[VIDEO] Steve Magnante Explores a Parted Out Custom 1970 Corvette 454 Found in a Junkyard

Aug 13, 2026

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[VIDEO] Steve Magnante Explores a Parted Out Custom 1970 Corvette 454 Found in a Junkyard

If you were a fan of the Roadkill automotive series, then you know how cool it was watching Steve Magnante explore lost relics of automotive history in junkyards across the country. His latest junkyard crawl uncovers a real 1970 Corvette 454 4‑speed that’s been buried up to its rocker panels at the Happy Days Collection in Granby, Massachusetts.

This particular LS5-equipped Corvette survivor is worthy of a junkyard walkaround because in 1970 just 4,473 Corvettes got the 454 big block. The car also shows off some period customization work and the huge Cragar S/S wheels with Mickey Thompson rubber must have made this Stingray look really cool back in the day.

[VIDEO] Steve Magnante Explores a Parted Out Customized 1970 Corvette 454 Found in a Junkyard

The t-top coupe was original painted in Monza Red and it’s obvious that it was someone’s pride and joy. Steve shows some of the early ads for the customization work from Silva Auto Engineering that made fiberglass mods and then points them out on the car. Due to the car’s deteriorating condition, it’s very easy to spot where the original rear fenders were cut and the flares added. The Coupe also has an integrated rear spoiler on the rear deck.

And then we get to the wheels which we were surprised to still see on the car. The Cragar S/S Magnums were surrounded with Mickey Thompson Indy Profile 50-series tires, and they are the size of steamrollers! The fronts even seem to be running 15×9s with equally tall, wide rubber. Steve is right: When this ’70 Coupe was new and rolling around on wide Mickey Thompsons and Crager’s, and that fiberglass popping in Monza Red, it was undoubtedly a beast.

Steve pulls off one of the t-tops and we get a closer look inside which shows it has been stripped of nearly everything. Hanging out underneath, Steve notes big‑block specific U‑bolt half‑shaft retainers and a heavy multi‑leaf rear spring. Steve says these are the factory clues that prove this C3 wore the LS5 right from the factory.

Magnante signs off with some thoughts of this once proud street racer and contemplating what it would’ve been like to roll up on this thing while it was new: a Friday‑night cruiser, personalized with custom bodywork and a serious big‑block attitude.

Unfortunately, now it’s just an old memory for someone as it slowly rots away at the Happy Days Collection in Granby, Massachusetts.

From Steve Magnante via YouTube:

Steve examines the shell of a 1970 454 4-speed Corvette coupe with sleek custom body modifications and super wide Cragar SS wheels and Mickey Thompson tires. Is it cool or not?