Debuting for the 1964 model year, the Chevy Chevelle was an intended as a Ford Fairlane competitor. Built on General Motors’ A-body mid-size platform, the Chevelle took its name from either French or Hebrew (the jury is still out), meaning “bold and beautiful.” Evolving throughout the 1960s, Chevelle coupes and convertibles propelled by Small Block and Big Block V8s became popular entries in the burgeoning muscle car wars.
Staring down the barrel of looming federal fuel economy standards and emissions regulations, American manufacturers saw the writing on the wall when it came to high-horsepower factory specials. There was also the increasing reluctance of insurance companies to cover young drivers in high-powered muscle cars. For these reasons, 1970 would be the swan song for most of the factory-built boulevard bruisers.
GM could have gone quietly into that good night, but instead chose to rage against the dying of the light. They lifted their internal rule limiting displacement in mid-size passenger cars to 400 cubic inches, allowing each division to choose their own approach to muscle car excess. For the Chevy Chevelle this meant two different 454 cubic-inch Big Blocks would be made available, the LS5 and the LS6.
The 1970 Chevy Chevelle LS5 pumped out 360 horsepower (it has been asserted this number was much lower than actual), and 500 pound-feet of torque. But then there was the LS6 that was rated at 450 horsepower (it’s been said 500 ponies was closer to the truth) and 510 pound-feet of pavement-wrinkling torque. Checking the LS6 box on the Chevy Chevelle order sheet only added $263.30 to the bottom line. For that you got an iron-block 454 with 11.25:1 compression, solid lifters, radical cam, a Holley 800CFM carb and a Winters aluminum intake. The LS6 could be had with either the three-speed Turbo Hydramatic auto or four-speed Muncie manual gearbox. Only 4,475 Chevy Chevelle LS6s were built for the 1970 model year.
Our feature 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS LS6 was sold new at Arnaud Auto Ltd. in Sept-Îles, Québec, Canada. This convertible has been the subject of an extensive restoration to original condition. It is finished in Classic White with black SS stripes, black vinyl power convertible top and black vinyl interior. The Chevelle is powered by its original LS6 454 backed by a four-speed Muncie manual transmission and twelve-bolt rear differential with 4.10 gears. It is equipped with the F41 Special Performance Front and Rear Suspension, power steering, power brakes with front discs, cowl induction hood, Strato bucket front seats, Delco pushbutton radio, chrome Muncie shifter, and SS wheels wrapped in Firestone Wide Oval raised white-letter bias-ply rubber. Included in the sale is GM of Canada documentation.
This rare Chevy Chevelle SS LS6 convertible will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Indianapolis, Indiana event happening May 10th through the 18th.
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Comments
The LS6 is my dream car, I have a 70 L34 number matching that I have had for 36 years. I Will own one someday, maybe when I retire!
So I “had” a 70 Chevelle with a 396…350HP cowl induction, bench seats, automatic trans, and the GI Bill and part time job to pay for it all. I wish I had been fortunate enough to have had an LS6 too. Oh well.
Mine is also a bench seat, but a 4 speed.
One of the best GM offerings back when Sunoco 260 was rated at 103 octane (approx 99 octane in today’s PON ratings) and the preferred fuel.
As always the devil is in the details. They are never clear if block is numbers matching. They are not very clear. It would be a high difference in value.
After further review. They state it is numbers matching.
It’s beautiful. I had one brand new out of flint mich dark cherry vinyl roof stait bench. Fell in love sold it ! Wow
52 wonderful yrs so far
If this is a Canadian built car, it would be a Malibu SS and not a Chevelle SS as in America
Making it a very rare survivor!.
Sold all of my cars..to raise my Family..Boy was I ever stupid…
Friends and neighbors, where in God’s green earth are you guys from?
I have two of these cars in my hen house. They will become available in 10-15 years, or so.
Billy shame they are rotting away in the hen house. Is wile e coyote sleeping in them ?
Before I would even think about one of these I would have it inspected by one of the couple of experts on these cars
Well I built the next best thing a 72 convertible with all factory 1970 Chevelle SS suspension and CRV coded rear front a Barrett Jackson car then purchased a 1970 LS 6 motor dropped it in and the only thing that is in 197 0 Chevelle convertible SS LS6 is the metal for the body
Still have mine since 1986. Original 396 and 4 speed were missing. In 1991 back half the car and drag raced raced it over 25 years. Turned it into a pro street car in 2016. Show these young kids what cool when I was a kid.