Photo: Mecum Auctions
Introduced in 1964 as a competitor for the downsized Ford Fairlane, the Chevrolet Chevelle morphed into a fully-fledged muscle car by the end of the decade. That's nothing unusual for a golden-era intermediate so far, but we often forget the Chevelle spawned the most powerful factory-made muscle car at the time.
It happened in 1970 when midsize became available with the 454-cubic-inch (7.4-liter) LS6 V8. Essentially an LS5 on steroids, the LS6 sent a whopping 450 horsepower to the Chevelle's rear wheels. The mill delivered 25 horses more than Chrysler's 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI. Ford's 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) big-block didn't even come close at 375 horsepower. Torque was just as impressive at 500 pound-feet (678 Nm) at 3,600 rpm.
The LS6 was also expensive and subject to high insurance rates, so it found its way in a very small percentage of Chevelles produced that special. Specifically, it was favored by only 4,475 customers. This figure also includes around 500 El Camino pickups (precise numbers are unknown), so Chevrolet actually sold fewer than 4,000 Chevelles with this lump.
Discontinued after only a few months on the assembly line, the Chevelle SS 454 LS6 became a one-year gem, and it's now considered the holy grail of the nameplate. Not surprisingly, it morphed into a prized classic, with restored examples fetching over $250,000 on a regular basis. Some LS6s, like the Cranberry Red example you see here, are worth more than a half-million bucks.
What makes this Chevelle so expensive? For starters, it's a convertible. It may not mean much for a regular Chevelle, but a retractable roof turns an LS6 into a super-rare rig. Again, precise production numbers are unavailable, but Chevelle experts agree that only 12 to 25 drop-tops got the 450-horsepower engine.
But we're not just talking about low production numbers here. This Chevelle is also an unrestored survivor. How did it soldier on in such fantastic condition for more than 50 years? Well, apparently, it was pampered since day one and garage-kept at all times. It's also been in the same family since it was new.
But wait, there's more! The slightly weathered 454 V8 is highly original and numbers-matching, as is the automatic transmission. All told I'm pretty sure we're looking at the greatest unrestored 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 in existence.
So, exactly how much is this Cranberry Red convertible worth? The Chevelle doesn't have a sticker just yet, but we will find out when it goes under the hammer at Mecum's Indy Fall Special 2024 event on October 5. Based on recent auctions, this drop-top should change hands for more than $500,000.
A quick look at the most expensive Chevelles ever auctioned reveals a top five made exclusively of convertible LS6 models. Four of them fetched over half a million dollars, and the fifth one came very close at $495,000. All these cars were auctioned off over the last two and a half years.
Some had the desirable four-speed manual, which the car shown here doesn't, but unrestored survivors in such great condition are known to fetch more than restored examples. All five $500,000+ Chevelles mentioned above are rotisserie restorations. Moreover, the current record holder doesn't have a numbers-matching V8.
All told I'm confident that this Cranberry Red LS6 has everything it needs to surpass the current auction record, set at exactly $600,000.
The LS6 was also expensive and subject to high insurance rates, so it found its way in a very small percentage of Chevelles produced that special. Specifically, it was favored by only 4,475 customers. This figure also includes around 500 El Camino pickups (precise numbers are unknown), so Chevrolet actually sold fewer than 4,000 Chevelles with this lump.
Discontinued after only a few months on the assembly line, the Chevelle SS 454 LS6 became a one-year gem, and it's now considered the holy grail of the nameplate. Not surprisingly, it morphed into a prized classic, with restored examples fetching over $250,000 on a regular basis. Some LS6s, like the Cranberry Red example you see here, are worth more than a half-million bucks.
What makes this Chevelle so expensive? For starters, it's a convertible. It may not mean much for a regular Chevelle, but a retractable roof turns an LS6 into a super-rare rig. Again, precise production numbers are unavailable, but Chevelle experts agree that only 12 to 25 drop-tops got the 450-horsepower engine.
But we're not just talking about low production numbers here. This Chevelle is also an unrestored survivor. How did it soldier on in such fantastic condition for more than 50 years? Well, apparently, it was pampered since day one and garage-kept at all times. It's also been in the same family since it was new.
But wait, there's more! The slightly weathered 454 V8 is highly original and numbers-matching, as is the automatic transmission. All told I'm pretty sure we're looking at the greatest unrestored 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 in existence.
So, exactly how much is this Cranberry Red convertible worth? The Chevelle doesn't have a sticker just yet, but we will find out when it goes under the hammer at Mecum's Indy Fall Special 2024 event on October 5. Based on recent auctions, this drop-top should change hands for more than $500,000.
A quick look at the most expensive Chevelles ever auctioned reveals a top five made exclusively of convertible LS6 models. Four of them fetched over half a million dollars, and the fifth one came very close at $495,000. All these cars were auctioned off over the last two and a half years.
Some had the desirable four-speed manual, which the car shown here doesn't, but unrestored survivors in such great condition are known to fetch more than restored examples. All five $500,000+ Chevelles mentioned above are rotisserie restorations. Moreover, the current record holder doesn't have a numbers-matching V8.
All told I'm confident that this Cranberry Red LS6 has everything it needs to surpass the current auction record, set at exactly $600,000.
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