the original build sheet, but I also kept the original window sticker and provided it to the current owner (for free). For the record, I also sold the car mounted with a Corvette L78 1350 CFM tri-power kit installed on it, which probably increased the HP at least by another 100. The old 800 CFM double pumper & manifold was in the trunk). You don’t have to tell me I was an idiot. I am already fully aware.
I do not question your assessment regarding this being a clone. My question is, how can you tell the dash is fake, as well as the horn shroud?
With all that being said, what do you think this car is worth? My “dream car” was a fathom Blue 1970 LS6 Convertible. If I owned one, I’d drive it, so it does not have to be perfect.
Again, I appreciate your input!
I can tell by the LIGHTER lettering on the dash. Its font is to thin. a dead giveaway, The tach has two rivets on the face not the three screws. A cheap repro as now the repro’s have gotten better and have the three screws. The shroud has the boxed in SS in the middle which was incorrect for 1970, So much more little and big stuff but no mention of a build sheet and so much incorrect details makes it apparent its not real. I still think it will bring 100+K. And by the way I own a real deal LS6. I owned it for 25 years and paid way more than 5,000!! LOL
Reminds me of Ray Allen.
Same color combo, but his Brigg’s Chevrolet LS6 was a Turbo 400 automatic. It was sold roughly a dozen years ago on Barrett Jackson for some very large bucks.
There is so much wrong with this one it’s hard to stop with everything,the only way to buy one these days is to have it inspected and there is only a few guys I would trust
Was this the car that win the stock call 1/4 mile on 1969.
The Ray Allen. Car had a black interior bucket seats no consol And yes and automatic transmission.