Pop the hood on this shiny red Chevy and you’ll get a good view of a snowy driveway in Antioch, Illinois. The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 comes with no engine or transmission, but the seller references a build sheet documenting original equipment including the hot LS5 454 V8. A tired original interior looks ragged but complete, including the novel low washer fluid warning system. Despite evident shortcomings, the red hot Chevelle has eight bidders on tap here on eBay, raising the market value of this powerless SS above $36,000.
Aside from the obvious missing parts, the once-potent Chevy has everything else needed to run, according to the seller. While the 360 HP LS5 topped the charts in the original sales brochure, fans of these cars lust for the solid lifter hot-cammed LS6 454 rated at a staggering 450 HP. Nobody would joke about the LS5, though, matching the LS6 at 500 lb-ft of torque. The specific tank for the low-washer-warning system picked up some red overspray, but appears intact, just to the right of this view.
The black interior looks original, and replacement upholstery and other parts should be readily available on the Internet. Power disc brakes help bring the overpowered mid-size coupe to a standstill between stabs of the skinny pedal. Like most cars of the day, the bench seat makes it a six-seater. Today you need three rows and a lot less style to accomplish that feat. People have also forgotten this simple joy of your significant other sliding up beside you on a bench seat. Todaym though, we can listen to one satellite radio station without variation during a 1000 mile trip. Isn’t that great?
Despite looking rather Pontiac-like, these specific wheels came with the SS package in 1970, according to OldCarBrochures. Chrome bumpers and wheel arch trim look great from this distance.
Chevrolet RPO CD2 “Washer Jar Monitor” came only in model year 1970 as part of the ZJ9 Auxiliary Lighting Group, according to Chevelles, where you’ll find history and details on how this system works. How high would you bid on this SS without the original motor and transmission?
When I look at this car I can’t help seeing the car chase scenes in the Tom Cruise Jack Reacher movie. Go watch the movie and you will join in on the bidding for what I consider to be the best looking Chevelle ever made. Would I ever consider a electric over one of these? Not it I can help it!
During high school in the early ’80s we used to drive around trying to bait people into flexing their horsepower just to see what happened next. In the rust belt most muscle cars had rusted away by then, but everyone knew that one of these, in this color scheme, slept in single car garage barely bigger than the car itself. Driving by you could see the shiny bumper through the crack of the hinged doors. Once in a while it was parked in the driveway, so we took note of the SS 454 badges and Cowl Induction. We never got the chance to taunt it into action, and I don’t advise this activity, but the story of the perfect SS 454 in the ramshackle garage became part of local grease-monkey legend.
Hi Todd, we did the same thing 10 years prior, when these cars were new. Every stoplight was a “tree” to us, and we’d actually slow down to miss the light for a drag race. I never had any muscle cars, I went the British roadster route, and don’t kid yourself, people that drove new 454 Chevelles then didn’t want chance a ticket to someone in dads Oldsmobile. Sometimes, they’d give ‘er hell, and the race was over in the 1st 50 feet.
This is an unusual find, being an automatic. Breaks the mold that everyone was a 4 speed. Fact is, I remember way more automatics than 4 speeds. These cars just looked mean, and since it’s already engineless, I’d put a simple V6 and have 454 sounds coming out an external speaker,,
This really was a basic car, with a few options, the 454 being the big draw, it’s pretty clear what’s todays hot button is. Classic “flash in the pans” will come and go, but a red, 454 Chevelle, will go down through the future, as one of the few cars that will draw any interest,,,for now. They were awesome cars and at 10 times the amount new, I can’t imagine it will have the same zing as we had. Heck, buy an airplane or something,,,
Todd Fitch, there is nothing about those original style SS wheels that is “Pontiac like”
Dave,
I agree with you, but I would cut Todd a little slack. The trim rings on those SS wheels don’t look right – not deep enough. My brother’s 67 Camaro SS/RS 350, my sister’s 69 Camaro convertible, and my 70 Chevelle station wagon all wore the SS wheels.
A similar Chevelle was our “Hockey Night in Lockport, NY” car in 1971. My pal Paul Lacroix would get his mom’s SS396 to drive up to the Kenan Center Rink in Lockport. His dad was a GM Tonawanda Engine Plant (“The No.1 Team”) exec and to add to the hockey motif, his uncle, Pierre Lacroix was the General Manager of the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalance. The big event of the night was hitting the pedal and watching the air intake flapper door open up.
When I see a car in this awful condition, and minus the drive train, and these totally ridiculous bids, I can’t even comment. Unbelievable….
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It’s insane the common man with a middle class paycheck will never own any of these classic cars.
I know I can never afford one but it’s fun to look an reminisce!
But they could back when they were new.I bought my first house in 1980 for $25,000 with $1400 down. I’m not sure my kids will ever own homes.
I was a passenger in a “70 LS6 once, silver and black 454 with the floor mounted auto…honestly the most impressive car ride I have ever had.
Could not launch from a dead stop, but a open throttle at about 20 MPH to 130 set you back in the seat so hard you couldn’t touch the dash….
It’s in my town, but at that price and condition, it’s not worth looking at. For me anyway.
Run a 350 in it until you find a number matching big block!
Well, it will never be numbers matching again, unless the original 454 it was born with happens to surface somewhere
I like all 1970 Chevelles.
Bidding now up to $36,100 on a nice “in need of total restoration” ’70 Chevelle minus engine and transmission? Can that be right?
Simply amazing! Just a few years back my brother in law sold his 70 chevelle SS, in excellent original condition for 30 grand. I know it wasn’t a big block but still?
Hmmm, a 454 without a 454 for 36K. This hobby sure has changed.
If the rear is a positraction I am ready to go, but with a four gear.
I would be suspicious of the body because Illinois and arrest me red. The repaint is too new and too bright and with road salt well you can guess the rest. 58 minutes left and 36K, good luck for a car selling without the engine block and no pictures of the rockers or rear quarters. Finding the right engine is not an issue, finding the correct block serial numbered is the problem.
Is it reserved?
I remember back around 1989/90, here in my East TN town, there was a local family that put their triple black 1971 or 72 SS 454 Chevelle Convertible up for sale at $15,000. it was in immaculate condition. Back then I thought that was a little high, but at today’s prices it might bring $100,000 or more being pretty much in showroom condition. Can’t remember if it was auto or 4 speed though.
Soooo, $36K FOR A SHELL WITH A RATTY INTERIOR, AUTO ON COLUMN & A BENCH SEAT? LUNACY! Oh, plus a new engine & trans needed lol! I’d rather buy that light green malibu you had a few days ago, rock solid straight bod, drop a stroked BB in it & a 5sp Tremec. It was a LOT nicer than this at a third of the price! Put my own ‘SS’ emblems & clone it, whats the difference? Sure the red ones a real SS but w/o the orig engine & trans, it is only an SS in name & title only. Crazy!
I can’t see you getting 36,000 for a clone maybe $3,600 especially with no motor no transmission but SS’s came with either an automatic in the floor or four-speed in the floor and that ain’t one of them