1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Pilot Car

The LS6 was one of the most significant developments in Chevrolet production passenger-car history. Potential customers and factory drag-racing customers had been pressuring GM’s various divisions for years to produce more powerful engines, but they were frustrated by GM’s insistence on limiting output in its intermediate offerings. When GM finally lifted the displacement limit in 1970, Chevrolet responded, stroking its 427 CI V-8 to 454 CI, otherwise leaving almost all the internal components unchanged. A late addition to the final production engine lineup, the LS6 featured a high-duration solid-lifter cam, specific heads with large square ports, and oversized valves feeding high-compression 11.25:1 pistons through a high-rise aluminum intake manifold. At 450 HP and 500 lb-ft of torque, it was the hottest engine ever in a production Chevrolet.

A pilot car was built to evaluate tooling and assembly line techniques before production was formally started. Sometimes left incomplete, many pilot cars were scrapped, but this example made its way into the hands of the public. This 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 has the earliest production date of any known LS6 example in existence. The first known example, this LS6 Chevelle was built at the Leeds assembly plant in Kansas City on November 25, 1969, and shipped to Haney Garage Limited in Haney, British Columbia. Finished in Autumn Gold with black sport stripes and a black interior, it incorporates the matching-numbers LS6 454/450 HP engine, power brakes with front discs, Strato bucket seats and console, a cowl-induction hood with hold-down pins, a 400 Turbo 3-speed automatic transmission, its original 3.31:1 Positraction 12-bolt rear end and an AM radio.

This Pilot Chevelle comes with owner history and benefits from a single long-term owner for close to 30 years. Additionally, as a Canadian-delivered example, it benefits from GM of Canada documentation, as well as two build sheets. After its restoration by a marque specialist, it made its public debut at the MCACN 2016 show in Chicago, where it was awarded prestigious Concours Gold, a fitting award for this extraordinary and rare artifact of the muscle car era.