1970 Chevrolet Chevelle

Description

To most Chevelle fans, 1970 is the ultimate year, and that year, the top dog was unquestionably the SS 454. They also make fantastic resto-mods, as this 1970 SS ably demonstrates. With features like a 4-speed transmission C, 17-inch wheels that look perfect in the Chevelle's wheel wells, and a spectacular interior, this is a car that will be the center of attention anywhere it goes.

If a subtle look is what you're looking for, painting a car burgundy metallic is a step in the right direction. However, once you add in a set of bright white SS stripes, a cowl induction hood, and a few SS badges, well, the jig is pretty much up. The Chevelle's muscular shape will never go out of fashion, and when they're as well done as this one, details like the subtle flared fenders and the relief line that runs from nose to tail tend to stand out even more. The chrome is nicely finished, with bright, clear bumpers fore and aft, and brilliantly polished stainless around the windows and wheel wells. Correct SS badges have been used on the front fenders, and a correct blacked-out SS grille carries the torch up front. The paint isn't perfect, but a professional cut-and-buff would really wake it up and take this cool A-body to the next level.

Inside, the original bench seats are so nice that I have to believe that they've been reupholstered, but the two-tone interior looks entirely appropriate to 1970. While seats, door panels, carpets, and headliner are original-style, it also adds goodies like a Hurst 4-speed on the floor and a set of auxiliary gauges under the dash. The door panels are correct SS pieces and given that the car has a round-gauge instrument panel, all signs point to this being a real SS. The original AM radio still lives in the dash, so they were obviously careful to respect the car, but a newer Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo was installed underneath where it stays out of sight and is easy to remove if you want to go full show with the car someday. The trunk is very nicely finished, too, and includes a reproduction mat and a jack assembly, which is often long-gone from cars like this.

Powerful is the right word for the strong 454 V8 living under the hood. The nicely dressed big block seems made for show with liberal doses of chrome, including the air cleaner, valve covers, and accessories. Up top there's an Edelbrock hi-rise intake and a Holley 4-barrel carburetor feeding a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads, and a set of long-tube headers manage the exhaust. Underneath, there's a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission, a healthy Flowmaster dual exhaust system, and a fat rear sway bar to improve handling. A 12-bolt rear end manages to plant the power and power disc brakes do an adequate job of controlling the speed. Trick 17-inch wheels replicate the original factory SS wheels and carry fat 245/45/17 performance radials.

If you're looking for a stock 1970 Chevelle, they're out there. But if you want a little more potent that always seems to draw a crowd in a way that no stock Chevelle can, this gorgeous resto-mod might be a smarter choice. And while it's tough to make modern wheels and tires look right on vintage iron, this car nails it with the right combination of style, size, and rubber. Call today!