This Chevrolet muscle car is so rare even Chevy isn’t sure about it
- The 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 convertible is exceptionally rare
- Even Chevy doesn’t know how many of the cars were made
- They can now sell for a lot of cash
Published on Sep 05, 2024 at 11:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 05, 2024 at 8:44 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The 1970s Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 convertible muscle car is so rare that the exact production numbers aren’t even known.
With no official records clocking up how many were made, every example that’s out there is considered a bit of a hidden treasure.
On the rare occasion that they do come up for sale, they can fetch tens of thousands of dollars.
Oh, and the car also looks pretty slick, too.
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The Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 convertible is a real collectors item
There are a few super rare muscle cars out there, such as the one-of-a-kind Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake or this Chevy Nova SS L89 – a car so rare it shouldn’t have even existed.
However, while we know exactly how rare these classic cars are, even that fact is shrouded in mystery when it comes to the Chevelle SS 454 LS6 convertible.
That’s because Chevrolet didn’t hold onto a breakdown of the exact numbers of each car it produced in every given year.
Now, what we do know is that the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 convertible was fitted with a 454 cubic-inch (7.4-liter) V8 engine that could produce 450 horsepower.
We also know that in total Chevy produced 4,475 cars with a 454 cubic-inch engine in 1970, including Chevelle coupe, drop-top, and the El Camino pickup.
Around 500 were said to be El Caminos, meaning the remaining 3,975 were coupes and drop tops – but how many of each?
Well, that’s unclear, but most Chevy experts agree that just 12 to 25 convertibles were made.
The rarity of the car pushes up its price
A standard 1970 Chevelle cost around $2,896 at the time, but if you wanted the SS 454 package, you’d need to cough up another $503, and to opt for the LS6 you’d have to hand over an additional $263.
The basic model was around $23,455 in today’s money – adjusted for inflation – meaning that the convertible model would be quite a bit more.
It seems as though this increase in price was enough to put off many potential buyers, hence the low numbers produced.
But splashing out on the extras may have been a worthwhile investment because the convertible Chevelles can sell for more than half a million dollars these days.
That’s all down to the car’s rarity.
While any collector would be proud to have a classic 1970s Chevelle in their collection, getting hold of a convertible model is a bit like finding the holy grail.
Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Across her career she's covered a wide variety of topics, including celebrity, cryptocurrency, politics, true crime and just about everything in between.