Nothing beats an SS 454 LS6 for the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle. This muscle car, a one-year marvel, was powered by one of Chevrolet’s best big-block V8 engines, the 454 cubic inch (7.4 liter) LS6. Its 450 horsepower rating made the 1970 Chevelle the most powerful production vehicle of its time and a HEMI slayer.
In spite of the fact that Chevrolet produced more than 600,000 Chevelles that year, only 4,475 of them had the powerful 454 V8, primarily because the LS6 was a costly option. Hardtops, convertibles, El Camino pickups, and other vehicles are included in this statistic. And now days, all three are uncommon and in high demand.
The SS 454 you see here is not an LS6, but it’s the next best thing regarding oomph and torque. This hardtop packs an LS5 engine, essentially identical to the LS6, but lacking the four-barrel Holley carburetor and other high-performance goodies. The mill came with 360 horsepower on tap, which placed it below the range-topping LS6 and the 402-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) in the SS 396. The latter delivered 375 horses.
But even though it’s nowhere near as potent as the LS6, the LS5 is a slightly rarer engine. Specifically, only 4,298 customers went with this option in 1970. That’s 177 fewer cars than the SS 454 LS6. It also accounts for only 6.9% of the Chevelle SS production and only 0.67% of that year’s total Chevelle output. It doesn’t get rarer than this, right?
Actually, it does because there are only 2,144 examples of the SS 396 model with the 375-horsepower L78 engine, but you get the idea. And since many LS5 cars were abandoned over the years, there are many less of them left in 2023. Additionally, some cars are one of a kind because of their combination of options and colors. This hardtop fits into those rigs because of its triple green finish.
What’s a triple paint finish, you ask? Well, this name applies to a car that sports the same paint on the body, the roof (vinyl or not), and inside the cabin. You’ve probably heard of triple black for all-black classics. This one is Forest Green (paint code 942) inside and out, which is a very rare combination.
The Chevelle was obviously repainted at some point, but the color is factory-correct. What’s more, it still has all of its original body panels, it hasn’t been involved in any accidents, and it’s absolutely rust-free. Not many 1970 Chevrolet Chevelles can brag about that nowadays.
But is it a prize for matching numbers? Although the original LS5 is no longer in the vehicle, the engine remains. It has been disassembled and is now sitting in the garage next to the hardtop, waiting to be fully restored so it can start growling once more. What’s currently going on inside? The engine powering this green beauty is a vintage 402-cubic-inch V8, the same one Chevrolet used in the SS 396. It’s not apparent if it’s the uncommon L78 or the less uncommon L34, but we’re definitely looking at the former.
Either way, this 1970 SS 454 LS5 is one of the finest survivors I’ve seen in a very long time. And the fact that it could become a numbers-matching gem once the LS5 is restored and back in the car makes it even better. Hopefully, the next owner will reunite the Chevelle with its numbers-matching mill.