1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Convertible

The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 is one of the most sought after Muscle Cars of all time due to it's high horsepower rating and the very low production number of convertibles made with the LS6.

To date, there's been claims of 16 made, 18 made, 20 made, etc . Truth is, no one really knows for certain because Chevrolet never kept any records. There's no "Marti Report" that you can order up like you can for a Mustang or a or a Galen Govier report for a Mopar product . The only published number by Chevrolet is that they built 4,475 LS6 Chevelles, period . And that total includes both the Convertible and the El Camino.

Big changes at GM for 1970 included the end of the corporate edict forbidding engines larger than 400 cubic inches in its intermediate models.( "..and the skies opened, the angels sang....and...it was good...." haha )  Chevrolet's "Big-Block" V8 was enlarged to 454 ci and formed the base of the LS6 option, which intended to help Chevrolet gain control of Super Stock drag racing from the Chrysler Corporation's clutches . 

1970 saw revisions giving the bodies a more squared-up stance and interiors were redesigned as well. The 1970 Chevelle came in Sport Coupe, Sport Sedan, Convertible, 4 door Sedan, a few Station Wagons, and El Camino body styles. Now, only 3 of these: The Malibu Sport Coupe, Malibu Convertible and El Camino pickup, were available with a choice of one of two "SS" options; RPO Z25 with the SS 396 (402 cid) engine and RPO Z15 with the new 454 cid engine. The base model Chevelle was now named "Chevelle",  replacing the former base "300 Deluxe", and was only available as a Sport Coupe or 4-door Sedan.

The redesigned 1970 Chevelle SS was the ultimate home for the LS6 engine, which was underrated at 450 hp and 500 ft-lb of torque. It was mated to either an M22 "Rock Crusher" 4-speed manual or hard-shifting M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Depending on rear differential gearing, ( which ranged from 3.31:1 to 4.10:1 from the factory ), LS6 Chevelles easily captured 13-second 1/4 mile times .

You could gain extra punch by adding Cowl Induction to either the SS 396 or the SS 454. One step on the gas, and a scoop opened to shoot an extra breath of cool air into the engine air intake. Functional hood lock pins nor hood and deck stripes were standard with either SS option, but were part of the optional ZL2 cowl induction hood option. The 454 cu in LS5 V8 was rated at 360 hp .

Today, these highly sought after Chevelles are commanding prices way above their original sticker price. Mint condition examples of the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Convertibles are fetching prices of about $80K and up...( sometimes, waaayyyyy up.)  Imagine having bought one new, maintaining it all these years, then putting it up for auction...you will definately see how well your time and effort pays off.....