The mid-size Chevrolet Chevelle was popular in 1970, with over 440,000 examples produced. The ultimate package was introduced that same year as Chevrolet offered the LS6 Turbo-Jet 454 cubic-inch big-block V8 engine with 450 horsepower, a $263.30 option. Mandatory options with the LS6 to help handle the power included heavy-duty engineering, added nearly $1,000 to the base price. 4,475 Chevelle owners selected the LS6 engine.

The LS6 Chevelle became available as rival automakers offered a 400-plus cubic-inch engine in their intermediate-body style cars. GM reluctantly held the line, restricting displacement to 400 CID in all its mid-size cars except for the Chevrolet Corvette. Finally, giving way to requests from eager fans, in 1970 GM was intent on no longer ceding ground. Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick responded with 455 CID engines from their full-size passenger cars, while Chevrolet introduced the 454 CI LS6, constructed with a forged steel crank and rods, forged-aluminum pop-up pistons, a sold-lifter cam, and a single Holley 4-barrel carburetor on an aluminum high-rise intake manifold. Its 450 HP and 500-lb-ft of torque made it the highest of any production engine Chevrolet had ever built to that point in history. It would retain this title until the 2006 Corvette Z06 which had 505 horsepower.

Exterior changes for the 1970 Chevelle included several to the front end treatment, including a slotless front bumper that housed rectangular parking lamps directly before the headlights. It had a split grille flanked on either side by dual circular headlights. The front fender's swept-back appearance was gone, and a new upper line ran from above the headlight level to the rear of the vehicle, above the rear bumper.

The name 'Chevelle 300 Deluxe' was dropped. Trim levels included the Malibu which was positioned above the base Chevelle. Several options were available for the station wagon, including the 6-passenger Nomad which had a base price of $2,840. The Greenbrier Station wagons had seating for six- or nine-passengers, as did the Chevelle Malibu. The top-of-the-line station wagon in the Chevelle model lineup was the Concours Estate, which had a base price of $3,350 for the 6-passenger and $3,450 for the 9-passenger. All station wagons were equipped with Dual-Action tailgates, Hide-Away wipers, side beam doors, an all-vinyl interior, a cigarette lighter, a hidden antenna, and a heater/defroster. Concours Estates added door edge moldings, simulated woodgrain exterior paneling, and carpeting.

Standard equipment included safety features, a locking glovebox, rubber floor mats, a cigarette lighter, E78-14B blackwall tires, and a heater/defroster. The base engine was an inline six-cylinder unit displacing 250 CID and offering 155 hp. The entry-level V8 was a 307 overhead cam unit that had 200 horsepower.

The Malibu trim level added an Astro Ventilation system, sideguard door beam construction, hidden antenna, Hide-Away wipers, glove box light, and Delco-Eye battery.

Pontiac may have started the muscle-car wars with the GTO, but it was the Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 LS6 of 1970 that was the victor. With shocking performance that was matched by its timeless styling, it has earned its spot among the muscle car legends of the era.