1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6

While the Chevelle was originally designed to provide solid, basic transportation, the secret was in the Chevrolet order form. With the right check marks and a few extra dollars, it was possible to order a car that would rule both street and strip. By 1970, GM had finally taken the corporate limitations restricting the size of engine they would allow to be stuffed into a mid-size body, and the result was a very special motor for the Chevelle SS.

The ultimate Chevrolet motor that would be equipped was the 454 LS6, which was conservatively rated at 450 HP. The 454 CI Chevy big-block featured an 800 CFM Holley 4-barrel carburetor on an aluminum manifold atop solid lifters, forged aluminum high compression pistons, rectangle port cylinder heads, four-bolt mains, a forged steel crank and connecting rods, and deep-groove accessory pulleys. A $147 throttle-operated cowl induction hood ensured it never had to pant for air. Hi-test gasoline was mandatory with an 11.25:1 compression ratio, but the resulting performance in a 3,800-lb car was pretty hi-test, too. The LS6 option added more than $1,000 to the base $3,800 price, but when the time came to step off the line it was worth every penny.

Built to handle the power, this Chevelle is equipped with a numbers-matching LS6 454/450 HP engine, and to get that power to the ground, a Muncie “Rock Crusher” M22 4-speed was chosen with a 4.10 gear-equipped Positraction rear end. F41 suspension, power disc brakes and a heavy-duty battery round out the short but sweet list of options selected for this SS.

The car has benefited from a complete frame-off ground-up restoration, ensuring that it looks as well as it performs. It boasts timeless good looks, beautifully finished in the factory color of Fathom Blue with white stripes and black interior. Originally delivered to Gordon Butler Chevrolet, the car is documented by a build sheet, taken from the rear seat of the car during its restoration. It’s a fantastic example of what the muscle car consumer was shopping for—a pure, no-nonsense brute with the largest engine available. The 1970 LS6 Chevelle was among the ultimate muscle cars to come from GM, and this example illustrates why it remains a collector favorite today.