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450hp Survivor: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6

It seems that some muscle cars are more muscular than others, and that is graphically demonstrated by this 1970 Chevelle SS 454. It is an original and unrestored survivor, and the original V8 under the hood will give the driver 450hp at their command. Combine those factors with an odometer reading of under 15,000 miles, and this rates as one of the most desirable muscle cars available on the market today. If you feel mysteriously drawn to this survivor, you will find it located in Kingston, Massachusetts, and listed for sale here on eBay. Of course, cars of this caliber come at a cost, and the owner has set the BIN at $195,000.

There’s a bit to unpack with this Chevelle, but it is a package that is well worth careful inspection. The Classic White paint that it wears is original, with only one minor blended touch-up on the leading edge of the hood. This isn’t visible in the supplied photos, but nor are the few nicks and chips that the owner identifies in the listing. It holds a winning shine, and the panels that it covers are laser straight. There are no dings or dents, and the gaps look consistent for a vehicle from this era. One of the greatest weaknesses of these Chevelles is their susceptibility to rust problems. It isn’t unusual to see the lower body extremities, floors, and trunk pan fall victim to significant issues. Replacement steel is readily available, but it is something that this Chevelle’s next owner won’t be needing. The photos reveal this classic to be completely rust-free and structurally sound, and even the original spatter finish in the trunk appears close to perfect. The perfect theme continues when you examine the chrome, trim, and the sports wheels and their accessories. The original owner ordered this Chevelle with Soft Ray tinted glass, and this appears to be flawless.

If you ordered a Chevelle SS in 1970, a car like this was about as good as it got. A 454ci V8 occupies the engine bay, but this wasn’t just any old big-block. We are looking at the LS6 version that churned out 450hp and 500 ft/lbs of torque. There’s no point having all of that power if you can’t use it effectively. Therefore, the original owner added a three-speed TH-400 transmission and a 3.31 Posi rear end. Power steering helps make light work of the twisting stuff, while power front disc brakes should help bring proceedings to a halt. It would be fair to describe this car as an animal because it should be capable of demolishing the ¼ mile in 13.7 seconds. Proving that it isn’t a one-trick pony that is lightning over a short distance, a top speed of 137mph beckons any driver brave enough to keep the pedal to the metal. The owner recently treated the SS to a new fuel pump and a Gardner exhaust, but otherwise, it appears to be mechanically original. Disappointingly, he doesn’t provide a clear insight into how this Chevy runs or drives, but with a genuine 14,693 miles on the clock, you would have to assume that it is in sound mechanical health. The owner doesn’t indicate whether he holds evidence to support the mileage claim, but since he includes the original Window Sticker, three Build Sheets, the Dealer Order Form, and the Protect-O-Plate, you would think that the chances are high that the documentation extends to that.

When you find a classic of this age with an exterior that presents superbly, it is fair to expect its interior to continue that trend. This Chevelle doesn’t disappoint on that front. The seats are trimmed in Gold cloth and vinyl, and they exhibit the level of wear that you might expect from any car with less than 15,000 miles on the clock. That’s another way of saying that there’s no wear and that the upholstery throughout the vehicle has a factory-fresh appearance. The same is true of the dash and pad, while enormous rubber mats effectively protect the spotless brown carpet. There have been no aftermarket additions, and the original pushbutton AM radio with the optional rear speaker remains intact. That and the cloth trim are the only nods to luxury that the original owner chose, so it appears that his primary focus was on outright performance. I can’t think of a negative to that philosophy!

I’m not sure whether this 1970 Chevelle SS 454 rates as a once-in-a-lifetime vehicle, but finding a car of this caliber doesn’t happen every day. Its originality seems to be beyond question, its condition is as close to factory fresh as you are ever likely to find, and its engine is the most coveted offered by the company in 1970. There is no way it could ever be classed as a cheap vehicle, but the BIN price is not unprecedented. Values continue to climb on the SS 454, and that trend shows no sign of easing. That means that while this classic may be an expensive investment, it has the possibility of being one that will appreciate in the future. Hmm, a muscle car that is also a sound investment. I can’t see a downside to that. Can you?

Comments

  1. Avatar poseur Member

    what a sleeper.
    love the gold bench seat and column shift, not because it’s what i’d want to drive but because it looks like my grandmother’s car.
    fantastic ride

    Like 22
  2. Avatar RGSmith1

    I have been trying to figure out why someone would buy a beautiful car like this (or any car) for what would have been big bucks in their Era and then not drive it! I have seen several of the low mileage cars lately on Barn Finds. Maybe I am missing something, but these were meant to be driven and enjoyed. I have owned several of today’s classics and every one was driven and enjoyed (and later sold, to my sorrow today).

    Like 16
    • Avatar Keith

      People did not drive them because they only got 6mpg on these big engines cars. They were mostly geared to run in the 1/4 mile and burn tires from stop light to stop light.

      Like 5
  3. Avatar Rixx56 Member

    When looking for a ’70 go-fast car; this,
    a 429 Torino and a Superbird were the 3
    I chose to begin comparing. Ended up
    with none on that list. However; bought
    a GTX; 440 6bbl. 4spd. I believe a 450hp
    Chevelle was quicker, but so was a 455
    Stage1 Buick. I made a good decision…
    tho Superbirds are still on my mind.

    Like 17
  4. Avatar Troy s

    Bare bones racer that never made it to the track. That’s what it reminds of….something Ford would have built like the white only 427 Fairlanes or ’68 CJ powered Mustangs in white paint, destined for race teams.
    Figure it scared the owner to death both driving then later with frequent fuel stops in ’73, parked, ten plus years later it started becoming a collectable original SS 454 and has enjoyed a strong fanfare since.
    Problem is you’d never know it was an LS6 Chevelle in those plain Jane threads.

    Like 13
    • Avatar Troy s

      EXACTLY!
      Looks like that Olds’ made it to the track and then some.

      Like 4
  5. Avatar Classic Steel

    If the market will bear 🐻 it..
    Go for it .. but I think its too much…

    I do luv it …but they did list it… lil tv show humor 😉

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Jon

    My friend had one with the console shifter and 454 looked alot more attractive in red with black interior,he rebuilt the entire car bolt by bolt and sold it for 40 grand easily.
    No way this car at $195,000 it’s way overpriced.

    Like 28
    • Avatar ace10

      Was this back in 1983?

      Like 12
      • Avatar Steve R

        Probably started life as a green on green Malibu and non-original drivetrain with no documentation. Until recently $40k was the going price for decent LS-6 clones.

        Steve R

        Like 6
    • Avatar Llouis200

      I have to agree with you 195,000 is way over the top but it depends how bad you want it.

      Like 10
      • Avatar John S Dressler

        I’ll never pay $200 large for anything on four wheels and this comes from a die-hard bow tie guy! Hell, you could build an equivalent car for a quarter of what he is asking. Sorry, I just don’t get it.

        Like 0
  7. Avatar normadesmond

    That “7E” plate is a very cool thing.

    Lots of folks in MA might give a left nut for it.

    Like 6
    • Avatar moosie

      This car looks very familiar. The lack of stripes makes it memorable. Whats the significance of “7E” in Massachusetts ?

      Like 3
  8. Avatar TimS

    I think we’ve seen this one before. It’s cool because it isn’t Requisite Red. But no Chevelle will ever be worth that much money to me.

    Like 16
  9. Avatar Bick Banter

    Premium example but this is a big nut to put into the muscle car market. A car like this will always have high value but I don’t think the top of the market is going to be 200 grand in 10 years.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Robert White

      Gasoline will be $200k USD per gallon in 10 years what with Climate Change and Green House Gases adding to the costs.

      Bob

      Like 6
      • Avatar Bamapoppy

        Robert, why don’t you just put the blame where it rests instead of vague terms.

        Like 15
  10. Avatar Bob S

    This is a classic case of “but honey, I AM trying to sell the car!”

    Like 22
  11. Avatar Scott

    Fabulous muscle car time capsule. At the right auction this would bring close to $200,000 in my opinion.

    Like 9
  12. Avatar mike b

    Sleeper? A ’70 Chevelle with clearly visible “454” badges on the sides?
    It’s only a sleeper if you were led blindfolded & installed inside only to be revealed a gold bench & column shifter.

    Like 6
  13. Avatar Chuck

    Not doubting this car’s authenticity, but is it me or does it seem like there are more “LS-6” cars for sale then were made. Every 70 I see in auctions , eBay, etc is a LS-6. Hmm

    Like 9
    • Avatar Steve R

      That’s why cars with real documentation sell at a premium. These are among the easiest cars to clone, most aren’t done very well because they use so many reproduction parts and come with later dricetrsins.

      Steve R

      Like 5
    • Avatar Larry D

      @Chuck

      Exactly right, Chuck. It’s the same with 1967 L-71 427/435 HP Corvettes. According to the Corvette Black Book, they made 3754 of them with that engine but I know I’ve seen way more than that at Barrett-Jackson, Mecum, BringATrailer, ebay and others.

      I would never buy a hi-performance Chevrolet without having one of the marque experts spending a LOT of time combing that car over completely and thoroughly.

      The problem with the GM cars as far as their rarity and ability be certified as they are represented is that they didn’t have a digit or letter in their VIN to indicate the engine that was installed at the factory.

      Furthermore, I have known guys who had cars that they knew were fake or they made themselves and freely admitted that to the person they sold their cars to. But the problem is when THAT guy sells it, he just conveniently forgets to mention that to the next buyer.

      I am shocked at a buyer who will buy a so-called rare car without going to see the car in person or sending an appraiser/expert to see it. The internet makes it too easy to buy cars sight unseen but just remember you could pay the price and suffer for it a long time unless you have a very honest seller and they are getting harder to find.

      Like 7
      • Avatar Idiot Boy

        This car is absolutely the real deal and has been well documented in magazines and has been part of at least one renowned collection. The seller buys only the best, lowest mileage, original paint Chevrolet survivors in existence. He knows and loves the cars and there are absolutely no excuses with this one. It IS the best of the best. I bought my ’70 L34 Chevelle SS 396 from him and it is of similar stature. If I had the money, I would buy this car, too in a heartbeat. For those who do not care about originality or cannot tell the difference, there are plenty of restorations and clones flooding the marketplace at prices that in many cases aren’t considerably less. The Elite Survivor reigns above all others. They’re only original once.

        Like 3
  14. Avatar wuzjeepnowsaab

    This is a FREAKING hot car. I don’t know if it’s 200K hot or not. I just know that if I had fu money I’d be all over this grail find IF it was legit

    Like 3
    • Avatar Ron

      IF? Are the build sheet and window sticker not enough documentation?

      Like 8
  15. Avatar aragenbull

    Nice car…..but is it for real? I like old cars here….. But most are way over priced for old, used fixer-uppers. Who can afford or is ” f’ ing ” crazy to pay 195K for an old, use car that cost less then $3500 when brand new???

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Paul

    with that motor and an SS option bench seat and the shifter location not on floor dont get that order option sheet, should have beena floor shifter in these cars

    Like 2
    • Avatar Idiot Boy

      You are incorrect, Sir

      Like 1
      • Avatar 454RAT Member

        Idiot Boy. It is pretty obvious that there are not too many real car people commenting on this. One person can build an equivalent (original unrestored) one like this for 50 thou?!?! I would like to see that. A deaf, mute, blind man, who has been dead for 6 months can tell this is the real deal, and any car guy who wouldn’t sell his house and live in a tent to buy his dream car, is no car guy. I’ve done it before.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Idiot Boy

        Amen, 454RAT. Like Toucan Sam, those with a true passion for the cars and what they really were and represent culturally can smell originality (literally, you can) and any fool (perhaps “tool” is more apt) with way more money than common sense trying to cash in on the latest automotive investment trend can inflate the market and set record prices for overrestored “premiere” examples of a past they never lived and therefore clearly do not understand. Seemingly the smell of a staggeringly inaccurately reproduced interior in Chinese rubber launches some well-to-do folk into a state of bidding ecstasy along with the temptation of rally stripes covered in “clear so thick you can’t even feel the edges!” Well, let’s just say it’s a very wise idea to price the plain Jane survivor car well into the stratosphere to protect it from the stock market winners and other clueless yahoos that threaten its very existence and would sooner paint stripes on it and replace the cloth bench with buckets in cheap, stinky reproduction Chinese vinyl flatter than Kansas. The most frightening words in the survivor muscle car community: “Hey, this car’s the perfect candidate for a concourse rotisserie restoration!” No, there are already enough exotic toys out there for you, Tech Bro. The Elite Survivor needs to be respected and protected from the fools and tools that have commoditized everything and care about little beyond growing their Portfolio. Carry plenty of intellectual ammunition – this is an all out war over the preservation of our automotive past without even diving into the hopeless abyss of 2021 politics.

        Like 2
  17. Avatar jwaltb

    Barn Find? In no way.

    Like 2
    • Avatar FRAN

      Idiot? Stay away from chrome bumpers.
      I think you need to understand that just maybe to the guy who said that, it is not important to have a car that came from the factory that way, but you sure can duplicate it for much less. Calling someone an idiot over a overpriced Chevy….LOL. Thats a real man/boy.
      Duh.

      Like 0
  18. Avatar fran

    Not worth it…Nice car though….Wants top $$$ and cannot even write a good description….
    Yes I thought I would put the same effort in my comment…..Most probably won’t get it.

    Like 4
  19. Avatar PRA4SNW

    For 195K, I was expecting to see an SS in its original factory wrapping.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Idiot Boy

      Well, this is as close as you’re ever gonna get, so study it carefully and appreciate that they all aren’t “rotisserie restorations”. You couldn’t recreate this car for all the tea in China

      Like 1
      • Avatar John S Dressler

        Not only can you do it, my brother just did. He completed a 70 Chevelle frame-up restoration and did all the work himself. Did it all for $47,600. Hasn’t finished rubbing out the clear coat yet but when he does, it’ll be a beaut!

        Like 1
      • Avatar Idiot Boy

        And congrats to him, Dressler. It sounds like a beautiful car. Apples to oranges. All the King’s horses and all the King’s men could not make a restored car original again…

        Like 1
  20. Avatar Chevrolet SS

    It doesn’t get much better than this gentlemen. Look carefully and learn what a real SS, not to mention an LS6 equipped version, should look like!
    Yes, I can fully understand why this car exists as it is and I’m grateful to the owner for recognizing that it was going to be a special car in the future. Thank you, Sir!
    This car is how a factory sleeper would be: bench seats, column shift turbo 400, no frills unless it made the car safer (power disk brakes were standard on SS), lighter (no console or buckets or other frills), and a plain Jane white paint job with stripe delete. The only questionable missing option for me would have been gauges and a quicker rear gear set, but no big deal to swap gears if wanted and a tach could be hung on the column easily. But NOT having a tach isn’t a big deal for a trained ear.
    Why did it get put away in 1973? Most likely the cost and availability of fuel to keep it fed! The “energy crisis “ made running a car like this totally impractical for anything but a quick cruise or maybe a little stop light duel. Daily driver? Ha, nope.
    I lived through it. It was nuts. Then unleaded fuel became law and the good stuff, like Sunoco 260 started dropping in octane rating and finally disappeared altogether from those select-a-blend pumps. My SS was (only) a 396/402 and would turn into a pussy cat when initial advance dropped to the factory 4degrees BTDC. (And an animal at 12+!) But the lousy fuel would cause pinging even at 4 degrees so it was only a matter of time. Many sold theirs. Some did not and preserved them for posterity. Let’s all be thankful they did.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Fran

      Not interested at looking any further at an overpriced car.
      Any car that is overpriced! Doesn’t matter what it is.

      Like 1
  21. Avatar Larry D

    This car again???

    Like 4
  22. Avatar John

    Next week the dollar will be worth less then it is today. The seller is just trying to get ahead of the inflation curve. Whatever he needs to do with the money, if he gets it, is spend it quick or invest it wisely, and by wisely I mean he may have to consult Sister Cleopatra to see what the spirit world tells him to invest in.

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Jimmyb

    Dream on Scott! For $195,000 this should also have black interior with a 4 speed! But for that much it should also have 5 bars of gold in the trunk!

    Like 1
  24. Avatar John

    Many people will only wake up when/if they wake up in a tent a block away from the soup kitchen. But hey, we’re still the greatest nation on earth, right? Until they pull the plug on us anyway…

    Like 4
  25. Avatar Tooyoung4heyday Member

    Yes its a retread. Guy was asking the same price the last time it was on BF. I’ve seen this car in person and it is really nice but it says something when its been for sale this long and he still owns it.

    Like 6
  26. Avatar 454RAT Member

    Brain dead Joe? Is he the one that slapped Donnie the Grabber, and sent him home crying? Is this site, Barn Finds or Let’s Cry?

    Like 5
    • Avatar John

      Most of us follow Barn Finds to enjoy the cars, write ups and comments as well as get an escape from what the political class has and is doing to us. Firing barbs at each other over which pile of dog pooh smells better is kind of pointless. At the end of the day we all should be crying over the incremental stripping away of our wealth, rights and industry and the growth of corruption, media censorship, normalization of perversion, inflation, the staggering national debt, the lives lost in pointless and provoked foreign conflicts and I could go on and on. But this is Barn Finds where we appreciate the cars envisioned and built during a time when America was a far different country.

      Like 12
  27. Avatar 454RAT Member

    1. My friend George makes an unsolicited and unnecessary Political comment. 2. My friend John agrees with him with HIS political comment. 3. I comment with an opposing view, which also tries to clarify what site we are on.?.?.? 4. My friend John, then pretends to be offended by political comments on a car site, only after my political reply to his and our friend George’s political comments. 5. Maybe my friends George and John should show a little respect to those of us interested in cars, not politics. 6. Also respect the site.

    Like 4
  28. Avatar BRIAN

    This car is very unusual..White paint with gold bench ..If it is real very rare car and will do the money at Barret and then some..

    Like 1
  29. Avatar Keith

    This is a 150k car all day long not a penny more. Look at the berger LS-6 at Legendary cars and a real nice one on Cars On line..

    Like 0
  30. Avatar Dave Peterson

    Were I wanting a big block big power Chevelle, I would buy the cheapest 1970 two headlight car I could find and build it to my taste. I would spend maybe $50,000 and would not care if it isn’t a documented LS6. It would have fuel injection, a Corvette IRS with 13″ discs at all four and maybe even a bottle in the trunk. No. No bottle. Just a driver that sticks with a clean 400 horsepower with zero stress. Only I need know what I have. But it takes all kinds to make a world, right?

    Like 0
  31. Avatar Jack Member

    For that much money and supposely original why the over-spray under the hood? If the car was ordered from the factory, for $12 more in 1970 you could have got the all vinyl interior rather than the standard cloth interior.

    This would be a more desirable car and a lot more fun to drive if it had the M-22 rock crusher. I wonder if the automatic had anything to do with why it was parked.

    The build sheet, original order, and original window sticker are nice, but doesn’t document the actual mileage. State inspection stickers would be more useful.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Idiot Boy

      These were production line automobiles in an era before robotic perfection. Overspray under the hood is original as would be various paint drips and orange peel and sealant goop remnants (painted and unpainted). The soft sheen of original Magic Mirror Acrylic Lacquer looks nothing like modern paint. You are correct about cloth being standard and since this delicate fabric literally shredded itself within a few years (my dad’s Chevelle’s was in tatters by 1977), finding a perfect Rivar Cloth interior today really is Holy Grail stuff.

      While an M22 sounds epic and is lots of fun, a THM-400 was the ticket for reliable quarter mile times.

      Anyone considering purchasing anything for $195K – let alone a car – would be wise to inspect it personally, but this Chevelle’s originality and level of preservation is so obvious to anyone intimately familiar with these cars that a plane ticket is frankly unnecessary. Elite Survivors are best left for those who fully grasp and appreciate their significance and who are dutifully committed to keeping them intact for future generations. As such, they also rightfully command the absolute highest values despite not having today’s requisite Ferrari quality paint jobs.

      Like 3
  32. Avatar Thomas

    For those that understand no explanation is necessary, for those that do not no explanation will suffice.

    Like 1
  33. Avatar Larry D

    Between the time this LS6 Chevelle was on BF before and this time, I believe it has received more comments than any other car.

    Like 1

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