1970 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

In 1969 GM was in the middle of a parts strike, which forced them to run the 1969 Corvette production late. This, in turn, meant the 1970 production run would be shortened up with the Corvettes hitting dealer showrooms February of 1970. In 1970 Chevrolet also snuck in a new, little-known engine option- the LT 1. This engine was designed to help with insurance costs and power-to-weight ratios for the people wanting to race. With 370 gross horsepower at 6,000 RPM, it featured many hi-performance and heavy duty components, including solid lifters, forged TRW aluminum pistons, 11:1 compression, four-bolt main cap block, steel crank, special hi-lift cam, high rise aluminum intake, 780 CFM Holley four-barrel carburetor, baffled oil pan, ram horn exhaust manifolds, high volume oil pump, high volume fuel pump with no return line, larger radiator and shroud, 2 1/2 inch exhaust, 6500 red line tachometer, and transistor ignition. The 1970 Corvette LT 1 shared the same hood and suspension as the big block Corvette.

This C3 1970 fiberglass bodied shark styled body Corvette is up for consignment and deserves a serious look. With this car sporting removable roof panels, a 350ci engine rebuilt to LT-1 specs and the beneficiary of a rotisserie restoration done in 2003 by Thorton Automotive it's no wonder this car won an AACA first place award and has a feature article written about it in a magazine. Call it a high-performance small block much like a welterweight fighter, quick, powerful, reasonably light, highly durable, and brutally effective.

Exterior
This shark with its chromed bumpers and lower chromed egg crate grille is in the sweet spot of the C3 years. Just prior to the performance killing EPA emissions add ons, and still enjoying chrome, the remainder of the body in fiberglass is Marlboro Maroon. It's an original color respray and is looking just as good as it did fresh off the rotisserie. The paint remains shiny though and presents overall in good condition. Badged as “Stingray” complete with front quarter “gills”, a chromed mirror on the door, chromed window surrounds, and the dual rear bumpers split for the license plate, all chrome is in good condition. 15-inch rally wheels are all around with deep dish trim rings and good rubber wrapping them. Bringing up the rear are rectangular chrome tailpipe covers which work their way through the bodywork at the rear roll panel.

Interior
A swing of the sculpted doors and we see Saddle, (tan if you will), styled door panels which present nicely with a mar free wood applique insert and clean tan carpeting below. Inside are buckets with Saddle leather tuck and roll inserts and a smooth exterior bolster. The driver's seat is beginning to show some light cracking and age wear, particularly in the center of the lower cushion and the lower center of the upright sections. Racing to the front of the car from the back of the passenger compartment is a Saddle leather covered center console. Here we note the handbrake, power window controls, shift lever, and climate control dials and sliding fan speed levers. Moving upward a Jensen AM/FM/Cassette radio and just above a series of 5 essential round gauges and warning lights that serves as your monitoring station as you jet along the highway. Behind the buckets is a large carpeted storage area in tan carpet, clean and well preserved as is the carpeting under the passenger's feet.

Drivetrain
Flipping open the sleek fiberglass hood we are met with a numbers matching 350ci V8 now built to LT-1 specs with all OEM parts. A non-original Borg Warner T-10 4-speed manual transmission is now on board, and this throws power rearward to a CAN stamped 3.55 geared rear axle.

Undercarriage
Underneath is very well preserved with just slight surface rust on some of the metal parts, but solid steel and fiberglass is mounted to it. C3 suspension all around and power discs for all 4 corners. A clean dual exhaust snakes its way rearward from the mill and ends with stock style mufflers with chrome tips.

Drive-Ability
I never miss a chance to drive a C3 Corvette and this one was no exception. After a choreographed feat of installing myself behind the wheel I twisted the key and the car fired instantly, the sound of a solid lifter cammed engine at idle is music to this writer's ears. Letting out the clutch and off to the test track I went. All was well though for the test drive with great acceleration with that 1970's sound, smooth ride, good handling and straight bias free braking. The pre-electronic all control cars offer up a feel on the wheel that is unmatched. Kind of down and dirty driving.

With 1970 being the highest output for the LT-1 at 370hp, later models succumbing to lesser due to the EPA, this model emulates the look, sound and feel perfectly. An older restoration holding its own and nowhere near the cost of an original, now proudly displayed in our West mallway...Handle with Driving Gloves!

VIN DECODE
194370S407184
1-Chevrolet
94-Corvette
47-Coupe
0-1970
S-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
407184-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG
C19-March 19th 1970 Build
TRIM 418-Saddle Vinyl
PAINT 975-Marlboro Maroon

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.