1970 Chevrolet Chevelle

The mid-size Chevrolet Chevelle was popular in 1970, with over 440,000 examples produced. The ultimate package was introduced this year, the LS6 Turbo-Jet 454 cubic-inch big-block V8 engine with 450 horsepower, a $263.30 option. Mandatory options with the LS6 to help handle the power included heavy-duty engineering, which added nearly $1,000 to the base price. 4,475 Chevelle owners selected the LS6 engine.

The LS6 Chevelle became available as rival automakers offered a 400-plus cubic-inch engine in their intermediate-body style cars. GM reluctantly held the line, restricting displacement to 400 CID in all its mid-size cars except for the Chevrolet Corvette. Finally, giving way to requests from eager fans, in 1970 GM was intent on no longer ceding ground. Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick responded with 455 CID engines from their full-size passenger cars, while Chevrolet introduced the 454 CI LS6, constructed with a forged steel crank and rods, forged aluminum pop-up pistons, a sold-lifter cam, and a single Holley 4-barrel carburetor on an aluminum high-rise intake manifold. Its 450 HP and 500-lb-ft of torque made it the highest of any production engine Chevrolet had ever built to that point in history. It would retain this title until the 2006 Corvette Z06 which had 505 horsepower.

Exterior changes for the 1970 Chevelle included several to the front-end treatment, including a slotless front bumper that housed rectangular parking lamps directly before the headlights. It had a split grille flanked on either side by dual circular headlights. The front fender's swept-back appearance was gone, and a new upper line ran from above the headlight level to the rear of the vehicle, above the rear bumper.

All 1970 Chevelles were given an improved full coil suspension.

Pontiac may have started the muscle-car wars with the GTO, but it was the Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 LS6 of 1970 that was the victor. With shocking performance that was matched by its timeless styling, it has earned its spot among the muscle car legends of the era.

Bodystyles and Trim
The name 'Chevelle 300 DeLuxe' was dropped. Trim levels included the Malibu which was positioned above the 'base' Chevelle (Series 133 with six-cylinder power or Series 134 if a V8 was placed under the hood).

Several options were available for the station wagon, including the 6-passenger Nomad which had a base price of $2,840. The Greenbrier Station wagons had seating for six- or nine-passengers, as did the Chevelle Malibu. The top-of-the-line station wagon in the Chevelle model lineup was the Concours Estate, which had a base price of $3,350 for the 6-passenger and $3,450 for the 9-passenger. All station wagons were equipped with Dual-Action tailgates, Hide-Away wipers, side beam doors, an all-vinyl interior, a cigarette lighter, a hidden antenna, and a heater/defroster. Concours Estates added door edge moldings, simulated woodgrain exterior paneling, and carpeting.

The 'base' Chevelle coupe with six-cylinder power was priced at $2,570 and the sedan listed at $2,540. The addition of the 'base' V8 engine increased the price by approximately $90. Interior color choices included black for all vinyl cars, and black, dark green, or blue for cloth-and-vinyl interiors.

Standard amenities included a heater and defroster, cigarette lighter, rubber floor mats, locking glovebox, and a 250 CID six. The standard eight-cylinder option was the 307 CID V8 rated at 200 hp.

Chevelle Malibu
Like the 'base' Chevelle, the Malibu was available with six- or eight-cylinder power. Body styles included a sedan at $2,665, a hardtop sedan priced at $2,790, a sports coupe at $2,720, and a convertible at $2,920. Station wagon (Concours Station Wagons) options included a six-passenger version at $2,950 and a nine-passenger version at $3,21.

The standard eight-cylinder engine for the Malibu was the 307 cubic-inch V8 offering 200 horsepower. The Malibu came in a wider array of interior color and trim options, plus a hidden antenna, Hide-Away wipers, a glovebox light, Astro Ventilation, sideguard door beam construction, and Delco-Eye battery. With the V8 installed, larger F78-14-B rubber tires were used.

Super Sport Package
For 1970, the SS Packages were now solely reserved for the Malibu Sports coupe and convertible, and the El Camino pickup. RPO Z25 SS came with a 402 CID V8 rated at 350 hp, and the RPO Z15 SS had a 454 CID V8 with 360 hp. The LS6 option boosted output to 450 bhp. Both RPO Z15 packages had cowl induction, an ingenious trap door located at the base of the hood dome that funneled high-pressure air from around the windshield into the carburetor.

Mechanical Specifications
Engines
The standard engine powering the 1970 Chevy Chevelle was an overhead valve, 250 cubic-inch inline-6 with seven main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a Rochester one-barrel carburetor, 8.5:1 compression, and developed 155 horsepower at 4,200 RPM.

The 307 cubic-inch V8 engine had overhead valves, a cast iron block, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a Rochester two-barrel carburetor, and developed 200 bhp at 4,600 RPM.

Additional eight-cylinder engines displaced 350, 402, and 454 cubic inches. The 402 was still marketed as a 396.

The 350 CID V8 with a two-barrel carb produced 250 hp at 4,800 RPM and 345 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 RPM. With a four-barrel carburetor, it offered 300 horsepower at 4,800 RPM and 380 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 RPM.

The SS 396 Chevelle package (RPO Z25) included a 'power dome' hood, dual exhaust with bright tips, special suspension, power front disc brakes, and a four-speed or Turbo-Hydramatic transmission. Styling updates included SS emblems, wheel opening moldings, a special rear bumper with black inserts, and sport-style wheels with wide oval white-lettered tires. The Turbo-Jet 396 V8 produced 350 hp, or 375 hp with cowl induction.

The base 454 cubic-inch Turbo-Jet V8 engine offered 360 horsepower at 4,400 RPM, and could be optioned with cowl induction. The LS6 version came with a single 4-barrel 800 CFM Holey carburetor and produced 450 horsepower at 5,600 RPM and 500 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 RPM.

Dimensions
The 1970 Chevy Chevelle rested on a 112-inch wheelbase platform for the coupe and a 116-inch wheelbase for the sedan and wagon body styles. The coupe had a length of 197.2 inches and stood 52.6 inches tall. The sedan had a length of 201.2 inches and was 53.2 inches tall, while the wagon was 206.5 inches in length and 55.1 inches in height.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2019