Welcome to Little Car in the Big City, where I highlight fascinating cars I found walking around a town that is known for being bigger than everything else, but where every car is fighting to stand out: New York, New York.
I want to begin this week's LCBC by apologizing. It's rare that I do so, as I am clearly infallible (yes this is jokes), but last week it appears I made an error. The error was not one of facts or a misspelling, but rather one of beauty. When I show you all of the fantastic cars that the Big Apple and its surrounding environs offer, you Jalops expect magic and wonder and pretty, shiny things. Last week's Chevy Malibu wasn't really pretty and definitely wasn't shiny, so to make up for it, this week I bring you this gorgeous candy-apple red 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS.
Aw, who am I kidding – the Chevy Malibu was totally awesome, and I'd drive it in a heartbeat anyways. Apology RESCINDED. But on to the Chevelle.
Like the 1959 Jaaaaaaaag of a few weeks ago, this Chevelle was actually found not in New York City proper, but just North of it, in the suburbs where there are some really great twisty roads. You may think that ironic, then, that a car primarily meant for straight-line speed would be all the way up here in the mountains, but you'd be wrong. Just because a car can't attack the apices like a rabid mountain goat doesn't mean it isn't fun. Remember your mantra of "slow car fast." Hold it tight, for it will treat you well.
Speaking of being treated well, this particular Chevelle SS looks like it has been treated very well indeed, with nary a scuff on the exterior or the interior. That comes across as a bit of a rarity to me, as many of these cars were used and abused back when they were new, and now it can take a lot of TLC just to get it back in working order. TLC this car has seen, though, and TLC it deserves.
The 1970 Chevelle was actually available with everything ranging from a 155 horse six-cylinder engine, all the way up to a hilarious 454-cubic inch V8. The SS model, obviously, leaned towards the latter end of the scale, with the aforementioned eight-cylinder engine available along with a 396CI version as well. Both models, though, put out way over 300 horsepower. Either way, you were assured of a good time.
And why shouldn't you have had a good time? This was 1970. It was that beautiful period between groovy and funky, when gas was cheap and Nixon was President. And who doesn't live old Tricky Dick?
And hey, with Anthony Weiner being a prominent politician now, why not be a little silly and ridiculous again? I, for one, say it's time for a Chevelle SS comeback. Who's with me? Leave your impassioned pleas to Chevrolet in the comments below!
This Chevelle SS Is Sweet Like Candy