Chev SSplendour 1970 Chevelle
When Leonard Coetzee laid eyes on his 1970 Chevelle, he knew he was looking at a diamond in the rough. Purchased from Brad Hall in September 2012, the A-body bruiser was already fitted with a Lumina LS1, boasting headers and a fresh exhaust. Primed and prepped, the plan seemed simple – spray, assemble, and hit the streets. But as any seasoned gearhead knows, there’s no such thing as a quick project.
Brad had picked up the Chevelle from Ray Exton with dreams of building a street beast, but cash flow issues saw those dreams passed along to Leonard. His only regret? Letting go of his beloved ’57 Chevy truck to fund the deal – though he’s recently snagged another project to ease the pain.
The Chevelle’s journey began at a panel shop that had previously built Leonard’s ’33 Coupe. Eight months of watching the car gather dust ended with a “sense of humour failure” and a quick tow to the Panel & Paint Shop in Durban. The crew wasted no time stripping the body from the chassis, which was shipped off to Speedway Auto for a full overhaul. Greg Talbott and Brad Lightning rebuilt the suspension with fresh components, new bushes, and upgraded brakes. That’s when the mind games started.
“They messed with my head... to do justice to a Chevelle SS, it had to have a big block. How much could it cost?” Leonard jokes. The LS1 was sold off to Mike Egan, and in its place came a 454 big block from Rocket 88. “Big block cost compared to small block is on another planet! But so is the sound when you fire her up.”
Every component was balanced before assembly, squeezing out every last pony – up to 50hp more by Leonard’s estimate. Speedway Auto powder-coated the chassis and suspension, while a big block sway-bar kit stiffened the frame against chassis twist. Ceramic-coated Flowtech headers routed through a modified Powerflow exhaust added the final growl to the beast.
Only three 1970 Chevelles are known to roam South Africa, making Leonard’s ride a rare sight. Though not a numbers-matching SS, he built the car to be driven, not parked. The green interior? Not happening. Seelan Pillay from Custom Auto Care transformed the cabin with black leather, Dakota Digital gauges, and a horseshoe shifter with a reproduced centre console – all factory-style, but with modern flair.
The cowl-induction hood and double-hump profile scream muscle from every angle, but the build wasn’t without setbacks. An unnamed tranny shop butchered the Turbo 400 rebuild – twice. Mark 1 Auto eventually stepped in, adding a shift kit and restoring the box to crisp, purposeful shifts. Leonard’s already eyeing a 4L80E swap for overdrive, along with an LSD upgrade to banish the dreaded one-tyre fire.
Durban’s heat meant aircon was non-negotiable. Steve from Cool Ideas tucked the plumbing neatly away, while a Champion double-fan radiator keeps the big block cool under pressure. SS stripes in a darker hue are next on the list, along with wider rear rubber to complete the stance.
With less than 1000km on the clock, the 650hp Chevelle hasn’t seen a dyno yet – but the seat-of-the-pants meter doesn’t lie. Rolling on staggered Coys wheels wrapped in Vredestein rubber, Leonard’s SSplendour is a street brawler with attitude for days.
Tech Sheet
Engine: 454 with Rocky Hinge Serpentine Kit
Heads: Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum heads
Cam: Edelbrock Performer RPM cam
Intake/Carb: Air-gap manifold and 800cfm Edelbrock carb
Ignition: MSD Blaster coil
Starter: Hi Torque 2.3 kW
Tranny: Turbo 400 with shift kit
Headers: Flowtech ceramic-coated
Gauges: Dakota Digital cluster
Wheels: Coys – 20-inch rear, 18-inch front
Tyres: Vredestein 235/30/20 rear, 235/40/18 front
Credit Roll:
Greg Talbott & Brad Lightning (Speedway Auto – suspension, engine build)
Gordon & Dane Thomson (Panel & Paint Shop – bodywork, respray, assembly)
Willie Van Rensburg (Ace Looms – rewiring)
Seelan Pillay (Custom Auto Care – interior)
Brandon Robertson & Brad Lightning (Parts, advice, late-night brainstorms)
The Chevelle’s journey began at a panel shop that had previously built Leonard’s ’33 Coupe. Eight months of watching the car gather dust ended with a “sense of humour failure” and a quick tow to the Panel & Paint Shop in Durban. The crew wasted no time stripping the body from the chassis, which was shipped off to Speedway Auto for a full overhaul. Greg Talbott and Brad Lightning rebuilt the suspension with fresh components, new bushes, and upgraded brakes. That’s when the mind games started.
“They messed with my head... to do justice to a Chevelle SS, it had to have a big block. How much could it cost?” Leonard jokes. The LS1 was sold off to Mike Egan, and in its place came a 454 big block from Rocket 88. “Big block cost compared to small block is on another planet! But so is the sound when you fire her up.”
Every component was balanced before assembly, squeezing out every last pony – up to 50hp more by Leonard’s estimate. Speedway Auto powder-coated the chassis and suspension, while a big block sway-bar kit stiffened the frame against chassis twist. Ceramic-coated Flowtech headers routed through a modified Powerflow exhaust added the final growl to the beast.
Only three 1970 Chevelles are known to roam South Africa, making Leonard’s ride a rare sight. Though not a numbers-matching SS, he built the car to be driven, not parked. The green interior? Not happening. Seelan Pillay from Custom Auto Care transformed the cabin with black leather, Dakota Digital gauges, and a horseshoe shifter with a reproduced centre console – all factory-style, but with modern flair.
The cowl-induction hood and double-hump profile scream muscle from every angle, but the build wasn’t without setbacks. An unnamed tranny shop butchered the Turbo 400 rebuild – twice. Mark 1 Auto eventually stepped in, adding a shift kit and restoring the box to crisp, purposeful shifts. Leonard’s already eyeing a 4L80E swap for overdrive, along with an LSD upgrade to banish the dreaded one-tyre fire.
Durban’s heat meant aircon was non-negotiable. Steve from Cool Ideas tucked the plumbing neatly away, while a Champion double-fan radiator keeps the big block cool under pressure. SS stripes in a darker hue are next on the list, along with wider rear rubber to complete the stance.
With less than 1000km on the clock, the 650hp Chevelle hasn’t seen a dyno yet – but the seat-of-the-pants meter doesn’t lie. Rolling on staggered Coys wheels wrapped in Vredestein rubber, Leonard’s SSplendour is a street brawler with attitude for days.
Tech Sheet
Engine: 454 with Rocky Hinge Serpentine Kit
Heads: Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum heads
Cam: Edelbrock Performer RPM cam
Intake/Carb: Air-gap manifold and 800cfm Edelbrock carb
Ignition: MSD Blaster coil
Starter: Hi Torque 2.3 kW
Tranny: Turbo 400 with shift kit
Headers: Flowtech ceramic-coated
Gauges: Dakota Digital cluster
Wheels: Coys – 20-inch rear, 18-inch front
Tyres: Vredestein 235/30/20 rear, 235/40/18 front
Credit Roll:
Greg Talbott & Brad Lightning (Speedway Auto – suspension, engine build)
Gordon & Dane Thomson (Panel & Paint Shop – bodywork, respray, assembly)
Willie Van Rensburg (Ace Looms – rewiring)
Seelan Pillay (Custom Auto Care – interior)
Brandon Robertson & Brad Lightning (Parts, advice, late-night brainstorms)
Selling Price:
0.00
Sold:
Yes