Frame Off Restored Chevelle SS LS5 454 4 Speed 12 Bolt

Once in a while, it’s nice to see a completely restored 1970 Chevelle that’s done right. No resto-mod upgrades, no big wheels, no thumping stereo, just a clean car with a quality restoration. This 1970 SS 454 is such a car, featuring an LS5 big block, a 4-speed and factory A/C, creating what might be one of the most desirable Chevelles around. And the Hugger Orange paint doesn’t hurt, either.

A lot of cars pass through our doors here at RK Motors Charlotte, but some cars just have an intangible something that makes us fall in love. They’re all nice cars, of course, but some just have a little extra something that makes all of us look at each other and say, “Yeah, I’d totally take that one home.” It happens instantly, too—great cars make great first impressions. This Chevelle is absolutely a great car.

You don’t need to worry about driving this one, because it was restored for the road and you won’t be destroying some piece of unobtainium. It’s extremely nice, but since GM did us no favors and made it impossible to use the cowl tag or VIN to positively identify a real SS, we’ll simply provide the numbers and let you decide:

ST70 1970 model year13637 Malibu sport coupeBT Arlington, Texas assembly plant41561 Unit number19 B Paint (Tuxedo Black with a black vinyl roof)755 Trim (Black fabric bench seat)06B Production date (second week of June)002 Data processing tracking number (no significance)VIN: 136370R2550941 Chevrolet36 Malibu, 8-cylinder37 2-door sport coupe0 1970R Arlington, Texas assembly plant255094 Sequence number

Whatever you want to call this car, today it is a spectacularly well-built machine that is highly correct and beautifully finished. Now that it’s Hugger Orange with correct black SS stripes, it certainly looks the part of a street predator, especially with the fully functional cowl induction hood. Look at the smoothness of the paint on the body, the alignment of the panels, and now neatly everything fits together—this is a car someone spent way too much time building. The two-stage paint is deep and vivid and I always like to see the stripes buried under the clear, which is not correct but you can’t argue with how slick it looks. Lots of buffing and rubbing makes the finish look like it’s still wet, and few will disagree that this is one beautiful Chevelle.

All the correct ‘454 SS’ badges have been installed, including those on the front fenders. ‘Cowl Induction’ badges live on the hood, which also sports a set of hood pins, and the blacked-out SS grille and rear bumper insert are correct for a 1970 SS. Bumpers and stainless have been fully restored or replaced with brand new items, and the black vinyl top is expertly installed without a wrinkle or tear anywhere on its surface.

The engine is a real LS5, which in 1970 was making 360 horsepower—plenty stout in the relatively light Chevelle. The LS5’s real value lay in its torque production, and its ability to act friendly with accessories like power steering and air conditioning, both of which this car has. The block has been properly finished in Chevy Orange that glows from down deep in the engine bay. Correct chrome valve covers always identify the big horsepower Chevys, and a proper cowl induction air cleaner has been installed with correct 360 horsepower decals. This engine bay is so thoroughly detailed, it’s hard to know where to begin—the hoses are all exact, fittings are correct, and all the plated parts have been refinished to new condition. Just look at the check valve for the heater, for example! The only significant variation from stock is a set of satin black long-tube headers, which blend in and vanish in the engine bay. Everything works as it should, and the engine fires up and runs as well as any big block Chevy we’ve ever featured. Forget scary solid lifter ticking, this one idles as smoothly as a Rolex.

The chassis is every bit as clean as you would expect, with solid, unmolested floors, brightly plated hardware, and correct components throughout. The transmission is a Muncie M21 4-speed driving a correct 12-bolt rear with 3.73 gears on a Posi limited slip. The exhaust system is obviously a big upgrade over stock, with large diameter pipes, a crossover, and a set of great sounding mufflers from Pypes. The basics have been covered as well, with new shocks, rebuilt brakes, and a fresh gas tank hanging out back. For your Chevelle, the only set of wheels you want are factory SS items, and on this car they wear 225/70/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials.

This car has been upgraded with a black bucket seat interior in place of the original bench, and they thoughtfully included a center console, which is a highly desirable option. The seats and seat covers are obviously new, as are the carpets and headliner. Proper SS door panels have been installed to match, and the dash is full of correct SS gauges in round pods (and no, this isn’t a refitted Monte Carlo dash). It also carries an optional tachometer and clock, as well as an AM radio in the center of the dash. A classic Hurst shifter has been added, complete with white cue ball knob, and the console has been restored to new condition. Further proof that this is a factory A/C car is the original control head in the dash, and the system is ice cold. Like the rest of the car, the interior is correctly and thoroughly detailed, and remains in excellent condition with only 82 miles since the build was finished. In the trunk you’ll find a full-sized spare and a complete jack assembly.

Cars like this fly out the door as quickly as we can find them because there are an awful lot of guys out there who aren’t necessarily looking for a numbers-matching trailer queen. Instead, this is an extremely well built car that is correct in almost every way and runs better than any other LS5 we’ve seen. Fortunately, what this means for you is that you get a large discount on a car that is, for all intents and purposes, identical to those that the investors buy and stash away in their garages. Drive it, show it, enjoy it, this is a car that will be vastly more fun than its more expensive siblings without all the worry that comes from watching your investment sit there and do nothing. Call today!