1970 Chevy Corvette

1970 CHEVY CORVETTE SPOTTERS GUIDE
The most obvious immediate difference between a 1969 and a 1970 is the “egg crate-style” side vents on the front fenders, as opposed to the 4 vertical vents of the earlier cars. The fenders were flared out slightly so save the sides from flying gravel. While the front bumpers, and the general shape of the front grilles remained unchanged, the pattern of the grilles went from the ’69-style horizontal ribs, to the 1970’s egg crate grille. The small round turn signals of the ’69 were replaced by larger squarish units contoured on their outer sides to fit into the outer ends of the grille openings. There were officially no black 1970 Chevy Corvettes (other than a few possible special orders).

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1970 Chevy Corvette INTERIOR

1970 CHEVY CORVETTE INTERIOR
Little changed from previous C3 models. Other than some minor detail changes and some new options and safety features, the interior in the 1970 Chevy Corvette was largely carried over from the 1969 model.

1970 CHEVY CORVETTE ENGINES
A new 350 small block V8 made its debut. The LT1 was a high-revving engine that produced 370hp, the highest ever for a carbureted production Chevy engine. The only one higher was the 375hp 327, but it had Rochester fuel injection. The LT1 was an excellent engine. The standard engine continued to be the 300hp 350. On the big block side, the 427 was replaced by the new 454 big block, essentially the same engine with a longer stroke. They called it the “Rat Motor”, because the small block had been referred to as a “Mouse Motor”, referring to “The Mouse that Roared”. The 454 came in 2 versions, the LS5 with 390hp, and the fire-breathing LS7 with an underrated 465hp. Both could be had with either a 4-speed manual or a Turbo 400 automatic. Alas this was 1970, the peak of horsepower. Starting the following year, all these excellent engines would start getting their teeth pulled by ever-increasing government-mandating smog-dogging. 1970 turned out to be one shining moment in automotive history, when all the planets aligned. The cars, the engines, the performance were the best they would ever be…until now, of course. But it was truly the end of an age.

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1970 Chevrolet Corvette SPECIFICATONS