The Chevrolet Chevelle is one of those versatile cars that served admirably in just about all capacities, ranging from basic family sedans up to offerings that are infinitely more exciting. When it comes to performance, there’s not much that gets bowtie fans salivating heavier than the 1970 Chevelle Super Sport with an LS6 engine, which is how this one here on eBay began life all those decades ago. This Chevy is a project, but with such a favorable bloodline, the current bid of $45,100 is likely going to keep climbing until the reserve is met, or perhaps an ardent enthusiast will end up eagerly punching the $70,000 buy-it-now button. This high-rolling SS is in Denver, Colorado, if you want to go check it out first before deciding how much to invest here.
The Chevelle is lovingly described as the original buyer’s pride and joy, but sadly, he is now deceased, and the title was passed down to his son. Dad ordered this one with racing in mind, as evidenced by the build sheet, which shows excellent specs such as a 4-speed manual transmission, a positraction rear end with 4.10 gears, plus the icing on the cake, a 454 engine of the LS6 variety. Sending at least 450 HP quickly and consistently to such a low-end ratio differential eventually took its toll on the big block, and after the factory powerplant blew up, a 396 was installed in the bay as the replacement. That motor is also now in need of a rebuild, but the seller has a line on a correct date-code 454 block, so unless you happen to have one dormant in your garage, that’s probably worth following up on. Fortunately, the transmission and 12-bolt unit are both still the original components.
To have lived a rougher-than-normal life on the streets, the body remains in fine condition overall, with the only areas of rust located in the bottom sections of the front fenders where they attach to the frame. A sub-par repaint was sprayed on at some point in the past, but the seller assures us that the panels were good and solid when this was applied. This one’s also a factory triple-black example, and while the vinyl top has now been removed, it might be worth considering adding that material back when the future owner decides it’s time to restore the exterior. Things outside could also be more aesthetically pleasing if all four rims and tires matched, whether they are factory wheels or something aftermarket.
Other than buckets and a console, the interior is fairly basic here. However, when you’ve got that beautiful T-handled shifter sticking up through the tunnel, what more do you really need? The headliner shows a few holes, plus the driver’s seat could use some new upholstery, but after making those repairs then replacing the cracked steering wheel, the inside appearance might be satisfactory. It’d be great if the original 454 LS6 were present, but with how this one came performance-optioned, it’s still a very desirable example, and I’m curious if the seller will end up getting his seventy grand here. What are your thoughts on this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport?
Odd looking angle on the Hurst handle. Big torque, big block motors match up nicely w taller rear gears I always thought. 🏁 Thanks for the article Stephens.
T-handles are uncomfortable when they are mounted facing 90 degrees to the driver. They need to mounted at an angle, some like more of an angle than others. Almost everyone tries a T-handle on a Hurst shifter, many switch back to a knob. That’s what I did with my 1970 Torino, I got tired of the factory installed T-handle (with the shift pattern built in) and switched to a white knob. I’ve never kept a T-handle on any car.
Steve R
back in the day, guys would bring T-handles in with the threads stripped for us to weld up. ( TIG was called Heli-arc back then ) It was pointless, as the filler metal was even softer than the original metal, but some would not take no for an answer.
It’s probably loose…that happens sometimes…
I raced in a pure stock type musclecar drag event years ago in my ’69 440 sixpack Superbee.
An LS6/four speed Chevelle was the only car in the field that I couldn’t get around. It had a stone stock driveline, but the chassis was set up right. I cut something like a .501 light in the finals and still finished about a half car behind. I’d have given a hundred bucks for a little whiff of nitrous.
Decent car with good pictures the front rims have to go, get rid of the stickers under the hood, get the right air cleaner lid Still a decent car with the 396/4-speed set up.
Click bait headline. It is not currently what the headline would have us believe, is it? Stop being so cheesy with the facts.You guys were classier than that a few years ago.
Ignore the headline and read down to find out it is a 396 in need of a rebuild.
I disagree. Look at the paperwork. It may have a 396 now, but it is a documented LS6 car. Most of the cars put there with a 396 can’t prove it. At least with this one you can prove it’s a factory SS and a fact 454 car. Since the 396 needs a rebuild anyway, just find a period correct 454
This is no longer an LS6. Also hard to believe the mileage claim without paperwork to verify it. Hard to see this getting 70.000 and being over a 100.000 when restored for a non numbers matching car.
It’s is still an LS6 it has factory paperwork that verifies that’s how it was equipped when new. Some people say once the original engine is gone it quits being whatever package it was when it left the factory, but there more than enough people that disagree with that sentiment to keep prices elevated above base models. It’s won’t have the value a matching numbers car will have, but it is still valuable, LS6 engines aren’t particularly hard to find, I used to work at a speed shop in the SF Bay Area, the owner said that in the early-1970’s they would place orders 50 LS6 and LS7’s a couple of times a year, they would sell them mainly to local races and guys with V-drive boats.
I think it’s overpriced too, but that’s between potential buyers and the seller. I never believe mileage claims without some form of documentation, pictures of the speedometer are useless.
Steve R
What speed shop did you work at? My stepfather had a funny car, and his driver owned Hat Racing in San Rafael. Lorry was still wrenching away in his 80s, from what I heard, but he had to finally move his shop after Arneson died and the whole strip was sold off.
Rocco, I met you step father once, between 15-20 years ago, at a car show in San Rafael. I have a friend from that area who has mentioned his race car and directed me to some online pictures a few years ago. I never saw his funny car run, I mainly went to bracket races, most likely after he’d finished racing it. Someone told me he sold off some vintage parts at the Petaluma swapmeet a few years ago, I hope he got some good money for those parts and sold most, if not all of what he had.
I worked at a store in Hayward during the late-90’s to late-2000’s, they closed around 2013 or 2014. There are no true speed shops left in the entire Bay Area. Mail order and some bad decisions did them in.
My buddy from that area said many of the cars used in American Graffiti were wrenched on at some of the shops in San Rafael between the 101 and the bay and many of the cars were parked on the streets in front of the shops prior to filming and afterwards, before they were sold off. Did your step father work on any of the cars?
I hope he’s still doing well.
Steve R
Will “never” have anywhere near the value as not having the original engine!
Sorry, I just saw this. My stepfather was John Kinsel, who was the original owner of the car; his driver was Lorry Azevedo, who owned Hat Racing down in the canal area. You might have seen Lorry selling some stuff, as we have been out of the Bay Area for a long time. Don Orlandi from Orlandi & Sons ( I believe that is what it was called back in the day) did some of the paint work for American Graffiti and was a good friend of ours. Also, my uncle raced a C/Gas Corvette, and he owned the Union 76 station near Country Club Bowling Alley. I am sure the car was out there a time or two. Stepdad is still kicking at 80. Both he and Lorry had heart attacks but are doing well. I believe Lorry is 84, and he is still wrenching on motors in a shop in Petaluma. Dad talked to him recently. I wish I could post photos, as I have one of the two of us and the car when it was at a Grand Opening of my other uncle’s 76 station in Tiburon in the early 70s
Car most likely has had a rough life, original engine blown up, current engine needs rebuilt making it the car that was put through its paces anytime someone got behind the wheel.
The striping looks like a faux combination of SS/ Yenko. Hood and deck striping is is not even close and the sides are goofy looking. other than that it’s not that bad. I think 70k is a little steep.
There are certain American classic muscle cars you can pull the engine from and it’s still what it was when built as long as the correct engine is under its hood and matches the build sheet. Boss 429’s, Hemi Cudas, 67 L88s and this. There are probably a couple I am missing but this is definitely on the automotive Holy Grail list. The price is steep, but the documentation is there and it’s not a basket case.
Wtf is going on with that shifter
Got a line on a 454 block? Better reel that puppy in and throw it in the live well if you wanna catch the big ones! That side stripe might scare ’em away though..
Too high priced to not get upside down restoring it correctly. And even if you restore it, it’s not the original engine. If you must have a triple black LS-6 no matter the cost here’s your project.
70 k with the original LS6 would not be too far out of line but with a burnt 396 w/o hp rating 325 350 or 375? Price is too high!
What is going on here. Original engine gone, this one needs rebuild. Do people just get in these cars, start it, put the pedal on the floor and power shift all the way to work. I have had plenty of muscle cars, and never lost one engine in them (some saw the strip). The car is still nice, and has good options….price is high…still it will sell.
I agree, for a non-numbers matching car that was well used, $70k is pretty steep. But, like the old saying goes, ‘they’re not making them anymore either’.
Value & beauty are in the eye of the beholder & I’m sure someone will step up with the funds.
Did anyone notice the rusted out frame in the E Bay pics?
No way a$70,000 car. Needs way too much work to pay that price.
Maybe $20,000?
IMO.
Chuck: I agree re: the frame pictures, and I am also surprised as you that no one else has brought it up. That aside, the missing original motor and the overall condition of the car is concerning, but the fact that it still has the factory broadcast sheet confirming that it is an original LS-6 car is a pretty big plus. That being said, 70K is WAY out of line for this car. 40K is a realistic number, and anyone paying much over that is going to wake up one fine day with a serious case of buyers remorse.
That ship already sailed. A dealer is selling it, they probably paid fair market, or less.
Why are heirs required to keep a muscle car that was bought new by their parent?
Steve R
They rarely keep anything but cash and what can be quickly turned into cash. Some of us have a little sentimental value. Disposable society.
missing the original engine so that’s going to hurt it. seller said they would supply a dated block but sounds to me you gotta pay for it on top of buying the car. at the asking price throw in a restoration and you’re going to be under water as the market seems to be getting softer as this year moves on
The seller might get the $70 large he’s looking for, but it won’t be my $70k. If it had the original LS6 and needed a rebuild? Yeah I could see it, but not with a burnt up 396. 20 years from now, when our generation is gone, this car won’t be worth shi*. Kids today could care less about cars from the 60’s and 70’s.
Gateway Classics has 11 1970s for sale, ranging from 46-100k plus.Easier to buy a better running model than this at 70k plus another 30-40 to get it done right.
I don’t see any rust issue’s with the frame, that rust in the pictures is the rocker area of the front fenders. It will also need a trunk pan. The pedals, especially the clutch pedal shows far more than 36000 miles of ware, even if it was 1/4 mile at a time.
Ronald, those photos may be of the “rocker area”, but those are frame rails, not sheet metal.
Just trying to learn here. In the pictures showing the underside of the car, aren’t the lift pads on the frame rails? Either way there is a lot more rot on this car than they wany you to believe.
Auction closed on 7/17/2025 with a high bid of $46,100, did not meet reserve.
Steve R
Unbelievable! Now I am fully aware of what this car was when it rolled off the assembly line and just how desirable that particular car would be, but this ain’t that car. What this thing is a rust infested ’70 Chevelle with a cool title, and in my opinion the seller made a huge error in judgment walking away from $46,100.