A UAW strike forced a two-month extension of 1969 production, which gave Chevy the time it needed to make the 1970 a better-built Corvette, and was doubtless a factor in 1969's record volume. But the strike also delayed the 1970s from reaching dealer showrooms until February, which pushed Corvette sales to its lowest point since 1962 -- a mere 17,316 units.
Total sales for the 1970 Corvette were down to the lowest point since 1962,
reflecting a production start-up delayed to January 1970.
Inside the cabin, seats were reshaped for better lateral support, more headroom, and easier access to the trunk. Shoulder belts, still separate from the lap belts, got inertia storage reels, thus ending some cockpit clutter. A redoubtable custom trim package was added to the options list that offered full cut-pile carpeting and fake wood trim on the console and doors.
Rear-deck vents eliminated the need for door vents in the 1970 Corvette.
Like the previous year's enlarged small-block engine, a bigger big-block was offered in response to stricter emissions requirements. Also like the 350, the 454 produced less power per cubic inch than its predecessor, but a lower peak power speed gave it somewhat more torque, and thus more flexibility, at lower rpm. Road & Track tried an LS5 with an automatic and obtained 7.0 seconds for the 0-60-mph run, a 15.0-second quarter-mile at 93 mph, and a top speed of 144 mph. On the down side, testers found the suspension suffered from both excessive harshness over irregular surfaces and a certain floatiness at speed.
Not that these criticisms mattered much, because 1970 would mark the end for big-inch, big-power Corvettes in the traditional mold. Besides skyrocketing insurance rates and fast-falling demand for sporty cars, Chevy's top performance machines were doomed by GM president Ed Cole's desire to eliminate low-volume options. He also dictated that all engines be retuned to run on 91-octane fuel, anticipating the need for catalytic converters to meet ever-tightening emissions limits.
Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:
1968 Corvette | 1969 Corvette | 1970 Corvette |
1971 Corvette | 1972 Corvette | 1973 Corvette |
1974 Corvette | 1975 Corvette | 1976 Corvette |
1977 Corvette | 1978 Corvette | 1979 Corvette |
1980 Corvette | 1981 Corvette | 1982 Corvette |
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
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