Join Kevin Oeste of Muscle Car of the Week as he takes us on a tour of a significant piece of GM’s history: a Dark Green Metallic ’70 Chevelle SS. Despite its understated appearance, this midsize vehicle is thought to be a factory LS-6 car, and based on available documentation, possibly the first built in the United States.
However, there is some uncertainty surrounding its claim to fame. The Chevrolet headquarters reportedly suffered a fire decades ago, and many records were lost. While General Motors may have known the truth at one point, the specifics of the car’s origins remain a mystery. Nevertheless, this only adds to the allure and intrigue of the vehicle’s history.
Of the approximately 4,475 1970 Chevelles built, this one is believed to have been ordered with Chevy’s fastest production big-block, the 4-bolt, 11.25:1 compression LS-6 V-8. Whether outfitted with a TH400 automatic or a Muncie “Rock Crusher” 4-speed, this powerful Chevelle could achieve low-to-mid 13-second passes.
What makes this Chevelle particularly noteworthy is its documentation. Numerous build sheets scattered throughout the interior appear to feature a note indicating that it was a “pilot job” from the Baltimore assembly plant. While the accuracy of these notes is not entirely certain, the vehicle’s VIN, which points to a December 9th, 1969 production date for the 1970 sales year, strongly suggests that it was indeed a pilot car.
It is not definitively known whether an LS-6 Chevelle was built in North America prior to this Green Metallic car. However, there are rumors that an export Canadian A-Body was constructed in November 1969, potentially placing it ahead of the US version.
Despite the many unknowns, one thing is clear: the history of this Chevelle SS, like so many classic muscle cars, is shrouded in mystery and waiting to be uncovered.
