In the world of Chevelle’s this 1970 SS454 LS6 is about as close to the Holy Grail as you can get! It’s not just a well equipped muscle car, but it’s a documented survivor with ownership history going back to 1971. Its option list includes the 450 horsepower 454 V8, the M22 Rock Crusher transmission, 12 bolt with 4.10 ratio rear end, the F41 suspension package and the 6,500 red line tachometer all wrapped in Tuxedo Black paint. It’s been parked in Texas since 1980, so it’s seen just 49k miles. It isn’t a pristine example, with plenty of bumps and bruises, but that just makes this car that much cooler! You can find this big block Chevelle here on eBay in Phoenix, Arizona with a BIN of $50,000.
If you read HotRod Magazine you might recognize this car, as they’ve done two separate features on it. That doesn’t really add any value in my book, but it’s definitely nice to know that other enthusiasts have already done research on the car to authenticate it. Given the desirability of these LS6 Chevelles, it isn’t unheard of to find fakes being sold as the real deal. This one’s documentation seems to all line up and enough people have seen it that if it were a fake someone would have proven it by now. That being said, it’s still always a good idea to do some due diligence and check things out for yourself.
While the condition could be better, it appears to be a solid car and would be a good candidate for a complete restoration. Personally, I’d love to see the next owner preserve the exterior of the car, as the original paint looks awesome. There’s going to be plenty of mechanical restoration to be done, so skipping paint and body work will save time and money. Speaking of mechanical work, the original LS6 is gone, but the current engine is a GM Warranty Replacement and is the correct specs for this car. That’s likely to impact the value of this car, but since it’s a documented warranty replacement it shouldn’t have a huge impact. The rest of the drivetrain appears to be original to the car, so that’s a plus.
This Chevelle has some serious potential, but it isn’t going to come cheap or easily. That’s to be expected though, the best things in life don’t come easy! So, if you were to take this project on, how would you build it? Would you do a complete frame off restoration or would you leave the body alone but restore everything underneath it?
I wish there was a donation to a children’s cancer fund for every time we see “holy grail” and “patina”.
What’s the deal with the warranty engines? Are they basically what you got if you went to a parts counter in1972 and ordered a LS6 spec engine?
I see the phrase a lot, especially in this era car.
Cars like this were often raced and as a result the engines had a tendency to get destroyed and then replaced under warranty.
My father’s 69 Z/28 didn’t even make it home from the dealer when new, the main caps weren’t tightened.
The original 302 didn’t even have 50 miles on it before he ended up with a warranty mill.
Yep. My ’69 Corvette has a ‘CE’ stamped, or Chevrolet Engine, replacement in it thanks to similar circumstances.
Back then the whole numbers matching fervor wasn’t like it is with collector cars now.
Nice that they did the replacement under warranty!
If i grenaded my Scat Pack engine, they would pull the GPS data and see Cecil County Dragway on it… and tell me to pound sand!
No apostrophe in Chevelles, unless you’re referring to a specific car’s “world”.
“Holy patina, Batman!”
It’s the “Holy Grail of Patina!!”
Patina, patana, patina, patana let’s sort the whole thing out!
I thought the Hellcat Scat Pack has a 36 month 36,000 mile warranty, please correct me if I am wrong?
Jeff – the Scat Pack and Hellcat do have a 3 yr/36K mile warranty. I even bought the extended warranty to 10 yr/100K miles… but it is negated if you are racing the car. It specifically states, “Racing Not Covered. Your warranties don’t cover the costs of repairing damage or conditions caused by racing, nor do they cover the repair of any defects that are found as the result of participating in a racing event.”
I am not a huge Chevelle fan BUT, if any proof is available that this specific car was born an LS6 car it IS worth saving and IS worth money. Not as much as one with better doc’s and original drive train of course. They are just rare and not many made. It IS just that simple, it IS one of the most iconic muscle cars with one of if not the MOST factory HP of that day & time.
I agree with keeping it aesthetically original, redo all the mechanical and interior and drive it. Cars are only original once. You can always paint it/restore it someday.
The Motor, is there NOT a date code on it? If there is and it lines up with being a GM replacement…..that goes a long way for me.
I had a 400 Firebird Convertible with most factory options that the dealership owner blew it up on the drag strip. New GM replacement block. I got the damaged block with the car too.
That is what these kind of cars were made for my friends. Smoke the tires and GO FAST! Who knew anyone would care about them 50 years later?
Yes the warranty engines were the same as you’d buy over the counter , usually if it was for warranty only the short block would be replaced. Heads etc. If still usable would be transferred over to the new short block. Those new blocks were stamped on the pad CEA & sometimes CE, it was the repairing dealers responsibility to add the cars VIN # on the pad. I dont recall Chevy offering complete replacement engines back then, except for the 350/370 LT-1 engines for a very short time , but I could be wrong.
$10000 at best
Awesome car! I can’t believe it’s remained in this state since being parked the year I was born without someone putting it back on the road. It doesn’t need anything difficult to get it roadworthy. I’d do the mechanicals and “fix up” the interior. Seats, carpet, headliner, door panels. Since it’s had the kick panels and rear deck cut I’d just throw in modern speakers with period aftermarket grilles and head unit from the 80’s. I wouldn’t touch the body/paint other than maybe some rust inhibiting. Maybe do the dash pad and steering wheel, maybe not. Drive the hell out of it I would. No worries about rock chips and parking lot dings.
And you’d pay $50 grand for that? It seems to me that anybody willing to invest 50k in this car is hoping to restore it and sell it for more. And I agree with the earlier comments about the warranty replacement motor. If we’re getting hung up on a car having its original motor, why does this car get a pass? Somebody destroyed the motor that was ‘born’ with the car. Isn’t that a deal killer?
I wouldn’t pay 50 grand, no. I’m speaking of what I’d do if I had the car. If I had that kind of cake to drop on a car it certainly wouldn’t be a chevelle which I consider the most generic muscle car of all time.
Nate no that is not a deal killer it has the correct to date replacement engine if it was a crappy 350 or any other small block v8 replacement engine then it would be a deal breaker
Careful what you say about Chevelles around these parts. Some people don’t like it when you disparage their favorite muscle car. I found that out several months ago.
Had I fifty large, I’d drop it on a ’70 GS Stage 1, but not this bowtie. No siree.
At the end of the day, this seems like a very solid Tuxido Black, rare white bench 4 speed, Jerry Macneisch documented LS6. You will stick $25k into and still be able to get your money out of it. That is if all the casting numbers on the engine come back to being that of a warranty replacement ls6, and not a 454 out of a 76 c20. I disagree with the columnist, any magazine exposure adds value, especially if they are articles depicted on documenting the validity of this car.
I’ll keep you in mind when mine is ready for a new home later this year. 1970 numbers matching (including carb, dist, and rad), four speed, A/C coupe (1 of 51). Texas car for 8 years and then Sacramento ever since (no rust). 80% restored back in 80 and never finished off. Should be on the road in a month or two. I got it on a bluff offer and my best friend accepted. Was actually looking for an XKE (still am). Have to admit, it is growing on me.
Sorry, I can never get the damn pictures in the correct orientation!
Any of the other three GM 1970 muscle cars: a Buick GSX, Stage 1, a Olds 442 W30, or the Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV HO. All three were superior, the Buick being the torque Monster with 510 lb ft coming on at 2800 RPM! The Olds engines were ALL blueprinted, custom built, and the GTO was the best handling of the four. Probably the Buick is the best investment vehicle. Stage 1 cars are Wicked BadAss!
I think we’ve reached the point where people are actually paying more for barn finds relative to the amount of work the car will need to make mint.
Put another way, it would be way cheaper, and I mean way cheaper, to buy a fully restored one of these versus buying one like this, or that blue Hemi Road Runner featured here earlier this week, and trying to fix it up to show car status. They’re not really even the same product even though they share the same name plate.
This is a very strange phenomenon. I attribute it to the very good economy, which, by the way, many experts are predicting is going to start massively slowing down due to a global recession soon. So I wouldn’t be buying anything like this is an investment right now.
Exactly, and well said. When the investment and IRA/401k balances take a 20% hit, watch prices fall 405-50%. What did these car prices do from 2008 to 2011? At these prices, buying one fully restored, or simply going to a dealer and getting yourself a new or three year old modern Mustang/Camaro/Challenger are the more logical choice. Go look at the raven black 289 auto in the classifieds here – $34k? Wut? Now take that money to your local new car/used car dealer. Cray cray, yo.
How does a 50K mile car end up with an interior like that? Not seeing that Rock Crusher any where also. Strange they would put that warranty block in and not finish it. Under warranty I think the General would have completed the job. Cool car for sure.
Its a texas car that had to have spent sometime outside in the sun, also the listing shows a picture of the underside of the car where you can see the trans
Thanks Dustin, I noticed the shifter was gone and thought the tranny was gone also.
What I read is no build sheet, no matching number engine block or transmission. Neat car but these missing items have to affect the price before and after a restoration. I still want it
Even though it has no build sheet, the registry paperwork means a lot. They only let you in if they are sure your car is legit. I know of an all original LS6 for sale. The car was built in Flint where they rarely stamped engine blocks or installed build sheets. He has ownership history back to the early 80’s. The registry won’t let him in. And he can’t sell it. Sad
Here’s a good one for you Andrew, 1983 I went to look at a Hugger Orange 71 Z/28, black interior, 4 speed, absolutely stunning car. I’ve done all my research, know numbers inside and out, and when I look at the castings on the block and start spouting how the numbers don’t correspond to the data I’ve learned the guy selling it closes the hood, looks at me and very calmly says if I knew anything I’d know that the engine was an over the counter service replacement motor, then says he doesn’t want my money no way, no how. That lesson to me still rings true today, I never again picked apart any car I bought because I wanted to enjoy it for what it was. Passed on a Bronze L78 Nova stick car by being too picky around the same time too. Man was I stupid………
They say that a fool and his money are easily parted. You still have your money. End of story.
Seems like he got mad that you called him out on his bs…….
Lots of Camaros out there dude, no need to deal with a scammer ahole.
If it were me, I’d go full restoration. Not because of the future value, which in my opinion is a fool’s errand (except with certain Chrysler products and Shelby) but because it is rare enough and desirable enough that it deserves better than to be left faded, dented, and sorry looking.
Oh, and I hate the “patina” fad.
Used to be a nice car.
Not now.
And not worth a fraction of asking price.
Maybe not even worth parting.
“Alright, alright, alright”
suddenly I have an urge to go watch a movie … dunno why
I believe that unrestored original paint survivor cars are going to continue growing in popularity, simply because so many of you are in a hurry to throw shiny new paint on these cars. So few original paint cars remain, that they can only get rarer. The barn finds and survivors are clearly getting more and more of the attention at cars shows. This Chevelle may not qualify as a survivor, but I expect it would get a LOT more attention if the new owner preserves the original paint and restored only the mechanics and interior.
Any body heard the term “sleeper”
yes, but not applicable here, IMO. I am sure most would agree.
Sleeper? Not when discussing one of the most high profile muscle cars ever built,
Purchased on Friday, drag raced and thrashed at the strip on Saturday, towed to the dealership on Monday for a replacement motor.
The only way to break in a new motor was to immediately dump the clutch at 6500-7000 and bang through every gear, if it held up to that kind of abuse for the entire weekend you know you had a good motor.
Either go slow for your entire life or go fast a few times! Whats worth more is a debatable question.
I would rather go fast a few times, matching numbers don’t give you wood or put a smile on your face.
“The only way to break in a new motor was to immediately dump the clutch at 6500-7000 and bang through every gear, if it held up to that kind of abuse for the entire weekend you know you had a good motor.”
i hope you are kidding…
What do you think Grumpy Jenkins would do with a 69 ZL-1? EXACTLY THAT! Why do you think that there are so many 69-70 race cars that have 250-300 miles on them? They were put on a quarter mile at a time. That’s common knowledge. Race on Sunday, sell on Monday was a Real Thing!
I am serious as a heart attack, big block Chevy’s were built to be constantly abused.
Back in the day even the girls we hung out with beat the dog $hit out of there cars.
Personally I could care less about an LS6,or Chevelle for that matter. Let’s take an honest look at the car. Styling is conservative and boring to me. Subdued color’s for the times. While the motor gets all the credit, along with transmission. It still looks very plain and simple. No loud colors,or big decals. I’m NO Dodge or Chrysler fan either. I do see the value, though even if I had the funds to buy one, it will never happen. If I found this car, I’d flip it,plain and simple. It does nothing for me.
OhU8one2 and Johnny Joseph, please understand……..I am not arguing with any of your comments. I actually am in your camp finding that the Pontiac’s, Olds and Buick cars are more interesting but for whatever “cult like” reason, Chevy’s command the bottom line. Again I agree with your comments but the LS6 specifically brings a different following and that creates the demand thus the market thus the price for these cars. I love Buick GS Stage 1 cars, i have a customer with 2 GS Stage 1’s, a 70 & a 71 Convertible. The are both beautiful, super clean, rare, super low production numbers, I think one is like one of 56 made…. awesome cars that do not bring LS6 money, they just don’t. I think they should but they don’t. I like the Cutlass more than the Chevelle and I like the Firebird more than the Camaros and I have owned them all….but the Chevy’s just bring more money. I am a GM guy. I don’t understand the Mopar money either. Cool cars etc but i just don’t see selling my organs to get one!
Johnny, when you say “all 3 were superior to the LS6 Chevelle” I am in agreement in that they were (in my opinion) nicer, more interesting, more luxurious, great cars BUT they did not have more HP and the LS6 was no slouch on torque. Heck, I had a 454 1972 Stingray with 290 HP and 455 foot pounds of torque…..with the M22. It was a great car, fun to drive and had low HP.
I enjoy seeing cars that you don’t always see so I love the orphan cars, big fan. But an LS6 1970 Chevelle is one of the most bad ass, if not the most, HP production cars ever to roll out of a factory.
Tom, I get what your saying and I understand the lure of LS6 followers. But, I myself just dont see the attraction with Chevelles. They are just not my cup of tea. Now the Buick Stage One was an absolute torque monster. I believe the torque rating was 510? I’m more onto the Generals other makes. Pontiac being my hands down favorite. But hey, we are all running grease in our heads. It’s the love of the automobile that we all share in common. The car that has its own soul. And we all can connect with. Cars today don’t have that. They are boring and cold,viewed strictly as disposable transportation. The pure joy of driving is gone. I really enjoy manually shifting gears, applying brakes without assistance. No traction control,or parking sensors, or tire pressure monitors. Keep things simple, lightweight and enjoy.
50,000 is a little steep for a car not 100% just because of it being a certain model. Looks like it sat out in the weather for 40 years. My friend Fred Powell in North Carolina just finished restoring his originally bought new documented car with 22,000 miles on it. I helped him build his garage a few years ago, and I can tell you it really didn’t need restored, he did it out of his love for the car that served him well over the years. I’ll share a photo from a couple years prior to the restore, and try to do one with it sitting in his garage afterword. It was a body off restore, he didn’t cut corners.
Second shot here is after a 2 year long restore by the owner. Other than paint job, he did it mostly by himself.
Beautifully done. Great car.
Body was off during the time it was at a paint shop, he redid all of the mechanical’s himself.
The older I get the more I don’t like ‘70 Chevelles. Just too stubby and bulbous. Roof line and front end expression remind me of a fat guy with no chin and a mullet. I’m biased though, kinda always been a Mopar man.
It’s easy to see why SS Chevelles were so popular at the drive in’s back in the day. Besides the 1966 the 70 is my next favorite Chevelle.
The only thing it survived is a teenager , every car is a survivor ,every car is the holy grail , just not this one being original numbers matching engine is gone . Paperwork means nothing without #s matching block . Put it together and beat the balls off of it in true hot rod style ! The car was made to drive and looking at it in a showroom is a waste of a good car and money .
My 70 Chevelle 454 is still running around intact in MN. Got it when I left the army in 1970. got off the plane at 5 am was at the dealership to pick it up at 9am when they opened. Had it for 4 years, sold it cuz gas prices had climbed to a dollar a gallon. Friend spotted it at a car show maybe 6 years ago. Found the original bill of sale etc. provided it to the owner. He offered it to me 2 years ago, had too much going on, not enough space, didn’t buy it. Kick myself once a week for being so stupid. They were great street racers! Lost 3 races in 4 years. Not telling to what or why.
I would like to know how these folks know they have an “M22”. It seems like everybody thinks they have one.
If Jerry likes it , so do I .
Lots of money for the car…however as I have aged I have begun to look at this hobby differently. Lets say this is the car of your dreams. You buy it for 50K, sink another 50K into it to make it perfect.. or close to it. You now potentially have 100K into it, give or take. Tons of money by anyone’s measure. BUT you now go on to enjoy the hell out of your dream car for perhaps 10 years. Sell it in ten years (worst case scenario) for let’s say 50K after it has been thoroughly enjoyed. That’s a 50K loss over 10 years or 5K/yr. Not so bad for all that fun. Too often we look at our expensive passions from a return on investment point of view. We never really own these things, we enjoy them and pass them along. I know guys that drop 5K a year from a bar stool.
Sorry for the sermon.
Lots of good comments on one of the most famous muscle cars ever built. A rare case where the higher out put engine outsold the lower, making the LS5 slightly more rare and definitely less valuable.
For me personally my so called Holy Grail Chevelle would be the super rare COPO 427 Chevelles from ’69. High winding 427 made more than enough torque for a mid sized car but really could scream.
Be nice to see this one left in a bit of a rough state, like I remember so many of these being in years ago but mechanically stout. Like the ones those hoods used to cruise around in, looking for chicks, trouble, a race, anything but legal. Oh the memories!
I like the 69 427 copo chevelles as well but they are in the $200k and over range now,