Vehicle Description
Admit it, you've been enviously looking at cars like this at cruise
nights and car shows for years, haven't you? Somehow big block
Chevelles speak to almost everyone, with their ideal combination of
brute power, comfort, and stylish good looks. This incredibly cool,
frame-off restored 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 496 Tribute is
exactly the kind of car that populates the show filed and that you
hear hammering down the road late at night. Isn't it time you
started joining in on all the fun?
Everybody seems to have a red or blue Chevelle, but this one
dressed in sinister Black Metallic paint really stands out and
makes its presence felt with authority. Especially when paired with
the painted-on white SS stripes, a timeless color combination that
gives the brutal big block Chevelle off-the-charts high-performance
curb appeal, so you had better forget about keeping a low profile
when you're out on the road. The paint on this one is
driver-quality nice, with very good panel alignment, great gaps,
and attention to detail that says it was more than just a quickie
job, but rather a frame-off job that was taken down to metal before
it was reapplied several years back. Sure, it's been finished for a
few years now and shows some signs of use here and there, but it
still looks like a million bucks when it's blowing past you on the
road. Minor imperfections can be easily forgiven when the curb
appeal is this high, and even though we're happy with the way this
Chevelle sits today, a buff-and-wax could easily kick things up a
notch or two and restore some previous glory. White SS stripes are
mandatory on a car like this, blending in perfectly with the
aggressive styling of the blacked-out SS-spec front grille, chin
spoiler, cowl hood, and dual exhaust cut-outs under the rear
bumper. SS badges and emblems let everyone know this isn't some
average grocery-getter, and the lowered, crouched stance makes it
feel like this Chevelle is going to take a swing at you at any
moment. Shiny chrome provides good contrast to the black paint,
with the big bumpers fore and aft serving as bookends for the
aggressive A-body, and wheel arch and drip rail brightwork
emphasizing the car's curves.
The handsome black vinyl interior has been nicely refreshed for a
period-correct factory look, including comfortable bucket seats,
plush black carpets, and reproduction black door panels that all
work to make it an inviting, comfortable place to do the serious
business of driving. A factory center console splits the front
seats and houses a horseshoe shifter that manages the TH400 3-speed
automatic transmission below, a look that shouts high performance
in every way. The original gauges were swapped in favor of a full
array of AutoMeter units that fit directly inside a custom bezel
ahead of the driver, and the analog instruments look sporty and
provide a more accurate eye on the big block engine under the hood.
Amenities include a sporty, leather-rimmed steering wheel atop a
tilt column, seatbelts fore and aft, a heater/defrost unit, and a
matching set of Chevelle floor mats protecting the carpets below.
Not exactly a fully-loaded Lexus, but if that's what you're looking
for you probably should've stopped reading a long time ago. The
dash pad is in great shape and free of cracks, the stock black
headliner above is taut, and the back seat provides ample room for
three of your friends. Out back, the spacious trunk has been
finished with spatter paint and has enough room to accommodate most
travel plans.
Powering this '70 Chevelle is a beefy, built-up 454 cubic inch big
block V8 that's been stroked out to 496 giant cubes according to
the owner, and it packs a huge punch out in the streets. Dressed to
impress, it features supercool, custom '496 Tire Fryer' black valve
covers and a chrome open-element air cleaner, and all the
components, wiring, and plumbing are neatly organized around the
big block. It also offers an Edelbrock aluminum intake, a giant
Holley 4-barrel carb, as well as the requisite HEI ignition system.
The cowl induction hood feeds the open-element air cleaner and the
entire build has a slick look to it that's very appealing, right
down to the shiny inner fenders and firewall. Long-tube headers add
a few extra ponies and definitely bolster the big block's robust
torque curve, and the soundtrack is fantastic thanks to a set of
chambered mufflers underneath. Twist the key and it settles almost
instantly into an easy idle, and throttle response is right now
quick, so there won't be many vintage cars that can beat you on the
roll. The chassis is extremely solid and features a newer gas tank,
more-than-capable TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, and a
heavy-duty 12-bolt rear end out back. The lowered, crouching stance
is the perfect complement to Chevy's most popular A-Body design,
while power steering and power front disc brakes ensure a great
ride every time out. Flashy 17-inch SS Mag wheels perfectly
complement the electric bodywork and wear a set of 245/45/17 front
and 275/40/17 rear performance radials that finish the killer
look.
If you're tired of going to the ballpark without a glove, here's
your chance to get into the game in a big way. Call today!
