1970 Corvette LT-1
When the muscle era was reaching its performance peak, the meanest Corvettes were the big-block monsters with 427- and 454-cubic-inch beasts under their hoods. But just when it seemed that all 'Vette glory was going to be earned with cubes, along comes the sweetly balanced, nicely detailed and still dang quick LT-1 powered by a 370-horsepower, 350-cubic-inch small-block V8.
Actually, that 370-horse rating was likely an understatement. The solid-lifter, 11.0:1 compression ratio, four-barrel carbureted LT-1 engine (also used in that year's Camaro Z/28) likely made closer to 400 hp. But with insurance rates rising, there was no reason to shout about such details. And by 1971, impending emissions regulations and low-lead and unleaded gasoline meant that compression ratios dropped and solid lifters became more problematic. In 1971 the LT-1's rating dropped to a realistic 330 hp and the last LT-1 built for 1972 ran at a claimed 255 hp.
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