Chevrolet may not have been responsible for the birth of the muscle car era in 1964, but they unquestionably perfected it in 1970 with their pavement pounding LS6 454 powered 1970 Chevelle SS. Super Stock Magazine attributed driving the 450hp LS6 Chevelle to “being the guy who’s in charge of triggering atom bomb tests. You have the power, you know you have the power, and you know if you use the power, bad things may happen. Things like arrest, prosecution, loss of license, broken pieces, shredded tires, etc. The temptation is always there.”
The bow-tie division was granted clearance to offer this devilish temptation in 1970 thanks to the eradication of GM’s 400ci threshold for their intermediate sized models. While the end of the muscle car era was unknowingly near, 1970 was a year of unbridled performance. Street machines with colorful, eye-catching graphics, speed and handling improvements, and astronomical amounts of torque & horsepower had become the things of regular production. It goes without saying that 1970 was truly the pinnacle year of the muscle car era and the LS6 454 Chevelle was at the front of the pack, leading an all-out assault on the streets of America’s performance car scene.
Chevrolet’s lean and mean LS6 454 was actually one of two Mk-IV big-blocks offered as part of the SS454 option, aka RPO-Z15. The other was the slightly milder 360hp LS5 454. It marked the first time since 1965 that a different displacement engine option was available above and beyond the 396. Manufactured at Chevrolet’s big-block production plant in Tonawanda, New York, the LS6 454 was built with one priority in mind, performance. Assembled with four-bolt main bearing caps, the LS6 made use of a forged 5140 alloy steel crank in addition to forged steel rods that were connected to TRW forged aluminum pistons which delivered a smashing 11.25:1 compression ratio. Also built in were a .520in lift, 316-degree duration solid-lifter camshaft as well as cylinder heads with large rectangular ports and big valves - 2.19in intakes and 1.88in exhausts. With a 4.25 x 4.00-inch bore & stroke and a 780cfm Holley carburetor - atop a low-rise aluminum intake manifold - feeding fresh air to the brute, the LS6 454 was capable of unleashing an underrated bone-jarring 450hp and stomach crunching 500lb-ft. of torque.
The LS6’s almighty power translated into burnt rubber through the SS454’s choice of transmission options, the M40 Turbo Hydramatic 400 auto or the M22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed. With a selection of gear ratios ranging from 3.31:1 to 4.10:1 and optional posi-traction, the LS6 454 powered 1970 Chevelle SS was more than capable of catapulting from 0-60 in under six seconds and blasting down the quarter mile in 13.0s or better with speeds in excess of 100mph. All of this power was made manageable thanks to the Super Sports standard F41 suspension which added a heavier front & rear stabilizer bar as well as stiffer springs and shocks. Riding on F70x14 white letter wide oval tires wrapped around a set of SS five-spoke wheels, there was no question this monstrous muscle car was a top contender on several levels.
In addition to significant performance upgrades, the 1970 Chevelle SS454 introduced dramatic improvements to the A-body’s style. In general, the 70 Chevelle sustained the fastback roofline of prior years but combined the familiar form with more distinctive bulging contours around the front and rear wheel openings. Quad headlights, individually recessed in chrome bezels, were paired in two’s on each side of the Super Sports redesigned v-shaped grille which was separated by a body-color bar into two blacked-out segments, each of which were framed in chrome borders with a bold SS emblem bringing it all together. All new rectangular taillights were fused together with the redesigned rear bumper which incorporated a unique black rubber pad - positioned in the cove between the taillights - featuring an outlining white pinstripe and SS emblem set to the far right. Additional raised SS logos were positioned on the front fenders atop individual engine designating emblems.
Perhaps the most significant difference to the Super Sport Chevelle in 1970 was the all new ZL2 cowl-induction hood. Featuring a stacked pair of muscular bulges, the cowl-induction hood made use of a vacuum operated flapper door that opened at full throttle, feeding cold air to the Chevelles big-block. Beneath the ZL2 ductwork was a large rubber ring providing an airtight seal which helped channel air into the Chevelles open-element air cleaner. Ordering the ZL2 cowl-induction hood also included Nascar style hood pins as well as the D88 sport stripe kit which added a pair of eye-catching hood & deck lid stripes. Inside, features of the 1970 Chevelle SS included optional Strato bucket seats and an optional console with floor-mounted shifter as well as an exclusive dashboard layout with a three-pod cluster which featured a 6500rpm tachometer.
The cost of owning one of these ultimate Chevelles was no bargain by 1970’s economic standards. The RPO-Z15 SS454 option cost $503.45 but another $263.30 was tacked on to cover the cost of the 450hp LS6 454. After adding in various mandatory options, the total cost of the SS454 LS6 package rang in at over $1,000. These totals don’t include the $147.45 cost for the Cowl Induction hood. Even though it wasn’t cheap, the stunningly aggressive appearance and soul-stirring power caused the resistance of almost 4500 enthusiasts to self-destruct as predicted would happen in a late 1969 advertisement. The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 was not only the ultimate Chevelle, it was quite arguably the ultimate ride of the muscle car era.
Over 30 years later, wallets are self-destructing and enthusiasts are once again buckling at the site of the 1970 Chevelle, only this time around, the Chevelle that is causing financial surrender is the 1/18 scale 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 hardtop from the Exact Detail division of Lane Automotive. Finished in an almost traditional Cranberry Red with black stripes and a saddle interior, the 1/18 scale model literally jumps off the pages of old Chevelle advertisements from 1970. This particular color theme was featured in a wide majority of Chevrolet advertisements in 1970 for the Chevelle SS. In fact, Lane has cut & pasted the very Chevelle from those advertisements and wrapped the box of their 1/18 scale replica in these images.
As for the 1/18 scale image, Lanes long awaited 1970 Chevelle SS454 hardtop is remarkably brilliant. This hardtop marks the first of its kind in the Exact Detail 1970 Chevelle series and Lane has once again proven their talents at capturing the overall look of the real thing in a miniature scale model. The somewhat fastback profile, the bulging muscular contours, Lane has properly portrayed it all in scale. On top of this gorgeous figure is draped Lane’s rendition of Cranberry Red, accented with twin black hood & deck lid stripes. The presentation is outstanding and while this same exterior color combo was recently used on their convertible version of the same car, as popular as this color combo was in 1970 on the hardtops in particular, it’s only fitting that the first hardtop in the Exact Detail series is depicted in the familiar attire.
In addition to the memorable paint scheme, Lane’s 1970 Chevelle has successfully captured many other specific characteristics of the paramount muscle car. Up front, each of the four T-3 marked headlights have been set in miniature chrome bezels, properly paired on each side of the dually segmented grille. Both sections of the grille - amazingly true to the original with 4 horizontal & 22 vertical slats with one large pronounced centerline - are accurately framed in a thin layer of chrome. A matching body-color bar breaks the grille up into two separate sections with a 3-dimensional SS insignia mounted front & center.
Precisely duplicated SS emblems in tampo fashion also adorn the Chevelles front fenders above another tampo calling out the engine designation, in this case, 454. A final SS logo decorates the far right of the Chevelles black rear bumper pad. Authentically molded out of genuine rubber, the pad - outlined with a thin white pinstripe - is attached to the Chevelles chrome plated rear bumper in between a pair of detailed rectangular taillights. It’s worth noting that both the front & rear bumpers have been impressively detailed with a molded in set of miniature chrome bumper bolts. Additional touches of chrome brilliantly frame the front & rear windows and side drip rail moldings as well as the front & rear wheel well openings which are home to a set of authentic Goodyear Polyglas F70-14 treads that come wrapped around a set of perfectly detailed SS 5-spoke wheels.
Accurately detailed & segmented side marker lights decorate the front fenders & rear quarter panels and a “Chevelle by Chevrolet” tampo adorns the rear decklid. A silver block letter “Cowl Induction” tampo rests on each sidewall of the second bulge in the truthfully replicated muscular cowl-induction hood of the Exact Detail Chevelle. Detailed with a pair of chrome plated hood pins, Lanes 70 Chevelle also features an extraordinary working flapper door in the cowl-induction hood which opens & closes with the simplest of ease.
Beneath the awesome cowl-induction hood rests an equally awesome replica of the mighty 454 big-block. This work of art, vibrantly finished in authentic Chevy orange, is surrounded in a meticulously arranged grouping of accurate wires & hoses from the distributor wires to the heater & radiator hoses. A pair of chrome plated Tonawanda labeled valve covers border an aluminum painted intake manifold that rests beneath the 454’s detailed air cleaner assembly which includes a snorkel & simulated rubber sealing ring around a detailed air cleaner lid with a splash of paint to the wing-nut and a miniature exactness of the cross-flag 454 Turbo-Jet 450HP emblems. Lane even duplicated the vacuum line that runs to the molded solenoid that operates the working flapper door in the cowl-induction hood. Speaking of which, the structure detailing found on the underside of the cowl-induction hood is quite remarkable in itself as this is an area that is overlooked most often. These guys don’t call themselves Exact Detail for nothing. Continuing on, there are several other clever little details surrounding the 454 such as the detailed battery, the painted windshield washer reservoir with its own vacuum line, a detailed radiator support with realistic miniature labels and a chrome plated radiator cap, a pair of molded horn units, the power steering pump and even a miniature scale dipstick.
A painted master cylinder stands out along the firewall and from it descend a pair of brake lines that run their appropriate route to the front & rear brakes. Steel fuel lines also take their proper course from the painted fuel pump along the inside of the frame to the painted gas tank, detailed with a pair of black securing straps. Additional splashes of paint have been added to the Chevelle’s undercarriage, detailing parts like the oil filter and starter motor as well as the “Rock Crusher” transmission and driveshaft which is detailed with 3 accurate identifying stripes. The Chevelle’s F41 suspension is realistically detailed with coil springs and painted shocks as well as painted front and rear stabilizer bars. Finally, the exhaust pipes, properly molded and shaped in a true stainless steel finish, exit through a pair of realistic resonators and dual chrome plated exhaust tips which extend out from the beneath the rear valance.
One of the more pleasant areas to review on an Exact Detail model is the interior. More and more often, the interiors of Lanes models have been blessed with a greater amount of detail and realism that make you want to shrink down to size and climb in. The interior of the Exact Detail 70 Chevelle SS454 hardtop is no exception. Lane chose to replicate the Chevelle’s saddle interior color for this model and I’m pleased to report that they nailed it on the first try. This interior might contrast better with a darker exterior color, but again, this is the exact combo that was predominantly featured in 1970 and I applaud Lane for offering this widely advertised interior color. More importantly, colored interiors tend to come out looking toy like, but in the case of the saddle interior on Lanes Chevelle, the realism is simply amazing. And the plentiful amounts of detail that are enclosed between the realistically hinged doors further enhance the overall effect.
Upon the initial glance, the first thing that jumps out at you is the face of the dash & steering wheel which are both finished in a contrasting black. Set behind the horizontal-bar-style SS steering wheel is the Super Sports 3 pod cluster, each of which are trimmed in silver rings with clearly legible gauges recessed in each pod. Accents such as the lights switch, wiper switch, radio & thermostat controls, and air vents have been molded into the face of the dash with several splashes of paint - including the “Chevrolet” panel above the thermostat controls. Other details include a realistic pedal assembly - including a clutch, parking brake and brake release handle - a detailed center console with an authentically designed 4-speed shifter, and a pair of faithfully replicated door panels featuring ribbed contours outlined in silver trim, padded armrests, chrome plated door lock knobs and window cranks, and small but legible SS door tags. Combined, all of these details and splashes of paint help the interiors realistic portrayal to be even more believable.
Even more convincing are the incredible fabrics, both real & simulated, that Lane has incorporated into the interior of the 70 Chevelle. The floorboards are fully carpeted in matching saddle, framed off with a pair of door sill plates, and the headliner is realistically fabricated with a detailed dome light. The Chevelle’s Strato bucket seats, supported in a chrome plated frame, feature an extraordinarily realistic appearance thanks to the genuine seat pattern and stitch detail. Both the front folding buckets & rear bench seat are highlighted with actual woven fabric seat belts and chrome plated fasteners. Located on the other side of the detailed bench seat is the Chevelle’s opening trunk. Contained within the trunk is a detailed spare tire with anchoring hardware & a jack, legible jacking instructions & caution label on the underside of the trunk lid, an accurately detailed trunk mat and splatter paint, and an additional splash of paint highlighting the trunk lock bezel.
Thanks to Eric Trapp - Lane’s product design manager of the Exact Detail line - and the remarkably skilled experts involved on this latest project, the undisputed king of all muscle cars has been forever immortalized in the most extraordinary scale replica of this car ever assembled. With only 1,998 copies produced of the Exact Detail 1/18 scale Cranberry Red 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 hardtop, the Benjamins will be flying and a sell-out is all but guaranteed based solely on enthusiast demand. So what are you waiting for? You’re “10 seconds” are almost up. 10, 9, 8, 7……
