Frame Off Restored Chevelle SS LS6 454 TH400 with A/C

Is there any car that screams “MUSCLE CAR” louder than a Chevelle SS454 LS6 with racing stripes? Sure, the Mopars do a pretty good job representing power and Ford even had its share of big engine, small car glory; but ask ANYONE to name a few examples of classic Detroit muscle and sprinkled in their top responses will likely be the word “Chevelle”. Painted in awesome Fathom Blue and finished with obligatory white racing stripes, this show stopping 1970 Chevelle Super Sport has been frame off restored to LS6 454 status. It's fully sorted, dressed to kill, and ready to eat the lunch of any brazen challenger which has the unfortunate luck of getting caught by the wrong stoplight.

Born at GM's Flint Michigan assembly plant in February of 1970 as a V8 Malibu sport coupe, this Chevelle originally wore two shades of green paint and a green fabric interior. More recently, it benefitted from a complete frame off restoration where it was coated in GM code 28 Fathom Blue and battle dressed in white SS stripes. Once better-than-factory panel alignment was attained throughout and the new paint was allowed time to sufficiently dry, the car's clearcoat was rubbed and buffed to an excellent, mirror-like shine. The result is a straight and solid Chevelle which looks simply spectacular. Check the high resolution photos again and notice the reflections in the paint; this is one expertly done car!

Arguably the most popular year for Chevelles, 1970 featured dual headlights, curvaceous quarters, and a tidy greenhouse that almost gives the car a fastback appearance. Up front, a chrome trimmed grille features a prominent new “SS” emblem between clear, stainless bucketed headlights. Below that grille, a like-new front bumper is absent of any dimples and dings, and above that grille, a functional and correct cowl induction hood features stainless hood pins and great looking “Cowl Induction” badges. Behind the hood, untarnished stainless borders like-new glass, stainless wipers and chrome drip rails; and at the sides of the car new “SS454” badges with bright white and red inlays complement dent free stainless wheel well trim, good looking chrome door handles and a correct chrome driver's side mirror. At the back of the car, a showroom fresh chrome bumper holds like-new brake lights and a great looking black inlay with a prominent “SS” emblem. And a new “Chevelle by Chevrolet” emblem sits across from an era correct Day Chevrolet dealership tag on the cars rounded trunk lid. This Chevelle is restored to a much nicer condition than when it rolled out of the factory, and there's every indication that the entire build was a high-quality job.

In 1970 the LS6 Turbo Fire 454 in the Chevelle SS was conservatively rated at 450 horsepower but produced well over 500 horsepower. In addition to receiving real deal 1970 LS6 block and heads, this road ready Chevelles engine bay was detailed to a very high level and would likely fair very well on the show circuit. Raise the hood and you'll find a correctly functioning cowl induction system hovering over a big Holley 4-barrel carburetor. Below that carburetor, a Winter aluminum intake holds a Chevrolet Orange thermostat housing which perfectly matches the cars spotless Chevrolet Orange engine block. Behind that thermostat housing, a plate stamped with the big blocks firing order complements correct decals and factory markings throughout the engine bay; and a fresh coil and distributor send sparks down fresh AC Delco wires which cross factory correct chrome valve covers. At the sides of the block, factory correct GM exhaust manifolds send spent gases into an aluminum true dual exhaust system. And in front of the block, new hoses with appropriate tower clamps snake around V-belts which spin a correct alternator and a Vintage Air AC compressor. From its new wiring to its reproduction Delco battery, this Chevelles engine bay is as gorgeous and well done as the exterior of the car; and I'm willing to bet that it would take the average muscle car connoisseur quite a bit of time to realize that this motor wasn't mounted in here 40 years ago at the Flint Michigan factory.

The bottom of this Chevelle has been restored to the same high standards as its exterior panels and engine compartment; and a nice coat of GM satin black provides a great foundation for a slew of correct chalk marks and correct stickers. Behind the engine, an era correct GM Turbo Hydramatic 400 3-speed transmission sends power to an era correct 12 bolt Posi-Traction rear end with steep 4.10 gears. That strip-ready drivetrain is held in by a correctly rebuilt suspension which features correct spiral shocks and correct power front disc and rear drum brakes. A reproduction exhaust system, complete with resonators and factory replacement mufflers runs from the gray GM manifolds to stainless tips mounted just below the rear bumper, and fresh fuel lines run between the big Holley carburetor and a new stainless fuel tank. Connecting this Chevelle to the pavement is four new Goodyear Polyglas G70-14 white letter tires that are glued to 14 inch GM SSII wheels which feature chrome trim rings and SS center caps.

During restoration, this Chevelle was equipped with GM's excellent code 790 Ivory interior package. Pearl-esque vinyl seats and front and rear door panels mix with a fresh black headliner and fresh black carpet to perfectly complement the cars Fathom Blue exterior paint. The seats look excellent and don't show any signs of a rip, tear or any stretching. The door panels appear brand new and, along with the seats, feature correct trophy winning chrome and trim. Overhead, factory seat belts are tucked into their clips below the tight-fitting headliner and lap belts are clipped to the sides of a black factory console that looks as good as when it left the showroom floor. Housed within that console is a traditional horseshoe shifter for the TH400 transmission and in front of the console, hidden below the dash, is a pair of modern Summit Racing gauges; one for oil pressure and one for water temperature. Inside the straight, black dash crystal clear gauges sit above a correct AM radio and chrome trimmed vents for the new Vintage Air AC system. It's all there and it's all well done. From the Rallye steering wheel to the vented kick panels and black package tray, this interior is top notch in every way.

Over the past five years, RK Motors Charlotte has retailed more 1970 big block cars than any company in the world, and when we say run, don't walk to pick up the phone on this one, we say it with good authority. This 1970 Chevelle SS LS6 tribute is half the cost of a numbers matching car and twice as fun. If you are looking for a drop dead gorgeous Chevelle to cruise to local shows and throw your weight around with on the street this is YOUR car.