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3-Speed Manual Transmission

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Wheelbase - Inches

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 2dr Convertible Courtesy of RK Motors

For many, the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle is the gold standard for the American muscle car. This was namely due to the revised sheet metal, but also in large part to the monstrous available LS6 V-8 engine.
Trims for the ‘70 Chevelle included the 300 Deluxe and Malibu. Body styles, meanwhile, included sport coupe, four-door sedan and convertible. A pickup version called the El Camino was also offered.
The base engine in the ’70 Chevelle was a straight-six unit making 155 horsepower. The next engine up was a 307 cid V8 making 200 hp. Buyers could also get the SS 396, which wasn’t actually 396. It was actually a 402 cu in engine, putting out either 350 or 375 hp.
The biggest engine this year was of course the 454 big-block. The Chevelle SS 454 put out 360 hp when buyers chose the LS5, but the top dog LS6 made a whopping 450 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
The notable hood pins, racing stripes and functional cowl induction hood system were all part of the ZL2 hood option, and did not come standard on either version of the SS.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 2dr Sport Coupe Courtesy of RK Motors

More curves and a noticeably pinched mid-section made the restyled '68 Chevelle resemble a pop bottle. Flush-mounted glass replaced the tunneled window in back, and Malibu models received stylish hideaway windshield wipers. Beneath that shapely skin was a revised full-frame chassis based on two new wheelbases: 112 inches for two-door bodies and 116 for four-doors and wagons.

The Malibu-based SS 396 coupe and convertible were joined by an El Camino SS 396 in 1968. In 1969, the SS 396 was repackaged as an options group (RPO Z25), and for one year only the Z25 equipment was made available in the low-priced 300 Deluxe series, which unlike the top-shelf models featured exposed windshield wipers. Both an SS 396 300 sport coupe and sedan were available (each in quite low numbers) for 1969, making this the only time a Super Sport Chevelle appeared with a window “post.” Even rarer was 1969's COPO Chevelle, powered by the Corvette's 427-cid V-8.

The 300 series was dropped after 1969, but early in 1970 the carryover Malibu was joined by another low-priced model simply labeled “Chevelle.” Familiar quad headlights made one final appearance that year.

The Z25 package was offered in 1970 only for top-shelf custom El Caminos and Malibus, meaning no more SS 396 post-sedans, and the SS 396 name remained the same in 1970 even after the 396 big-block was bored out to 402 cubic inches. New for 1970 was RPO Z15, the SS 454 package. The “base” Z15 engine was the 360-horsepower, 454-cid LS5 big block. Optional for 1970 only was the awesome 450-horse LS6 454.

A small-block V-8 returned to Super Sport Chevelle ranks in 1971, and the name was simplified to “SS” for both the 350- and 402-powered models. Revered SS 454 fender badges stuck around up through 1972. Only one option code, the Z15, was listed in 1971 and 1972 regardless of the engine chosen, small block or big.

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