Car of the Month – July, 2019
1970 454 LS6 Chevelle
1970 454 LS6 Chevelle
Engine – 454 CID V8
Horsepower – 450 hp @ 5600 rpm, 500 ft-lbs
Transmission – M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed manual
Curb weight – 3,999 lbs
0-60 time – 6 seconds
¼ mile time – 13.7 seconds @ 139.3 mph
Number built – 4,475
MSRP price – $3,800.00+ (as configured)
In the hierarchy of the street, circa 1970, there were the Big Dogs and then there was everyone else. The name of the game was horsepower. The more grunt the better, and more grunt meant more cubic inches and more horsepower. The old standard “there’s no replacement for displacement” was never more true than in 1970, and sitting atop the muscle car food chain was Chevrolet’s 454 LS6 Chevelle SS.
Checking off the RPO Z15 option delivered a 450 horsepower, 454 CID solid lifter behemoth that cranked out 500 ft-lbs of torque and bludgeoned any challengers for its title as “King of the Streets.” Buying an LS6 Chevelle required the customer to purchase mandatory options. The $503.45 RPO Z15 SS 454 package consisted of bright engine accents, dual exhaust with bright tips, black painted grille, wheel opening moldings, power front disc brakes, special rear suspension and F70 x 14 tires on 7-inch rims. The rear bumper had a black insert while up front the SS got a “power bulge” hood which included cowl induction with vacuum-actuated hood opening and functional hood pins. No production engine at the time ever had a higher factory horsepower rating.
The 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 model was the highest powered Chevelle manufactured in the model’s lifetime, which ran from 1964 through 1977. It was the only production GM car to have a higher horsepower rating than the Corvette.