1970 CHEVY CHEVELLE

Of all four cars in Jim Schafer's lineup with us, the 1970 Chevelle is the traditionalist. No LS swap, no coilovers, no modern bones — just 454 cubic inches of ATK Performance HP451P big block sitting where Chevrolet would have put one in '70, breathing through a cowl-induction hood like the day it left the factory.

What's different is the brain. The big block runs Holley Sniper EFI instead of a carb — same look from the outside, but cold starts, smooth idle, and altitude compensation come standard now. ATK's own flywheel test on this motor showed 545 HP cresting at 5,200 RPM with a wide 570 ft-lb torque shelf holding from 4,200 to 4,800. The chart speaks for itself.

A TREMEC TKX 5-speed handles the shifts — same gearbox we put in the 1968 Camaro and the 1972 Chevelle, because once you've driven one you don't want anything else in a classic. Power lands at a Ford 9-inch rear, the standard for big-power muscle. Suspension stays OEM front and rear for that classic Chevelle ride, but 4-wheel disc brakes replace the original drums — Jim wanted to enjoy the car, not white-knuckle every stop.

Inside, a custom center console was fabricated to house the modern shifter, switches, and a cleaner dash layout. Power windows round out the convenience. The car looks 1970 from any angle, drives like 2025 from behind the wheel.