Rare 1970 LS5 El Camino SS Headed to Auction
This 454-powered beauty represents the ultimate era for Chevy.
The late Sixties and (very) early Seventies were a wondrous time for fans of muscle cars and trucks. The horsepower war was in full effect, with each manufacturer duking it out for bragging rights. The winner, of course, was the consumer. You quite simply had your pick between some seriously powerful engine options offered up in a variety of vehicles.
Chevy’s El Camino was no stranger to this trend. The truck made out of a car, like its Chevy brethren, was available in SS trim and with a series of powerful V8 engines back in 1970. You could choose to go with the mighty SS396 that year, which actually displaced 402 cubic inches. Or, you could opt for the ultimate version: a 454-powered LS6 or LS5 El Camino.
The latter, which represents the “standard” version of the 454, produced 360 horsepower and an incredible 500 lb-ft of torque. The former was, quite literally, the ultimate El Camino, pumping out 450 ponies. The car you see here is the lesser of the two, but it’s still a rare and desirable classic. We spotted the beautifully restored big block Elco on the Mecum auctions site ahead of its appearance at the Portland show, taking place June 16th and 17th.
In addition to the numbers matching LS5 engine, the SS has a lot of desirable options as well. It’s equipped with power disc brakes, steering, windows and door locks. Shifts are handled by a beefy TH400 automatic transmission, sending power to a 12-bolt, 3.31 posi rear end. Inside, you’ll find bucket seats, a console, and a factory tachometer.
If you’re a fan of the El Camino, you’d be hard pressed to find a finer example of one than this. The fact that it packs a tire shredding big block is just icing on the cake.
