The Chevy Chevelle bowed for the 1964 model year as a direct competitor for Ford’s Fairlane. Constructed on General Motors’ A-Body mid-size platform, the Chevelle quickly became one of the Bow Tie brand’s best sellers. V8 Chevelles were power players in the ever growing muscle car horsepower wars of the mid-to-late 1960s.
Power ratings grew for American muscle cars until their acme in 1970 (or 1971 if you are a MOPAR fan). The combination of pending government emissions and fuel economy regulations paired with insurance companies’ legitimate concerns over putting young drivers behind the wheel of increasingly powerful muscle cars put the kibosh on the seemingly endless pursuit of big horsepower. However, GM saw 1970 as the last chance to make its mark, and so lifted the company-wide rule banning engines displacing more than 400 cubic inches in mid-size passenger cars. This meant engineers had the opportunity to stuff the Chevy Chevelle full of big cube, Big Block wonderfulness.
With the cubic-inch displacement ban removed, the Chevy Chevelle added two more Big Blocks to the option list, the 454 cubic-inch LS5 and LS6. The LS5 was a monster. Fed by a single massive Holley four barrel carb, the LS5 produced 360 horsepower and a brutal 500 pound-feet of torque. The LS6, with its 11.25:1 compression, 800CFM Holley carb, Winters aluminum intake, radical aggressive cam, and solid lifters cranked out 450 horses (many say that mark was intentionally underrated, and that 500 horsepower was closer to the truth) and 510 pound-feet of torque. Both 454s could be had with either the Muncie heavy-duty four-speed manual gearbox or Turbo Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission.
Our feature 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS LS6 convertible has had single family ownership from new. This unrestored example is finished in Cranberry Red with black SS stripes and black vinyl convertible top over a Pearl White bucket vinyl interior. It is powered by the original LS6 454 cube mill, Turbo Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission, and Positraction differential with 4.10 gears. The Chevelle is equipped with F41 Special Front and Rear Suspension, power windows, power brakes with front discs, power steering, Strato bucket seats, center console, and power convertible top. Included in the sale are the original sales invoice, build sheet, and ownership history.
This 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS convertible will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Indy Fall Special in Indianapolis, Indiana October 3rd through the 5th.
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My dream car! And, not too far away from where I live!
Sadly, this thing is going to go for a mint, so not a chance for me at all.
Yep, almost ordered one of these in fall of "69, but opted for a Mustang Mach 1 instead at $1000 less. Money had a different value then. MSRP as I recall was approx $6K.
Beautiful car. Not so much, the auto transmission. But that is my personal preference. Excellent base for a complete restore project. Wonder what kind of shape the top (convertible) is in? From the pictures, it has been well taken care of.
are those the original valve covers ??
Well....as a retired GM Quality Inspector and DVT driver (Dynamic Vehicle Test) employee who worked at the Van Nuys, Los Angeles assembly plant back in the day (1966 to it's closing in 1992) and saw literally thousands of these amazing vehicles come off our assembly line, I can tell you that this particular car, while in damn nice condition needs serous "TLC" under the hood. No those are not original valve covers (should be chrome) and not the original fuel line (not sure what carb is under the air cleaner either) and there is way too much "rattle can black" paint under that hood and engine compartment. That chrome radiator cover is a non stock item, the spark plug retainers are not correct, the power steering cap is not of an original design, same goes for the black power steering metal lines going to the steering gear box. Not sure why at least some of the engine isn't painted "Chevy Orange"...even after all these years, should be some left on the block & heads.
Same goes for the hood hindges and brake master cylinder, ect. ect. Not to knock this car, it's a beauty and one that should bring a good price, but it'll need to be gone over both topside and underside just to double check what else might be altered of missing, afterall if you're going to sell this beauty for what will most certainly be a very high asking price, might be interesting if the owner kept some of the original parts that were removed (day two style) and of course it wouldn't take too much to put everything back to original condition, if that is what you'd like to do, which I'd certainly consider doing as the vehicle warrants that sort of treatment, it's that nice. I've restored many of these Chevy A bodies and other GM A Bodies too, they're all so different and yet, similar...not a bad one in the bunch, all amazingly restorable vehicles and while some of these A Body models can be damn expensive to purchase, think Pontiac Judge's, Oldsmobile W-30's, Buick Stage One's ect. the end result of ownership is having a very enjoyable vehicle not only to show off, but to actually drive.
Ah…! So many memories!
Needs a White convertible top
what a great car !! I wish i could afford it!!