In 1970, Chevrolet introduced a new big-block V8 displacing 454 cubic inches. The LS6 version produced 450 horsepower, and Chevelle Super Sports equipped with one are considered Holy Grail automobiles today. The seller purchased this black-on-black version from the original owner’s family, and many of the photos are from that pre-period. It hasn’t run in years and should be considered a project that’s as close to original as you may ever find. Located in Payson, Arizona, this beastly barn find is available here on craigslist for… drumroll, please… $125,000.
When new, the LS6 454 V8 found in Chevelles and El Caminos wasn’t rare. Some 4.475 of them were built, along with 4,298 of the LS5 versions that were rated at 90 fewer horses (“only” 360 hp). But these weren’t viewed as collectibles back in the day, so they were used as muscle cars often are, and most of them disappeared by the end of the decade or the next. We’re told this example should be rarer with the M40 automatic transmission, 4.10 gears, posi-traction, and a 12-bolt rear end – all wrapped in Tuxedo Black paint, which is original to the Chevy (and it has white stripes, to boot).
This was a one-owner car with a reported 58,000 miles that the seller purchased out of an estate. It’s numbers-matching, and part of the build sheet has survived, though it’s pretty ragged. The car also has a black interior with bucket seats, console, full gauges, and cowl induction for the beastly big block. The seller says the car is even listed in a registry for the LS6. This Chevy was left in a barn and wasn’t started for decades, so its condition has deteriorated. A lot of the photos provided show it surrounded by other classic cars, probably in the seller’s own collection.
According to the seller, this Chevy was once street race,d and pics from the original owner show the car looking quite the part. Whatever those races were, this SS 454 never lost one. But keep in mind, for $125,000 you get a restorable project, not a running survivor or a recent restoration. Could this end up being a $200,000 museum piece once it’s redone?
Wow. Agree w you Dixon, unless you were asleep 😴 at the lites, how could you lose a race w an autoloader, this motor, and 4.10s.
M40, was that just the option code for the Turbo 400 Hydramatic ?
I’ll second what Stan said. You really didn’t have to try too hard to win with this. This is definitely something else. 1970 was the peak of the muscle car era, premium fuel, high compression, it was all sadly downhill as the 70’s wore on as we all know. I thought the 150 grand asking price on the ’59 Caddy Droptop was eye watering. This is a lot of money. I don’t think you’d make any money on this if you restored it, but man, you’d have one awsome, beautiful quick ride.
Many people point out the fact that the LS6 is the holy grail, but there are many “holy grails”. Original L88’s and ZL1’s are very rare, as are 1964 Z11’s. People always talk about the LS6 Chevelle’s, but I don’t hear as much about the LS6 Corvette’s. But I digress, this is a nice barn find, but this car will swallow close to 6 figures, to get it back to showroom condition. The asking price is very high, considering what the car needs. $125 large, gets you a VERY nice car…………..or two.
Get it running and leave it as it is. It represents a point in time when modified cars filled the parking lots at the local diner on a Friday or Saturday night, school parking lots and staging lanes at the local track. This is the type of car that got people interested in cars. Far too many have been restored to stock, losing the personal touches that helped define that generation. I’m not sure of the price, its dynamic is different than most, the serious collector will determine its value.
The other cars in the garage are really cool. Whoever owns it has built a beautiful collection.
Steve R
Funny thing about the LS6. BITD they didnt look much different from the LS5 or the regular L34 350HP Chevelle SS running around. But if you had a 340 Duster and one pulled along to race, you were going to get your butt kicked. Unlike a Hemi ‘Cuda, which rarely were tuned correctly, they were fast and reliable and were lurking out there, but they were expensive even back then.
I was always aware of them and admired them a lot.
$125,000.00 is a relatively low price of admission to the LS6 club. If I had it I would buy this just to be cool for once. Alas, I couldn’t afford one then and still can’t.