Quote:
Originally Posted by rusnak
I'm not the corvette type. But the ONE that I lust after is the 1970 454 SS.
I have a big block 454 in my truck, and I just love the torque that motor puts out. I can't even imagine a hot rodded version of that motor in a little plastic tupperware car.
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GM never applied the SS label to any Corvette of the C3 period (if ever). The only big block delivered in 1970 vette was the 454/LS5 rated at 390hp(gross).The LS4 was sold in trucks and was 345hp iirc.
In the 3700 lb car they ran 15 second 1/4 miles. respectable at the time but not earth shattering .
In 1970 the 454 LS6 was sold in the Chevelle SS and were labeled 450 hp.
That same LS6 (but vettes were equipped with aluminum heads) appeared in the 1971 Corvette but with the change to lower compression that year it was rated 425 hp. Something like 150 were sold.
The LS5 was down to 365. The LS5 carried over to 74 but the ratings were changed to installed net and were 270 hp by then.
The nicest engine (inmo) was the LT1 solid lifter small block rated at 370 hp in 1970.A typical small block vette was probably 3300 lb
Down to 330 when comp dropped in 71. They could crack low 14,s in the 1/4.
The rarest was the LT1 pkg with special HD brakes and suspension (something like 22 were built. I think I recall a member here Foxpaws said she owned one of these very rare cars way back when . Probably worth $200k now).
Like so many of the muscle cars of the era our memories see them as rockets but they were only fast by comparison to the other cars of the same era.