The Verdict: Our First 1970 Chevelle Restomod
Up to now, every build that’s left our shop has been a first-generation K5 Blazer. Not anymore.
We were already working toward building a Chevelle platform when one of our K5 owners came back to us. He loved his Blazer, and he wanted us to build a Chevelle to add to his collection. That moved our timeline up, and his car became the first build on our new Chevelle platform. We named it The Verdict.
The Verdict is a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle with a 621 hp Chevrolet Performance ZZ572 big block, a Tremec 5-speed manual and an Art Morrison chassis. Here’s how it came together.
Why the Chevelle?
If you’re into GM muscle, you already know the 1970 Chevelle. It was the first year Chevrolet offered the 454, and the LS6 version was rated at 450 hp, one of the highest factory ratings of the era. The ’70 is also the body most people picture when they hear the name.
For us it was a natural next step. The Chevelle and the K5 come from the same period at GM, and the way we’ve learned to build Blazers carries straight over to the 1969–72 Chevelle: the chassis work, the wiring, the brakes, the interiors. We see it as the next expression of the same standards.
The two drive very differently, of course. A K5 sits up high and goes anywhere. A Chevelle is low and long and built around the engine. The approach is the same, though: keep the original look, modernize everything underneath, and build something the owner will actually drive.
Still Building Blazers
Adding the Chevelle doesn’t change anything on the Blazer side. The K5 is what this shop was built on, and we’re just as committed to building the best Blazers out there. There are more K5 commissions on the build sheet.
Building The Verdict:
ZZ572 Big Block and Tremec 5-Speed
We built The Verdict around a Chevrolet Performance ZZ572/620 crate engine. It makes 621 hp at 5,400 rpm and 645 lb-ft at 4,200 rpm, which is 171 hp more than the LS6 was rated for in 1970. It’s a tall-deck block with four-bolt mains, a forged rotating assembly, aluminum rectangular-port heads and a hydraulic roller cam, fed by Holley multi-port EFI.
Behind it is a Tremec 5-speed manual. The exhaust is polished stainless, built by hand, with MagnaFlow mufflers. Cooling is a Griffin aluminum radiator with dual electric fans.
Art Morrison Chassis
With that much torque, the factory frame wasn’t an option. The Verdict sits on an Art Morrison Enterprises chassis with mandrel-bent 2×4 rails. Up front is AME’s Sport C6 suspension with forged aluminum knuckles and C7 Corvette wheel bearings, and steering is AME’s power rack-and-pinion at 17.5:1.
The rear is a triangulated 4-bar with an AME custom-width housing and 31-spline alloy axles. There are Strange Engineering coilovers and adjustable sway bars front and rear.
Brakes, Wheels and Tires
Wilwood brakes all around: six-piston calipers up front and four-piston in the rear, on 14-inch slotted and drilled rotors, with electronic power assist. We tubbed the car to fit 19×11 US Mags in the back, with 18x9s up front, on Michelin performance tires.
Exterior
The paint is a custom gunmetal grey with black stripes. We deleted the chrome window trim and blacked out the grille, mirrors and door handles. The bumpers are tucked and smoothed, the glass is flush-mounted front and rear, and there’s a custom front lower spoiler. Lighting is LED. The SS badging and outlining were painted by hand, and the hood hinges are CVF billet.
Interior
Inside is Phoenix Red leather with red German velour carpet. We built the door panels, rear panels and center console in-house. There’s a Sparc steering wheel, Dakota Digital gauges made for us with a silver finish, and a push-button electronic parking brake.
It also has what you want in a car you’re going to actually drive: vintage-style A/C, power seats, power windows on billet switches, power locks, and a Bluetooth radio with a period look running a Rockford Fosgate system with 10-inch subs. The trunk is finished with hidden storage and a push-button release, and there’s a USB-C charger hidden in the cigarette lighter.
What’s Next?
The Verdict is the first of our Chevelles. More Chevelles, from 1969 to 1971, are already in the build queue from other commissioners. If you’re interested in a Chevelle of your own, get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does Iconic Built build Chevelle restomods?
Yes. Iconic Built is a modern coachbuilder specializing in iconic GM vehicles. It launched its Chevelle platform, covering 1969–72 model years, in 2026 with The Verdict, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle restomod. Chevelles are built alongside Iconic Built’s K5 Blazer restomods.
Is Iconic Built still building K5 Blazers?
Yes. The Chevelle is a second platform, and Iconic Built continues to build K5 Blazer restomods with the same team and standards.
How much does an Iconic Built Chevelle restomod cost?
Iconic Built restomod pricing for each build depends on its specification. Contact Iconic Built for details.
Can I commission a custom Chevelle from Iconic Built?
Yes. Customers can inquire about a Chevelle built to their own specification through Iconic Built’s inquiry page.