The Chevrolet Chevelle SS performance trim has always been cool since its introduction in 1965, but there is something positively magic about the 1970 second-gen version. Even Ford Fanatics and Mopar Maniacs sit in awe of the '70 Chevelle SS, because it is simply one of the most amazing Golden Age muscle cars, with gorgeous styling and terrifying power. Though there will be some arguments from the non-Chevy crowd, this killer ride may be the most perfect muscle car ever conceived. Obviously, everyone has their own tastes, but the '70 Chevelle SS is flawless, with the only complaint being they are out of most collectors' price range.It's been 55 years since the '70 Super Stock first hit the streets, but it's as relevant today as it was back in the classic era. This is a car that is on every enthusiast's wish list, while it occupies the thoughts, dreams, and fantasies of classic muscle fans. This is not a case of over-hype or revisionist history, as it really was that great, and continues to be in the modern era. The 1970 Chevelle has always turned heads driving down the boulevard and snapped necks when it launched on the green light, which are but a few reasons why we can't stop thinking about it. '70 Chevelle SS Muscle Flex 3/4 side view of 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS5The 1964 Pontiac GTO's success kind of caught everyone by surprise, and in an effort to emulate it, automakers created performance versions of their existing models. This was the beginning of the Golden Age of American Muscle, but things got real in 1967–1968 when manufacturers started introducing models that were designed specifically to be muscle cars.The second-generation Chevelle was unleashed in '68 with an all-new body that featured a long hood, short decklid, rounded beltline, and a rear quarter kick-up that was a slight Coke bottle style. The wild thing about the second-gen Chevelle is that it received yearly updates, with new front ends and sheet metal alterations. By 1970, Chevy designers had achieved perfection, with the most aggressive and sexy muscle car on the market.“You can make our tough one, even tougher”- Chevy brochure for cowl induction option.The '70 Chevelle had more of a Coke bottle style, an aggressive stance, and a blunt front end as a beautiful battering ram. Of course, the head of the class was the SS performance trim that came with a 396cc V8 and could be optioned with the newly-liberated 454 big-block. Well talk more about the fearsome power of the 454 later, but the point is, this amazing car had the muscle to back up its hulking physique.The SS could be made even more wicked with the cowl induction option, which included a vacuum-actuated scoop at the base of the windshield that deployed with a stomp of the gas pedal and hood lock-pins. The best and most iconic option, however, was the broad dual hood and trunk racing stripes. In fact, a '70 SS looks naked without them, so they probably should have been mandatory. Apex A-Body 3/4 front view of 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6The second-gen Chevelle was built on the GM universal intermediate A-Body platform, which meant that it was similar to many of its corporate cousins. Despite some different grilles or slightly altered sheet metal, the Buick Skylark, Chevy Chevelle, Pontiac GTO, and Oldsmobile Cutlass were pretty much the same car.Getting into the muscle cars, the Gran Sport, SS, GTO Judge, and 442 had cool signature adornments, but again were basically the same. That being said, the Chevelle SS pulled it off best and was the pick of the litter. This is, again, a personal opinion, but it's hard to deny how utterly badass a 1970 Chevelle SS looks, even when standing next to decidedly cool rides like the rest of GM's muscle car lineup. Hollywood Drive Of Fame A car with stunning good looks and a winning personality like the 1970 Chevelle SS was destined for stardom and, in fact, became a Hollywood A-lister. It starred as Tom Cruise's sidekick in Jack Reacher as well as Dominic Toretto's second favorite ride in the Fast & Furious franchise. The Chevelle SS made a star out of Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused and out-crazied Nicolas Cage in Drive Angry.It also stands as the least damaged car in the John Wick film series, which may be a nod of respect. John Wick utterly destroyed his beloved Boss 429, which was really a Mach 1, and systematically disassembled his Barracuda, but the '70 SS only took a motorcycle to the fender. When producers need a classic muscle car, they book a Chevelle SS first. 454 LS6 Hemi-Killer Mecum For reasons that even the executives who made the decision probably didn't understand, in 1963, GM banned all its divisions from participating in motorsports, which meant no teams or support for NASCAR, NHRA, or any other professional racing series. Part of this ill-conceived edict involved forbidding engines over 400 cubic inches of displacement in intermediate vehicles.The timing of this couldn't have been worse since the Golden Age of American Muscle began a year later, when putting massive big blocks with insane horsepower into mid-size rides became all the rage. What this did was cede most of the classic era to Dodge and Plymouth, who were already equipping their cars with 426 Max Wedge V8s, and then developed the 440, 440 Six pack, and the almighty 426 Street Hemi. '70 Chevelle SS Power And Performance In 1970, GM had an epiphany, or maybe just pulled their collective heads out of an unmentionable place, and lifted the silly big engine ban. Suddenly, GM muscle cars were awash in 454s and 455s, finally giving them a chance against the Mopar Nation. The Chevelle SS was the recipient of a 454ci V8 in '70, which was factory rated at 390 horsepower.That wasn't bad, but it wasn't close enough to the 425 ponies of the 426 Hemi. There was a 454 LS6 variant that cranked out 450 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of earth-shaking torque that finally gave the Chevelle SS the tools to take on the Dodge Charger and Plymouth Roadrunner. After years of "aslo-ran" status, the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 was finally King of the Streets. Quarter-Mile Controversy The most frequently cited quarter-mile ET for a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 is 13.8 seconds, though it's unclear where that comes from, and is definitely on the slow side. Hot Rod magazine tested a bone-stock '70 LS6 car and ripped off a 13.44-second pass, which is the quickest documented time. With that kind of launch power, the Chevelle SS could handle most Hemi-equipped Mopars, but not all.Then, there is the case of Car Craft magazine, who swapped out the gears and pulled a 13.12-second pass, which is mind-bending, but not exactly factory original. While still not enough to take out the 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda's 13.1-second quarter-mile, that would have been one hell of a race with a photo finish. The Great LS6 Production Mystery Mecum A total of 4,475 cars were equipped with a 454ci LS6 V8 in 1970, which was available in the Chevelle SS, El Camino SS, and Monte Carlo SS. The thing is, Chevy lost their records, so nobody knows how many of these amazing engines went into the different models. Because of that, there is also no documentation as to how many went into Chevelle SS hardtops or convertibles, let alone a breakdown of transmission options. Generally speaking, convertible classic muscle cars with top V8s are exceedingly rare and, if paired with a four-speed, become unicorn cars. Unfortunately, for the '70 Chevelle SS, it's impossible to pin down an exact number. Ultimate GM Collector Car Mecum Despite the lack of hard production numbers, the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 convertible is classic muscle car gold. That white bad boy pictured above blew up the auction block, selling for $600,000, and it's difficult to find a droptop that goes for under a half-million bucks. Even the hardtops are money in the bank, regularly selling in the mid-six-figures.There are a few anomalies, but for the most part, '70 Chevelle SS 454 LS6s are the priciest classic GM collectibles. There may be an occasional COPO Camaro or one-of-three GTO Judge Ram Air IV convertible that hits a million dollars, but the Chevelle SS cars are the consistent auction earners. Top Recent Auction Sales 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Convertible - $600,000 (Mecum Indy 2024) 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Convertible - $572,000 (Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2022) 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Convertible - $550,000 (Mecum Kissimmee 2023) 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Convertible - $495,000 (Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2024) 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Coupe - $440,000 (Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2023) The downside to the rabid popularity of the big dog Chevelle SS is that it's a car that is out of reach for almost everyone. The good news is that a 1970 SS 454 LS5 is actually attainable. Yes, it's not as powerful as the LS6, but from the outside it looks every bit as badass. That blue beauty displayed in the gallery at the top of this article is the 390-horsepower LS5, and it's positively breathtaking. J.D. Power reports that the average retail price for a '70 Chevelle SS 454 is $77,200 and a 396 is just $60,300. While not necessarily a super-budget pickup, that's not a bad price for such a supremely kickass ride. Timeless Appeal Of The Chevelle SS Mecum The focus of this article is why we can't stop thinking about the 1970 Chevelle SS, but maybe a more appropriate title would have been why we can't take our eyes off of it. It is truly a marvel of design that captured the spirit of the Golden Age, and yet doesn't feel ancient. Just looking at it makes most enthusiasts wish they were behind the wheel of one right now, smoking the tires while blasting "Highway Star" by Deep Purple. When Chevy brought the Camaro back in 2010, they should have also relaunched a modern Chevelle to take on the rebooted Challenger and Charger. This is the one GM muscle car that fans are clamoring for the most.Chevy made a boatload of Chevelles in the classic era, including quite a few SS cars, so they're not as rare as some of the Mopars, but it was a ride that really resonated with gearheads, street rats, and even normies. Those vibes are still going strong today, especially for the '70 SS, which is a favorite among collectors. The car is a magnet, or maybe even a super nova, that pulls muscle car fans in wherever it goes. Even a casual observer takes note when one comes rumbling down the avenue, and more often than not is the catalyst for turning a neophyte into a fanatic. Just one glance at a '70 Chevelle SS is enough to make a fan for life.
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