1970 Chevelle
The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle line was tilted more heavily than ever in favor of Malibu models. In fact, the only models offered to start the model year were the Malibu’s.
The 1970 Chevelle came in a variety of versions: Sport Coupe, Sport Sedan, convertible, and four-door sedan -- along with a pair of Super Sport (SS) upgrades. Later in the model year came a basic 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, essentially a revival of the former 300 Deluxe; it was offered only as a Sport Coupe and sedan.
Engine choices ranged from the standard 155 horse power 6 cylinder and 200 horse power 307 cubic-inch V8, to a pair of 350 V8s and a 330 horse power 400. New options included power door locks and a steering column mounted wiper control.
Body style changes gave the Chevelle a more squared up posture, and interiors were redesigned, also. Both SS 396 and SS 454 option packages were available for either the Sport Coupe or convertible. Of the 354,855 Chevelles manufactured this year, 53,599 had the SS option and 3,733 had the 454 cubic inch V8.
The SS 396 Chevelle included a 350 horsepower Turbo-Jet 396 V-8, special suspension, "power dome" hood, black-accented grille, resilient rear-bumper insert, and wide tires on sport wheel rims. Though a 375 horsepower upgrade was available, few were sold, for the most part because the added cost brought the total too close to the "definitive" Chevelle, the SS 454.
As the designation implied, under hood laid a 454-cubic-inch V-8, offering 360 horsepower in standard form but an awesome 450 horse power in solid-lifter, high-compression LS-6
The LS-6 made the Chevelle one of the quickest muscle cars ever made. "You can make our tough one even tougher," the sales brochure stated, by adding Cowl Induction to either SS model. Step on the gas, and a scoop opened "to shoot an extra breath of cool air into the engine air intake. Functional hood lock pins were also added the SS package.
