Photo: Kurt Kliber/Facebook Marketplace
Launched in 1964 as Chevrolet's first midsize car, the Chevelle spawned several impressive rigs during the golden muscle car era. The jury is still out on which one is the coolest, but the SS 454 LS6 is impossible to beat when it comes to performance.
Introduced in 1970, this one-year gem arrived in showrooms with a beefed-up version of the company's 454-cubic-inch (7.4-liter) big-block V8. Topped by a four-barrel 800 CFM Holley carburetor, the LS6 delivered 450 horsepower and 500 pound-feet (678 Nm) of torque. And this figure not only made the SS 454 LS6 the most potent Chevelle, but also turned it into the most powerful muscle car of the golden era.
For reference, Chrysler's 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI produced 425 horses and 490 pound-feet (66 Nm) of twist. It's still impressive, but not quite there. That same year, the Ford Torino did not even reach the 400-horsepower mark. The Chevelle LS6 is also a bit of a rare gem because the massive V8 found its way into only 4,475 cars. And this figure also includes the El Camino pickup.
But the LS6 wasn't the only 454-cubic-inch V8 available in the Chevelle that year. Chevrolet also offered an LS5 version. It wasn't quite as powerful as the LS6 at 360 horsepower, but that figure was high enough to send the two-door midsize down the quarter-mile in less than 15 seconds.
The base engine for the SS 454 Equipment (RPO Z15) line, the LS5 was ordered in 4,298 examples, so it's actually a bit rarer than the LS6. The derelict hardtop you see here is one of those cars.
An authentic barn find covered in a thick layer of dust, this Chevelle SS 454 looks like it spent quite a few years in storage. But even though it's been neglected for what may be more than a decade, it's still in one piece and seemingly rust-free. Better yet, the seller claims it still packs the original, numbers-matching LS5 engine.
There's no word on whether the manual is also factory-original, but if it is, we're looking at one of 2,763 LS5 / four-speed rigs that left the factory that year. Moreover, this Chevelle is wearing a Mist Green paint with a matching interior, which makes for a rare combo.
On the flip side, the ad is rather short and doesn't provide any relevant information or paperwork beyond a worn-out built sheet. That's not necessarily an issue with most barn finds, but it is in this case because the seller claims the car was "driven 55,000 miles." What's more, he's asking a whopping $100,000 for this vehicle.
I'm not a 1970 Chevelle expert, but I'm pretty sure no LS5 would fetch this much unless it's in tip-top shape. I'm talking about hardtop cars, of course, because a convertible crossed the auction block for $220,000 in 2023. Unless the seller only tests the market, this sticker is as ridiculous as they get. And the fact that the Chevelle has been online for almost two months speaks for itself. How much is this LS5 worth?
For reference, Chrysler's 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI produced 425 horses and 490 pound-feet (66 Nm) of twist. It's still impressive, but not quite there. That same year, the Ford Torino did not even reach the 400-horsepower mark. The Chevelle LS6 is also a bit of a rare gem because the massive V8 found its way into only 4,475 cars. And this figure also includes the El Camino pickup.
But the LS6 wasn't the only 454-cubic-inch V8 available in the Chevelle that year. Chevrolet also offered an LS5 version. It wasn't quite as powerful as the LS6 at 360 horsepower, but that figure was high enough to send the two-door midsize down the quarter-mile in less than 15 seconds.
The base engine for the SS 454 Equipment (RPO Z15) line, the LS5 was ordered in 4,298 examples, so it's actually a bit rarer than the LS6. The derelict hardtop you see here is one of those cars.
An authentic barn find covered in a thick layer of dust, this Chevelle SS 454 looks like it spent quite a few years in storage. But even though it's been neglected for what may be more than a decade, it's still in one piece and seemingly rust-free. Better yet, the seller claims it still packs the original, numbers-matching LS5 engine.
There's no word on whether the manual is also factory-original, but if it is, we're looking at one of 2,763 LS5 / four-speed rigs that left the factory that year. Moreover, this Chevelle is wearing a Mist Green paint with a matching interior, which makes for a rare combo.
On the flip side, the ad is rather short and doesn't provide any relevant information or paperwork beyond a worn-out built sheet. That's not necessarily an issue with most barn finds, but it is in this case because the seller claims the car was "driven 55,000 miles." What's more, he's asking a whopping $100,000 for this vehicle.
I'm not a 1970 Chevelle expert, but I'm pretty sure no LS5 would fetch this much unless it's in tip-top shape. I'm talking about hardtop cars, of course, because a convertible crossed the auction block for $220,000 in 2023. Unless the seller only tests the market, this sticker is as ridiculous as they get. And the fact that the Chevelle has been online for almost two months speaks for itself. How much is this LS5 worth?
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