Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS.
I can still remember the first time I got to ride in a Chevelle SS. I was a freshman in high school and even though I was not supposed to leave campus for lunch, the class I had right before lunch was photography. I was also not supposed to be able to have photography as a class as a freshman but the school made an exception. Since all the students were older, mostly juniors and seniors, I ended up being snuck out to lunch for most of the year. I did this so often that I did not even know that the school had a cafeteria until second semester.
One of the students in the class, Frank, offered to sneak me off campus and said I would like the car we were going in. Since both of us were car guys I was very interested. We got out of class and left school via the back doors and went out to see the car, a 1969 Chevelle SS. The car was, I know now. painted in Butternut Yellow and had a black interior. It was such a cool car and then things got better.
We got in the car and drove slowly away from school, and once we had driven a block or two Frank said to hang on and floored the gas. That car was the quickest car I had been in at the time and I watched as a mechanism on the hood opened and made a sucking sound. “What is that,” I asked. Franks said, “That, my friend, is cowl induction.” It was a life changing experience and ever since I have loved the Chevelle. When I see one at auctions or shows I always check to see if it has cowl induction.
Today’s AutoHunter Spotlight is a year newer than the car Frank and I were in but it is a 1970 Chevelle SS with an LS5 454 with cowl induction. If anything this car is even better looking than Frank’s yellow car, being painted in Lime Green with black stripes over a Metallic Dark Green vinyl interior.
The car is located in Sudbury, Ontario, and the seller describes it as having received a complete restoration in 2006. They started with a rust free car and it was refinished in its original color of Lime Green (code 43), which was a special color introduced in the spring of 1970, with black D88 SS stripes. Features include chrome bumpers, a cowl-induction hood, hood pins, a driver-side mirror, wheel opening moldings, SS 454 emblems, and a rear bumper pad with an SS emblem. According to the selling dealer, all the trim has either been polished or re-chromed.
For the interior this Chevelle is correctly upholstered in Metallic Dark Green vinyl (code 795). Features include manual windows, power steering, a factory AM radio, a floor-mounted manual transmission shifter, a two-spoke steering wheel with an SS emblem, and green trim. A 120-mph speedometer, clock, and fuel gauge are located ahead of the driver. The odometer reads 32,593 miles, which the selling dealer reports to be accurate.
In addition to the restoration, the numbers-matching LS5 454cid four-barrel V8 was rebuilt in 2003 and has only covered 500 miles since then. Power is delivered to the rear wheels by the cars original numbers matching Muncie M22 close-ratio four-speed manual transmission. Engine bay features include chrome valve covers and a black cowl-induction air cleaner assembly. They add that an oil change was recently completed.
Other details on this stellar Chevelle include that it was factory-equipped with the F41 suspension package and a solid rear drive axle with a 3.31:1 gear ratio and Positraction. Braking is provided by power front discs and rear drums. The exhaust exits at the rear through dual outlets. The pictures of the underside of the car show what looks to be a show quality example of the floors and suspension components.
It is also important to note that the options and specifications of this car, as well as the claims of being the correct color and a numbers matching example, are completely documented by the seller.
If you have never been in a big block Chevelle with cowl induction and love muscle cars, you might consider putting a few bids on this very clean 1970 Chevelle SS and if you win it you too will know how cool these cars are when you step hard on the gas.
The auction for this 1970 Chevelle SS ends on Monday, August 14, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
Please, no offense, but a ’69 Chevelle SS didn’t have cowl induction, as that started in ’70. I would know, as I had 1x of each as a teenager!
You beat me to it.
You beat me to it. 70 was the 1st year for cowl induction.
Nice work…
Wish I still had my 70 Ls6. Bought it for $2600 in 1980. Sold it a year later…. insurance for an 18 yo was $1500 a yr.
As noted above the cowl wasn’t a thing until 70 ,but great story of being young and for many of us that was many years ago ,also when young all you needed to know was it was cool ran like the wind and could boil tires like crazy, I’m sure all that neck snapping big block four speed power was enuff to befuddle the mind into some questionable memories , Those we’re some great old days