7. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS-6 Convertible
The Chevrolet Chevelle was always a popular muscle car, combining an affordable price, contemporary design, and powerful engine. In the 1960’s, customers could order the Chevelle with a 396 big-block V8 engine. It was the biggest, most powerful unit rated at 325 or 375 HP, which was more than enough to be a significant player in the muscle car segment. But in 1970, GM’s ban on displacement for intermediate models was lifted, which meant that the Chevelle could get the biggest and the most powerful engine GM had to offer. With the new design, improved mechanics, and one new big-block unit, the Chevelle was set to conquer the drag strips in 1970.
The mighty new option was the legendary 454 V8 engine. In standard trim, it was rated at 360 HP, which was much lower than the real number. However, there was an even more powerful version called LS-6. The LS-6 had borderline racing compression of 11.25:1. It used a bigger carburetor and had much stronger engine internals. It was rated at 450 HP; however, it could produce around 500 HP. Even though the SS option was quite popular in 1970, only around 3,700 cars received the mighty 454 V8 engine. The LS-6 equipped cars were even rarer and Chevy only produced 20 convertibles, making this Chevelle one of the rarest muscle car ragtops in the world.