1970 Corvette
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:
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
1970 Corvette Specifications
The 1970 Corvette boasted a crosshatch-pattern grille and front-fender vents, plus deeper rear wheel-arch skirts so wheelspin in hard takeoffs wouldn't kick up so much debris. These and other improvements led to improved driving quality for 1970. Here are the specifications for the 1970 Corvette:
 Corvette's 427 big-block became a 454 for 1970. The LS5 version delivered 390 bhp for just $290 extra. |
| Vehicle Specifications | Convertible | Coupe |
| Wheelbase, inches | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| Length, inches | 182.5 | 182.5 |
| Width, inches | 69.0 | 69.0 |
| Track, inches | front: 58.7 rear: 59.4 | front: 58.7 rear: 59.4 |
| Height, inches | 47.9 | 47.9 |
| Curb weight, pounds | 3,720 | 3,425 |
Mechanical Specifications (2-door convertible/coupe)
Suspension
front: Independent; upper and lower A-arms, coil springs, tubular hydraulic shock absorbers, antiroll bar
rear: Independent, lateral leaf springs, struts, U-joint halfshafts, trailing arms, tubular hydraulic shock absorbers
Wheels/Tires
8x15
Brakes
front: 11.75-inch disc
rear: 11.75-inch disc
Transmission
3-speed Hydra-Matic
4-speed manual
Standard axle ratio
3.36:1
Engine Specifications
| Type | ohv V-8 | ohv V-8 | ohv V-8 | ohv V-8 | ohv V-8 |
| Displacement, liters/cu inch | 5.7/350 | 5.7/350 | 5.7/350 | 7.4/454 | 7.4/454 |
| Bore × stroke, inches | 4.00 x 3.48 | 4.00 x 3.48 | 4.00 x 3.48 | 4.25 x 3.76 | 4.25 x 3.76 |
| Fuel Management | 1 x 4-bbl. | 1 x 4-bbl. | 1 x 4-bbl. | 1 x 4-bbl. | 1 x 4-bbl. |
| Horsepower @ rpm | 300 @ 4,800 | 350 @ 5,600 | 370 @ 6,000 | 390 @ 4,800 | 460 @ 5,600 |
| Torque @ rpm, pound-foot | 380 @ 3,200 | 380 @ 3,600 | 380 @ 4,000 | 500 @ 3,400 | 490 @ 3,000 |
Published Performance Numbers
| Acceleration | 390 hp, 3-sp automatic | 460 hp, 4-sp man. |
| 0-60 mph, sec | 7.0 | NA |
| 0-100 mph, sec | NA | NA |
| 1/4-mile, sec @ mph | 15.0 @ 93 | 13.8 @ 108 |
(Sources: Road & Track; Sports Car Graphic)
Vehicle Production and Base Prices
| Car Type | Production | Price |
| 2-door convertible | 6,648 | $4,849.00 |
| 2-door coupe | 10,668 | 5,192.00 |
Options and Production
| Option | Production | Price |
| Custom Interior Trim | 3,191 | $158.00 |
| Power Windows | 4,813 | 63.20 |
| Custom Shoulder Belts (std w/coupe) | 475 | 42.15 |
| Auxiliary Hardtop | 2,556 | 273.85 |
| Vinyl Covering | 832 | 63.20 |
| Rear Window Defroster | 1,281 | 36.90 |
| Air Conditioning | 6,659 | 447.65 |
| Optional Rear Axle Ratio | 2,862 | 12.65 |
| Power Brakes | 8,984 | 47.40 |
| 350 hp Engine | 4,910 | 158.00 |
| 390 hp Engine | 4,473 | 289.65 |
| 370 hp Engine | 1,287 | 447.60 |
| 4-speed Manual Transmission, close ratio | 4,383 | 0.00 |
| 4-speed Manual Transmission, close ratio, heavy duty | 25 | 95.00 |
| Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission | 5,102 | 0.00 |
| California Emissions | 1,758 | 36.90 |
| Tilt-Telescopic Steering Column | 5,803 | 84.30 |
| Power Steering | 11,907 | 105.35 |
| Deluxe Wheel Covers | 3,467 | 57.95 |
| White Stripe Tires, F70 x 15 nylon | 6,589 | 31.30 |
| White Letter Tires, F70 x 15 nylon | 7,985 | 33.15 |
| Heavy Duty Battery (std w/LS5) | 165 | 15.80 |
| Alarm System | 6,727 | 31.60 |
| AM/FM Radio | 14,529 | 172.75 |
| AM/FM Radio, stereo | 2,462 | 278.10 |
| Special Purpose Engine Package | 25 | 968.95 |
Color Choices (Production numbers not available)
| Color Choice | Color Choice | Color Choice |
| Classic White | Monza Red | Marlboro Maroon |
| Mulsanne Blue | Bridgehampton Blue | Donnybrooke Green |
| Daytona Yellow | Cortez Silver | Ontario Orange |
| Laguna Gray | Corvette Bronze |
Learn about other Corvettes in this generation:
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
