1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6

In response to competitive pressure, for 1970 GM officially dropped its edict that no more than 400 cubic inches could reside in it's intermediate muscle cars. All immediately dropped in their biggest motors. Each also produced a special, high-performance version of their monster mill.

Plus	Minus
Top Tier Muscle Styling All parts available Ride/Handling Balance	Can be faked, and plenty are Production high enough to limit values over time 8-12 mpg!

For Chevy, it was known as it's option code, LS6, and it resided in the newly redesigned Chevelle SS. Arguably the most sought after of all Chevelles, the new body was clean and attractive. Interiors were likewise well-designed. A bench seat was standard, but the buckets and console options really dressed things up. Other options to look for: cowl induction and the rallye dash w/full gauges. The LS6 motor itself mandated additional cost "optional" heavy duty equipment.

But the star of this show is the motor. At 454 cubic inches, an underated 450hp @6500 rpm and 500ft lbs torque, it featured high compression (11.25:1) and a solid-lifter camshaft. It was very, very strong indeed. In stock form--on those slippery, skinny 14" bias-plys, no less--it would run mid-13's at close to 110 mph. Impressive. A properly running HEMI would give it a go, and the slightly handicapped longer stroke motors from the GM camp were a threat in some circumstances. Ford had the 429 SCJ, but it rarely could answer the call among this group.

The LS6 SS enjoyed unprecedented sales success for such a high-performance motor, actually outselling the more docile LS5. 4468 of them found their way into the hardtop, but only a reported 20 in the convertible (a number that is disputed, of course). Because of such big numbers, hardtops are fairly plentiful. They're also pretty easy to fake, so watch yourself. Prices are strong, but there are too many out there for them to consistently reach original HEMI price territory. The exception is the convertible, and if this market keeps going, we may see a $500,000 Chevelle soon. (see update below)

The Market

Update 2016: Values rose sharply for another year after this article was first published, then plummeted during the "Great Market Correction". And, yes, the $1/2 million convertible became a (short-lived) reality. Values have modestly crept upward, and recently they have shown a spark of momentum. As for not reaching HEMI territory, after the change in market (when this was first published there was a feeding frenzy for anything HEMI) they closed the gap somewhat but in general, a comparable HEMI still brings more.

Current Values

This mini-profile first appeared in the April 2006 issue of Collector Car Market Review. (C) Copyright 2006- VMR International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.