Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many LS6 convertibles were built?
A: There is no known
breakdown of LS6 optioned Chevelles by body style or how many were
sold with a 4-speed vs. the TH400 automatic, or came with optional
gear ratios, etc. and will probably never
be known
unless we can register all 4,475 LS6 cars sold, which isn't in the
realm of possibility for obvious reasons. See
How Many LS6's Based On Body Style
Were Sold? for more insight on LS6 numbers vs. body styles.
Q: Why is Oshawa, Ontario, Canada listed?
A: No LS6 optioned Chevelles were born in Oshawa
but to fend off possible confusion, as of 9/22/2008 Oshawa is now
listed on the site. There were
LS6 Chevelles built in the U.S., Baltimore and Kansas City are two
U.S. plants of origin have been reported, and imported
into Canada for sale. One such GM of Canada documentation indicates that 231
V8 Malibu Sport Coupes were imported into Canada and at least one
of those is documented here to be a LS6 optioned Chevelle. Since we'll only list
documented LS6 Chevelles
submitted to the registry and, as more are registered, this will surely
become a moot point.
Since Canada made V8 Malibu sport coupes for its own market as well
as exporting 25,938 of them to the U.S., it's possible that all 231
shown on the GM of Canada documents represents 231 LS6 optioned
V8 Malibu sport coupes. As of 9/23/2008 a letter has been sent to GM of
Canada seeking a clarification on this issue. Results will be shown
here when and if a reply comes.
Reply from Mr. George Zapora of GM of Canada on 9/24/2008 indicates that the 231 figure shown for imported V8 Malibu sport coupes is not solely for LS6 optioned Chevelles. To quote, "But due to production constraints some Chevelles/Malibus/whatever could be sent from the U.S. to Canada if we were running short of a low volume option or at build out time to fill orders, so not all of those imported cars are necessarily LS6's." See complete transcript of questions asked of Mr. Zapora and his reply, click here.
GM of Canada documentation for an LS6 optioned El Camino
indicates that 329 13680 El Caminos were imported into Canada but
there is no specific records of LS6 sales but several are
known to exist. One such LS6 El Camino is listed in the Baltimore
matrix table, #1466xx. Since the El Camino was
not assembled in Canada at all means all of them sold in Canada
would have to be imported. It would be logical to assume that since
all El Caminos needed to be imported for sale in Canada, a probably
smaller percentage of those would be LS6 optioned.
As others LS6 Chevelles with a Canada connection are registered, they'll be shown in both the U.S. originating plant table as well as the Oshawa matrix table.
If you have information on additional U.S.-built LS6 Chevelles destined for a Canada sale, let us know, be they sport coupes, convertibles, or El Caminos.
Q: Didn't all LS6 Chevelles have gauges and a tachometer?
A: No. The Instrument Panel Gauges, or Special Instrumentation, sold
under RPO U14 was always an option regardless of year. The
gauge pods for fuel, speedometer, and optional clock were round as
opposed to the linear sweep speedometer of a non-SS optioned
Chevelle but the gauge package, as well as a clock, was still an
option.
{Note:
The same holds true for such options as bucket seats, console, and
cowl induction hoods. Bucket seats and consoles were standard Malibu
options and not limited to the LS6; the cowl induction hood could be
ordered with any engine in either the Z25 SS396 or Z15 SS454 option
packages.}
Q: Is my LS6 real?
A: This can be tricky at best. Partially because there are differing
opinions on what is necessary to make an LS6 optioned Chevelle
'real'. To some, 'real' means the car has the correct and original
engine it was born with and can be matched to the build sheet. To
some, it means if the build sheet says it was born with the LS6
option, it doesn't (relatively) matter that the engine has been
replaced for one reason or another; whether by a dealer under
warranty or an over-avid enthusiast back in the day due to out of
warranty breakage. Consider if the car has a warranty engine with CE
code or a 1974 454 truck motor dressed to appear as a 1970 LS6
engine, but has build sheet that is original to the car as noted by
the VIN sequence and other information of the sheet matching the
trim tag.
As far as the LS6 Registry is concerned, the paperwork is the primary objective in the registry and not the car itself or its condition.
