12/08/2013
Miles: 52,968 miles Big blocks are nice and all, but until you've experienced the sound of this real- deal, matching-numbers 1970 Corvette LT-1 at speed, then you can't really call yourself a gearhead. Cackling with race-ready hardware, the high-revving LT-1 engine was the weapon of choice for guys who liked going fast when the road began to twist and turn. Yes, it's a real LT-1 (note the hyphen) and that's the original code CTU block between the fenders. It doesn't look much different from a standard 'Vette, but with only 1287 being built in 1970, you'd better believe it's a rare beast. Finished in its correct code 979 Bridgehampton Blue, this elegant, low- key Corvette hides one of Chevy's most potent engines under its vented and pinstriped hood. Befitting a car of this caliber, the restoration was incredibly thorough and they got the details right. Clearly a lot of time went into the fiberglass prep work, because the finished product doesn't show any ripples or waves in its surface and everything fits together quite nicely. Contrasting white pinstripes are a little flashy, but then again, this was 1970 and this was the nastiest Corvette in the showroom, so why not show off a bit? Pretty chrome bumpers look fantastic against the dark blue paint and were restored to show condition along with the rest of the car. Simple LT-1 badges give it away, but only if you manage to get close enough to read them, which isn't at all easy to do. The black interior was also restored to factory specs, with fresh seat covers, correct carpets, and correct details throughout. Bright gauge faces with vivid orange needles keep an eye on the snarling small block, and you'll note that the tach redlines at 6500 RPM, a dizzying number in 1970, particularly for a pushrod V8. The original AM/FM radio is still in the dash, but that's one of the few available options on the LT-1, as the high- RPM nature of the engine precluded niceties such as A/C and automatic transmissions. Instead, you get manual ventilation, a 4-speed Muncie M21 that shifts like a bolt- action rifle, and precious little else. However, it's important to note that the fiber- optic light monitors are all functional, which is rather rare all by itself, and T-tops make this a fantastic cruiser on nice days. Oh, and there's a tilt column so it's easy enough to get exactly the right driving position for your next track event. The LT-1 was more race than street, and featured 11:1 compression, mechanical lifters, forged pistons, four bolt mains, a Tuftrided crank, high-lift cam, and a baffled oil pan to eliminate windage. With a Holley 4-barrel atop a high-rise intake, it was rated at 370 horsepower and 380 pounds of torque, figures dangerously close to the mighty LS5 big block. This one was fully rebuilt less than 50 miles ago and was treated to a few invisible upgrades that push horsepower over the 400 mark, and was dressed to show with all the original finishes and components in place. The exhaust manifolds were obviously ceramic-coated for durability, and that 2.5- inch exhaust system is how they came from the factory. The chassis isn't as detailed, so you shouldn't think twice about running this one through its paces, and with factory Rally wheels and 225/70/15 Goodyear radials, it is ready to rock. Rare, fast, and an absolute blast to drive, this snarling small block will make you a believer in the old adage that less is more. |