The new year ushered in magnum force from Motown: bigger, more powerful engines, a plethora of Ponycars, and the ’70 CHEVELLE SS454: BIG-BLOCK BRUISER!
In many ways, 1970 was the storm before the calm. The war in Southeast Asia continued casting a pall over a much-divided country and thinning the ranks of young enthusiasts. Carmakers’ racing budgets were being drastically cut and engineering resources reassigned to prepare for restrictive emissions and safety legislation. And, Ponycar sales had been plummeting and would register new lows at the end of the model year. It was a banner year Motown Muscle, but the future of the performance car phenomenon was not bright.
General Motors finally dropped its 400-inch engine displacement limit for midsize cars. The ’70 CHEVELLE SS454: BIG-BLOCK BRUISER! championed the assault with an optional LS6 454/450, giving the LS6 Chevelle pavement-pounding power. Few cars, other than well-tuned Mopar Street Hemis and Buick Stage I Skylarks, could hold their own against the popular Chevelle SS454 with LS6 power. All three cars, especially when tuned and fitted with headers, were capable of delivering low-to-mid-13s at 105-107 mph terminal speeds. Showcased by the ’70 CHEVELLE SS454: BIG-BLOCK BRUISER!, Chevrolet offered the most powerful General Motors Supercar in 1970.
Baldwin-Motion based its Phase III 500-horsepower Chevelle Supercar on the on the LS6-powered model, adding options up to full drag racing engines and suspensions. Steve Calamusa’s white Phase III SS454 Chevelle, above, was originally delivered as a brand new car with a 500-horsepower LS6 with an 850-cfm double-pumper Holley carb, fenderwell headers, 4.56 Posi gears, ladder bars, coil-spring air bags, and ran low-11’s.
Adam Tuckman’s show-stopping green Baldwin-Motion Phase III, 500-horsepower SS454 Chevelle, above, also sports 1965-1967 Corvette side exhausts, a popular option on Baldwin-Motion cars.
The ’70 CHEVELLE SS454: BIG-BLOCK BRUISER! with 454/450 LS6 engine had few peers. Checking out a new SS454, above, on slalom course on Milford Proving Ground’s Black Lake at the 1970 model Press Preview, Summer 1969. The F41 Special Suspension with rear sway bar and chassis beefing made the difference. If you opted for ZL2 you got a functional cowl-induction hood.
For more information on the ’70 CHEVELLE SS454: BIG-BLOCK BRUISER! And the complete 1970 Chevelle lineup, please visit Over-Drive magazine @ https://over-drive-magazine.com/2024/02/23/1970-chevrolet-mid-size-cars-fact-sheet/
https://over-drive-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1970-05-HR-LS6-SS-454-Chevelle-1-3.pdf
Check out video of SS454 Chevelle test from my pal, Muscle Car Campy @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M63ObPCYDBk