Classic Chevelle Harbors Twin Turbo LQ9 Secret

Pictures: Jim Moran

What is a sleeper? Depends on who you ask. To us, the traditional definition of a “sleeper” car is some vehicle that should be slow, but isn’t. A sleeper is a car (or even a truck) that doesn’t give any clues, but once you stomp the accelerator all pretenses are thrown out the window. But can a muscle car be a sleeper?

Jalopnik thinks so, as they’ve attached the definition to this humble-looking 1970 Chevy Chevelle. It may look normal, but this post over at Team Chevelle shows that this car actually packs a twin-turbo V8 putting out around 600 horsepower, depending on the boost. Sleeper, or just a badass muscle car?

This car is owned and built by Jim Moran, who is now selling it. From the outside, this looks like every other 1970 Chevelle, whose only exterior modifications appear to be some whitewall tires. The interior is similarly bland, sporting an off-green front bench seat and giving no indications that something funky lurks under the hood. Even the boost controller and ECM have been hidden in the glove box, giving this old Chevelle a totally stock look.

But there’s nothing stock about the 6.0 liter LQ9 engine that was “borrowed” from a Cadillac Escalade. This thoroughly modern power plant was then given twin turbochargers which can boost power over 600 ponies. But the clever builder stuck with his “sleeper” theme and went ahead and hid the intercooler below the radiator. Really, there is no telling that this Chevelle packs some serious modern muscle…and we guess it really does work as a sleeper. Do you agree?

About the author

Chris Demorro

Christopher DeMorro is a freelance writer and journalist from Connecticut with two passions in life; writing and anything with an engine.
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