CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Community muscle automobile hunter Patrick Nichols is no stranger to acquiring exceedingly unusual vehicles, these types of as the 1969 Daytona yellow Chevrolet Chevelle he uncovered final 12 months in Virginia.
In his nationwide hunt for Chevelles, Nichols has now located not one, but two of the world’s most sought-following muscle cars and trucks in unique problem: the 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6.
Patrick Nichols with the 1969 Daytona yellow Chevelle he located in Virginia. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 identified parked on a garage lift because 1978. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 identified parked on a garage carry because 1978. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 identified parked on a garage carry because 1978. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 identified parked on a garage elevate due to the fact 1978. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 Nichols uncovered in authentic situation. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 Nichols found in authentic affliction. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 Nichols located in primary issue. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The odometer displaying only 18,149 miles on the 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 Nichols located in authentic ailment. (Patrick Nichols, contributed)
The Holy Grail
In accordance to Nichols, Pennsylvania is a fantastic looking ground for locating Chevrolet Chevelles – the car Nichols refers to as “the king of the muscle automobiles.”
“The the greater part of the vehicles I have discovered have appear from there (Pennsylvania) apart from the one particular in Nevada and a few additional elsewhere,” he claimed.
Pennsylvania is where he located his two most recent treasures.
In November, Nichols caught wind of what he named a “rare situation” – a 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 that experienced been up on a garage lift up due to the fact 1978, meaning it hadn’t been touched for at the very least 43 years. Every thing was manufacturing facility unique to the auto besides the paint.
“The shade has been modified, it was manufacturing facility black with white stripes. Now it’s burgundy and any individual experienced set orange stripes on it, but it’s a really amazing auto with all of the generate line nonetheless matching,” Nichols mentioned.
Then, just a thirty day period afterwards in, Nichols reported he situated “the Holy Grail” of Chevelles: a just one-operator, 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 in fully unique problem.
Nichols claimed had read as a result of a close friend about a widow who was wanting to get rid of the automobile, which she purchased new with her spouse who had not long ago passed. The vehicle experienced only 18,000 miles on it.
“It is spectacular for a 52-calendar year-aged auto to have the primary paint, the original inside and to be that good 52 yrs afterwards. I signify it’s hardly ever seen a working day outside, so a definitely, definitely high-greenback vehicle there,” Nichols explained.
Equally cars were “big-time finds,” in accordance to Nichols, as only 4,475 Chevelles ended up manufactured in 1970 with the LS6 selection. After getting the autos, he was in a position to convey both again to Clarksville.
‘Just like The united states and apple pie’
When questioned about what tends to make the Chevelle so specific, Nichols explained to Clarksville Now the make and design embody the spirit of Americana.
“The Chevelle was the pinnacle of the muscle automobile. And as much as a Chevy is anxious, Chevrolet is usually going to be one of the best as much as vehicles. It’s just like The us and apple pie, Chevrolet is constantly likely to be just one of the very best,” Nichols claimed.
He describes the Chevelle as Chevrolet’s flagship muscle mass motor vehicle – its size was involving a larger vehicle and a sporting activities automobile, and fell into the era of car production that was unparalleled concerning horsepower.
“It was kind of like something your regular, daily dude could go down there and get, and he could truly place his child in the back if he experienced a person,” Nichols reported of the vehicle’s enchantment.
“Anything from the mid ’60s to 1970 is the time period of the sweet location of vehicles, so I never care if it’s a Corvette, if it’s a Camaro, a Chevelle, a GTO, a Pontiac, a Plymouth Barracuda. … All of that stuff is when they were being putting loud hues on automobiles and significant engines with graphics, and it was just a wild time,” Nichols reported.
As for the two Chevelles he just lately located, Nichols mentioned they will keep on being in his selection for now.
“I really don’t definitely have sights on selling them. But as you know, I did not have sights on selling a pair in the past, but I operate each individual day to keep properly related with men and women that want these vehicles and glance for these vehicles,” Nichols said.