Frame Off Restored Triple Black Chevelle SS Convertible LS5 454 V8 TH400 PS PB

SUMMARY

Every now and then an automaker releases a car that's nearly perfect right off the assembly line. And while that list of aces is short, the 1970 Chevelle Super Sport is definitely on it. Armed with a vast, cult-like following, finer Chevy A-Bodies tend to leave our showroom almost as fast as they arrive. And this awesome LS5 convertible is sure to continue that trend. Wrapping a date-correct 454/3-speed drivetrain in a detailed, body-off restoration that culminates in sultry black on black aesthetics, this clean Chevy puts the class in classic. And if you're looking for a solid piece of storied Detroit muscle, it's your octane-fueled ticket to all-American bliss!

BODYWORK/TRIM

The story of this Chevelle's detailed restoration is a common tale that every gearhead knows all too well. An enthusiastic owner started the rebuild way back in 2005. However, feeling the financial burn of collector car rehab, he decided to cut ties and sell the car to someone else. That owner, who happened to have a little side business by the name of Hinshaw's Chevelle Parts, stored the solid Chevy with plans to eventually finish it. That is, until 2009 when the car's current owner presented a financial offer he simply couldn't refuse. The current owner wasted no time topping 18 months of fresh, body-off restoration with correct Tuxedo Black paint and Classic White Super Sport stripes. And in 2010, the car finally hit the road looking better than it ever has!

Naturally, that head-turning appearance, perfected by The Paint Shop of Winston Salem, North Carolina, is highlighted by a roster of correct trim. At the front of the car, a familiar Super Sport grille hangs a small "CHEVELLE" script between a broad bumper and stainless-trimmed T3 headlights. Behind that grille, an appropriately labeled cowl induction hood anchors stainless pins opposite stainless-trimmed glass and correct, power operated vinyl. Beneath that glass, traditional door handles and brazen "SS454" emblems float between bright wheel frames and correct chrome mirrors. Opposite those mirrors, a second broad bumper centers clear taillights and a clean Super Sport inlay beneath a Chevelle-branded decklid. And all those bolt-ons, when combined with the car's fresh finish and impressive stance, ensure a grand influx of memorable compliments!

ENGINE

In 1970, if you wanted a top-of-the-line Chevelle, you had two options. You could order an LS6 car and put up with a moody, uncivilized big block that didn't like running accessories. Or you could order an LS5 car and have a nicely optioned, well-rounded performer that stomped pretty much anything on the street. Either way you'd have an awesome ride! Machined by Warren Engines of Clinton, North Carolina, and fully rebuilt during the car's detailed restoration, this Chevy's date-correct, LS5-spec mill is dialed-in, detailed and ready to roll. At the top of the 454, a functional cowl induction system forces wind into a Satin Black, single-snorkel air cleaner, which feeds a big Quadrajet carburetor and a familiar, Chevy Orange intake. At the back of that intake, a traditional points distributor sequences fire through loomed AC Delco Premium Wires. Below those wires, correct exhaust manifolds frame mirrored valve covers. And in front of those covers, pliable GM hoses channel water past a correct fan and rebuilt alternator with the help of a decaled radiator and familiar tower clamps. Aesthetically, the bright mill looks great framed in a sea of subdued Satin Black paint. And everything, from the car's blue carb spring and Delco-topped battery all the way to its Pierce fuel pump and Saginaw steering box, looks much nicer than anything that left GM's factories.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Bottom-side, this convertible's road-ready chassis has been restored to the same high standards as its svelte body and buff engine. A traditional coat of Satin Black paint provides a great foundation for a slew of tags, inspection marks and factory-accurate details. Behind the stout big block, a date-correct Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed, fully rebuilt by Jack Ray Jones Transmission Shop of Clinton, North Carolina, twists torque to a correct GM 12-bolt. In traditional Chevelle fashion, that fully rebuilt pumpkin spins a posi-traction differential around familiar 3.31 gears. Holding that killer drivetrain off the ground is a heavy-duty F41 Sport Suspension, which centers factory power steering between stiff springs, boxed control arms and sturdy sway bars. The car's rebuilt power front disc and rear drum brake system is present, accounted for and functions exceptionally well. The aforementioned exhaust manifolds dump spent gases in to true-dual pipes, which breathe through correct mufflers, correct resonators and polished stainless tips. And power meets the pavement through stylish Super Sport wheels, which lap 225/70R14 BF Goodrich Radial T/As around stainless trim rings and requisite "SS" center caps.

INTERIOR

Featuring a host of new components, and decked in correct Black vinyl, this Chevy's fully restored interior feels both comfortable and inviting. Its slick front bucket and rear bench seats, which feature embossed weave patterns that were designed to keep passenger's backs cool, show hardly any signs of wear. In front of those seats, a straight and crack-free dash hangs a deluxe Chevelle gauge cluster above correct climate controls and a Delco AM/FM radio. Below that dash, fresh black carpet centers an attractive, stainless-trimmed console between tough floor mats and a factory horseshoe shifter. At the sides of that carpet, clean door panels found spotless "SS" emblems between crank windows and manual door locks. In front of the driver, a satin-spoke Chevrolet Rally Wheel laps a tilting column. And behind the passengers, a fully restored trunk centers a correct jack and full-size spare tire between a fresh mat and correct decklid decals.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

With timeless looks and one of the most desirable powertrains GM has ever produced, this Chevelle is the kind of cool classic that'll take your weekends to a whole new level. And, thanks to its clean restoration, the car presents a grand opportunity to own a highly desirable A-Body that's poised to turn heads for years to come. A big block Chevy drop-top that's primed to cruise AND shine. What's not to love?