Hard to image that this beautiful 1970 Chevelle started out needing big help. Fortunately, Steve found it and saw the potential shining through the damaged body, maxed out rear air shocks, and pink neon lights. That’s right, pink neon lights!
When he found it, it had a 427, misplaced 4-speed, and enough dents and dings to make any 1970 Chevelle lover cringe. But it did have one saving grace: It had absolutely no rust! It was then that Steve decided to strip the car bare and do it all over the right way.
After calling Ground Up, he began receiving all the necessary parts to complete his vision. Here is Steve’s account of the restoration process:
“This car, with the exception of the performance add-ons, is an all Ground Up restoration (all the parts fit perfectly I might add). I added new left and right front fenders, a cowl induction hood with all the fixings, bumpers, all emblems, all moldings, body mounts, brake lines, backing plates, spindles, fan shroud, wiper arms, hood hinges, weather stripping, door latches, door handles, and just about every bolt in the 1970 Chevelle. The under carriage and frame is all finished with chassis epoxy, and the paint was done by Impact Auto in Malden, MA. Everything else was done myself (with a little help from some good friends). I’ve placed very well at quite a few local car shows.”
As far as performance, Steve felt he got a little carried away with some stuff. The 1970 Chevelle was reborn with a 454 4 bolt main, steel crank, 7/16 rods, TRW forged pistons, Comp Cams Extreme Energy 588 hydraulic cam, oval port heads, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake with a Holley 750 double pumper, and an MSD 6A ignition with a pro billet distributor. This car really screams through its Hooker Super Competition headers and 3” exhaust. This powerhouse links up to a built ATI TH400 transmission which turns the 3.73 gears in the 12 bolt Auburn carrier. Who ever said getting carried away was a bad thing?
Steve is the 3rd owner of this Oklahoma car and still has the original registration and bits and pieces of the build sheet. He says,
“This is the 3rd Chevelle I have restored, and I will always use Ground Up parts for my cars from now on. Ground Up has always treated me well and I would love to have my 1970 Chevelle somewhere in the Ground Up family album.”
Well Steve, we think your car makes a perfect addition to the Ground Up family, especially without the pink neon lights! (Were those a rare RPO option or what?) -Team Ground Up
