A rare 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Convertible has set a new public auction record, underscoring the continued strength of top-tier American muscle cars. The car sold for $770,000, including buyer’s fees, during Mecum’s Kissimmee 2026 auction, establishing the highest price ever paid for a Chevelle at public sale.
The LS6 Chevelle occupies a special place in muscle car history. Powered by a 454-cubic-inch LS6 V8, the car was factory rated at 450 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, figures that eclipsed many of its era’s most celebrated performance engines. The LS6 was offered for only one model year before being discontinued, contributing to its enduring reputation and scarcity.
Production numbers further elevate its status. Chevrolet built just 4,475 LS6-powered Chevelles in 1970, a total that includes 500 El Camino pickups. That leaves approximately 3,975 coupes and convertibles combined. Convertibles are believed to be the rarest body style, though exact production figures remain unclear, with estimates ranging from just a few dozen to slightly more than 100 units.
Mecum’s Kissimmee 2026 auction featured 11 LS6 Chevelles crossing the block, including two convertibles. The record-setting example, finished in dark red and equipped with the highly desirable M22 four-speed manual transmission, surpassed the previous Chevelle auction record of $600,000 set in May 2024. It also became one of only five LS6 Chevelles to sell for more than $500,000.
The car benefitted from a two-year, frame-off restoration and is described as numbers-matching and factory-correct throughout, positioning it as a concours-level example. Its result stands in contrast to the second LS6 Convertible offered at the same event, which failed to sell after bidding reached $450,000.
The auction also included notable LS6 hardtops. A Black Cherry example sold for $176,000, while a Cortez Silver car brought $335,500, making it the second-most expensive LS6 hardtop sold publicly. The hardtop record remains $440,000, set in January 2023.
The Chevelle’s $770,000 sale placed it among the most valuable muscle cars sold at Kissimmee 2026, ranking fifth overall in a field led by multimillion-dollar Mopar and Chevrolet icons.
