1970 SS 454 LS6 CHEVELLE TRIBUTE RESTORED DRY ARIZONA CAR CRANBERRY RED 4 SPEED

Here we are, friends. No matter your beliefs about the current pandemic, one thing is certain: summer 2020 is unlike any we’ve ever seen. With so many of our favorite events canceled, we’ve been forced to reinvent fun and entertainment, and in some cases, simplify things a bit. Even drive-in theaters are actually INCREASING in numbers and selling out nightly, and exploring cool features and parks in our own states is the #1 vacation destination this summer.

It is killing me that I won’t be attending the Iola Old Car Show in northern Wisconsin this year, but I’ve already put more miles on my old cars than I have in many years. On the surface, that doesn’t seem possible. But, for me, old cars are my therapy. The evenings are my favorite: windows down, the smell of the alfalfa fields just before their 2nd cut mixed with the occasional sweet smell of leaded gas, and listening to the medicating drone of two harmonizing mufflers exiting out the back while winding in and out of the country roads out here in western Wisconsin. I think there are more folks out there like us; folks who just need to escape from this craziness for a couple hours, or even a couple days. I can’t think of a better car to make that escape in than a Cranberry Red 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 tribute car. Crank up some Crosby Stills & Nash and hit the road…

Since 1998, I’ve been selling classic cars, trucks, and collectibles on eBay, with 100% positive feedback since day one. Today, we’re presenting a piece of muscle car history, and hopefully you will embrace the constant compliments and attention you’re going to get. I’m a GM guy at heart, so for me, the ’70 Chevelle SS454 LS6 4-speed represents the pinnacle of the muscle car era. Cubic inch restrictions on midsize cars were finally lifted for the 1970 model year, and Chevy wasted no time stuffing the biggest, baddest engines they had into the Chevelle. The results were undeniable on the street and dragstrips, and the ’70 Chevelle was quickly elevated to legendary status. 50 years later, these cars still bring back the most vivid memories of our youth, no matter our age.

This is a consignment sale, so a buyer will be working with me to conduct the sale, but the purchase and title trade will be with the very friendly owner.

Although all of the big block engine, transmission, axle, suspension, exhaust, interior, SS wheels, and badging is present, we’re presenting this car as a tribute because we have no documentation to prove this is an SS454 car. The truth is, many other sellers will tiptoe around the subject, or even have their drivetrains stamped for an SS454, hoping to add false credibility because they lack a build sheet, Protect-O-Plate, or other rock solid documentation to prove their car is a legitimate SS454. What you’re purchasing is a frame-on restored, rock solid Arizona car that looks, sounds, and performs like an SS454. Very few folks will know the difference, and there won’t be the guilt associated with getting it on from time to time with a six-figure car still mated to its born-with drivetrain. This is a guilt-free car that you can reliably cruise in without worrying about ruining a $100k investment.

We encourage you to watch all 13 videos and check out the 350+ photos of this stunning Chevelle. We include a ton of additional information in the videos, and along with the photos, every inch of this gorgeous car has been covered.

It’s Gorgeous, But Does It Drive Well?

Let’s flip the order here a bit, and begin with how incredibly well this car drives. Two pumps to the gas pedal, turn the key, and the car fires right up. The three idle steps on the Rochester Quadrajet operate properly and after a brief warm-up, you’re ready to roll! With the front end rebuild, suspension component replacement, and fine-tuned alignment, this car rides VERY well. The F41 suspension components on the car really help minimize body roll, but the shocks installed offer a very comfortable ride. In one of the videos, my passenger mentions in amazement that I’m driving the car with two fingers. It handles, tracks, and cruises THAT well. The steering box has been rebuilt, and steering wheel play is minimal. It feels like it did in 1970. The Radial TA tires are nearly new and offer a pleasant ride mounted to the correct style SS wheels. As seen in the photos, a set of F70 Goodyear Polyglas tires on another set of SS wheels are available for an additional $1,500. They won’t ride like the radial tires, but offer a fabulous “Day 1” look.

This big block is just plain quiet. No weird noises at startup and she holds idle well. Plainly, the engine sounds fresh and tight, and hopefully the videos convey that well. The engine started life as 402, but received a bore to a slightly larger displacement when rebuilt. A photo with the engine & head numbers is available in the documents portion of the photos. Although rebuild specs aren’t available, the seat of the pants power tells me the engine is in the 425-450 horsepower neighborhood. It pulls hard, but will idle all day long and runs well on premium pump gas. I think you’ll be impressed.

The Muncie 4 speed goes through the gears with precision, and there’s never any doubt about where the shifter is going…everything is tight. Our videos were taken over the course of several days, all of them with temperatures in the mid 90’s, 80%+ humidity, and dew points near 70 degrees: the WORST weather for muscle cars. The Chevelle didn’t complain once. There were no hiccups, feathering of the pedal, or overheating issues. The car just wants to go. It pulls hard through the gears, has more than enough power, and the drivetrain combination makes it a perfect cruiser. We suspect the rear gear ratio to be bumped from 3.31:1 to 3.73:1, which is an incredibly fun combination with the Muncie 4 speed.

Note that the exhaust tone from the correct Gardner exhaust with resonators is throaty, but not obnoxious. With the windows up or down, the exhaust note is pleasing and no noticeable rattles or “what the heck is that?” sounds are present from the exhaust or suspension. The 12 bolt posi rear end also does its job. There are no weird noises and note in the photos that the u-joints have been replaced on this car, too. Receipts for much of this work will be included with the sale and can be viewed in the photos. Again, the car is incredibly tight.

Lastly, although after driving the car, a buyer will likely agree that the drivetrain has been rebuilt, we unfortunately don’t have receipts. The owner of the car has upwards of 30 classic cars, and the receipts for this work have either found their way included with the sale of a different vehicle, or is possibly with the paperwork of another car. The owner says David’s 4 Speeds, a nationally recognized Muncie rebuilder, performed the work on the transmission, and the engine was built by a reputable shop in Wausau, Wisconsin. I understand the disappointment with not having receipts, especially when looking at what kind of internal components were used. We believe mileage since the rebuilds to be just over 2,000 and a cruise behind the wheel of this Chevelle should make a buyer confident in the work performed.

Exterior and Restoration Work

This car has been treated to a frame-on restoration, completed in two parts. Sometime in the later 1990’s or early 2000’s, the car was painted code 75, Cranberry Red and a new vinyl top installed (the car started life code 55 Champagne Gold with a cloth bench seat). At that time, we believe the current drivetrain was installed, and the bucket seat interior with SS dash was added. Between 2008-2010, the car was received a front end rebuild, the brakes were gone through front and back, suspension components were replaced, and most bushings were replaced. The steering box was rebuilt, master cylinder, and booster replaced, too. Although performed several years back, the car is stored in a climate controlled building, hasn’t deteriorated.

As mentioned in the videos, although the paint on this car has INCREDIBLE depth, gloss and the body is straight, it is older, and not perfect. Expect some scratches, chips, and areas where the paint has shrunk a bit. A new caretaker may want to treat the car to a wet sand and polish, or may be completely satisfied as is. The paint is single stage, so it will take quite well to a wet sand, if desired. Please note that the SS stripes are wider than factory, and there are some water spots on the paint that can be seen in the photos and video. Other terrific news is this is an Arizona car and is wearing GM sheet metal. By looking at the photos, there doesn’t appear to be any extensive body work done on this car over the years. Note the lack of any body damage on the backs of the rear quarter panels, or signs of other previous damage from the undercarriage photos of the car. I did wrap a weak magnet in a cloth and checked for extensive use of filler, too. The magnet sticks everywhere. I’m also happy to answer any specific questions a buyer may have, or relay any questions to the owner. The panel fit is nice on this car and the doors close easily, without having to be slammed. Bumper alignment and trim installation is also quite nice. All of the glass is very clean on the car Please see the detailed photos for trim and chrome information, but all show nicely and look appropriate on the car.

Continuing with the quality of the rest of the car, the engine compartment is proudly detailed. Hoses and clamps are the correct reproduction style, and components are mostly painted correctly. Purists will note the more square master cylinder would be correct on this car, and a few pieces should be plated differently, but these are minor details. Notice, though, the SS only two piece steering shaft is present on this car, and orange overspray onto the intake manifold, offering another cool Day 1 detail. Overall, the engine compartment proudly stands tall and would look great open at a local cruise-in.

Inside, the car has been treated to a nearly complete SS interior restoration. Seat covers, carpet, door panels, headliner, package tray, dash pad, gauge cluster and console have all been restored or replaced. Just the kick panels look like they could use a freshening, maybe with some SEM interior paint. To my delight, this car has tilt wheel! At 6’ 4”, it’s nice to tilt that wheel up when getting in and out of the car! The AM FM stereo radio has been restored and sounds great, too. Notice that this car has deluxe seat belts, which I always thought looked cooler than the standard ones. Please see the videos to watch the power windows operate and for details about other components that do and don’t currently operate. Although not 100% perfect, the interior looks terrific and appears FRESH.

Lastly, the undercarriage looks fantastic and has nice detail as well. The Gardner exhaust kit with resonators & chrome tips looks incredible underneath and the fresh fuel tank gives a “just restored” look to this car. The floors and frame still have some factory undercoating in areas, but are rock solid. Again, as a former Arizona car, many of the rust concerns we have in the Midwest aren’t a concern. The trunk pan is also rock solid and the photos of the package tray area don’t show any signs of rust, either. The Muncie transmission isn’t full of grease and the lower half of the engine shows nicely underneath. There’s enough detail to this undercarriage to impress folks at local shows, but not so much that you’re going to spend hours and hours wiping everything down all the time. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

Bottom Line, She’s One Heck Of A Car

As the videos show, this Chevelle starts right up and idles incredibly well. She runs, accelerates and shifts like she should, and is QUIET. This Chevelle doesn't pull, and in my opinion, rides BETTER than they did back in the day. It’s a reliable car that looks fantastic, but won’t make you feel guilty driving. The current owner has a fairly substantial collection, and wants to see this car in the hands of someone who will drive the car more regularly…it needs to be on the road, bringing enjoyment and adding that sense of calm we’re all seeking right now. My goal is to make an interested buyer feel like they’re seeing a car in person in these ads. If you have ANY questions, please don’t hesitate to message me and we can exchange phone numbers. I’m still an enthusiast first, and want a buyer to be as comfortable as possible throughout this purchase. Thank you for your interest.

Sale Terms and Conditions

Please let the 350+ photos and 13 HD videos of this incredibly gorgeous Chevelle make you comfortable with a purchase. However, don’t hesitate to call me with a specific question. Please remember that your purchase is a COMMITMENT TO BUY this vehicle. Because opinions of vintage cars and trucks can vary, please have the truck inspected or inspect the truck in person PRIOR to bidding.Any inspection fees are the responsibility of the bidder. I cannot stress enough that I am asking bidders to follow through on their commitment if you purchase.

A $500 non-refundable deposit and communication from the high bidder is due immediately at purchase. The deposit can be paid via Paypal or cash, and I will eat any Paypal fees. The balance is due in full within 7 days of the auction's end, paid via cashier's check (must be verified), wire transfer, or cash in person.

Because of its age and mileage, this vehicle is sold strictly as-is-as shown, with no warranties expressed or implied. If you haven't owned a classic car, please remember that this isn't a 2016 Toyota Camry. Older cars, even those with low miles, require an increased level of maintenance and attention.

When you place a bid on a vehicle, you are entering into a legal and binding contract to purchase the vehicle. This arrangement is outlined in the eBay User Agreement. We also reserve the right to cancel bids at our discretion.

We will not be liable for any cancellation of this auction for any reason. We reserve the right to cancel bids from bidders with negative feedback or a bid retraction history and members with zero (0) feedback need to contact us for approval to bid. As with all bids, bidders need to be 18 years or older.

As stated above, shipping charges are buyer's responsibility. We will assist a buyer with shipping the car anywhere in the United States or Canada from zip code 53560, but will not be responsible in any way for claims arising from shipping damage. We assume no responsibility for damages incurred after the vehicle leaves our possession. We are not affiliated with any shipping carrier. Any claims or other communication regarding shipment of vehicles will be between you and the shipper, not with the seller.

The terms of sale shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin without regard to any conflict of laws or provisions thereof that might indicate the applicability of laws of any other jurisdiction. The venue for all legal proceedings shall be in Dane County, Wisconsin.

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