Chevrolet Chevelle · 1970–1972

SS 454

The Chevelle with Chevrolet's 454: the SS 454 package of 1970 with the 360-hp LS5 or 450-hp LS6, and the LS5 under the one SS package of 1971 and 1972.

The story

The SS 454 package of 1970 cost $503.45 with the LS5; the LS6 added $263.30. With its mandatory transmission an LS6 car cost more than $1,000 in options.123

For 1971 the LS6 was listed but not sold, and the LS5 was the top engine through 1972, rated at 270 net hp in 1972.45

How to spot an SS 454

«SS 454» badges

In 1971 only LS5 cars carried «SS 454» badges; other SS cars just said «SS».4one source

Cowl induction

The optional ZL2 hood has a flap at the base of the windshield that opens at full throttle.3one source

Production by year

How many SS 454s were built each model year.

1970
8,773
1971
9,502
1972
5,333
As a table, with notes
YearBuiltNote
19708,773364,298 LS5 and 4,475 LS6 by Over-Drive; El Caminos included.
19719,50246Of 19,293 SS Chevelles and El Caminos.
19725,3336one sourceOf 24,946 SS Chevelles and El Caminos; Over-Drive only.

Engines

The code is Chevrolet's regular production option (RPO) code from GM's own lists; standard engines have none. Until 1971 the VIN tells only six from V8.

YearsCodeEngineRated
1970LS5454 cu in V8, hydraulic lifters360 hp7one source
1970LS6454 cu in V8, solid lifters, 11.25:1450 hp7one source
1971LS5454 cu in V8, 8.5:1365 hp8one source
1972LS5454 cu in V8 (VIN code W)270 hp net5one source

Where the sources disagree

Every conflict behind the figures on this page. All rulings.

Settled

The 1971 LS6

Our ruling: Listed but not released for sale. GM still listed the LS6 in its engine list revised January 1971 and its price schedule of 1 March 1971, although Wikipedia says it was dropped early in the model year. Consumer Guide says it was never released for public sale, and Wikipedia that no official record shows a 1971 Chevelle built with one. None of our sources shows a car built or sold. Over-Drive lists it without comment.

What each source says (4)
  • Listed at 425 hp in Chevrolet's price schedule of 1 March 1971, and in its engine list revised January 1971 (codes CPZ and CPY)8one source
  • Never released for public sale4one source
  • Dropped early in the model year; no official record of any built9one source
  • Listed among the engines at 425 hp10one source

Sources

  1. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11
  2. Super Chevy Showcase: 1970 Chevelle (Bill Petriko) Super Chevy (1985, reprinted in GM's 1970 Chevelle kit) · read 2026-10-11
  3. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-11
  4. 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-11
  5. 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11
  6. Chevelle production, 1968–1972 (five tables) Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11
  7. 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11
  8. 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11
  9. Chevrolet Chevelle Wikipedia · read 2026-10-11
  10. 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11

Year by year

The SS 454 in each model year.

1970Chevrolet ChevelleNew sheet metal and the 454: the SS 454 with the 450-hp LS6, the 402 still badged SS 396, and almost 302,000 Malibu sport coupes, Canadian-built cars for U.S. dealers included.440,262 built1971Chevrolet ChevelleSingle headlamps, round tail lamps in the bumper and lower compression for low-lead fuel: the SS became one package for any optional V8, and no source shows an LS6 Chevelle sold.345,449 built1972Chevrolet ChevelleThe last of the second generation: net horsepower only, no LS6, and a VIN that names the engine.393,695 built