Chevrolet Chevelle
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| Chevrolet Chevelle | |
|---|---|
 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle — last year of this bodystyle | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1964–1977 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupe convertible 4 door sedan 4 door hardtop 2 door sedan station wagon |
| Platform | FR A-body |
| Related | Chevrolet Monte Carlo Pontiac Grand Prix Oldsmobile 442 Buick Special |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 194 in³ Inline-Six I6 230 in³ Inline-Six I6 250 in³ Inline-Six I6 283 in³ Small-Block V8 307 in³ Small-Block V8 327 in³ Small-Block V8 350 in³ Small-Block V8 396 in³ Big-Block V8 402 in³ Big-Block V8 427 in³ Big-Block V8 454 in³ Big-Block V8 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 116 in (2997 mm) 1968 Sedan 112 in (2845 mm) 1968 Coupe/Convertible |
| Curb weight | 3520 lbs (1600 kilos) for 1968 3260 lbs (1482 kilos) for 1970 SS 454 |
The Chevrolet Chevelle was a mid-sized automobile from Chevrolet debuting in 1964. It was produced from 1964 through 1977 and was one of General Motors' most successful cars. Chevelle models ranged from economical family cars to powerful coupes and convertibles. The Malibu was at first the top trim level of the Chevelle line, and it replaced the Chevelle name entirely after 1977. The Chevelle chassis (based on the reengineered GM A platform) provided the platform for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, a very successful model itself.
The Chevelle was intended to compete with the similarly sized Ford Fairlane, and to return to the Chevrolet lineup a model similar in size and concept to the popular 1955-57 models. Early design photos show what would eventually be the Chevelle wearing Nova nameplates, the name that was used for the top trim level in the smaller Chevy II series. From 1964-69, the Chevelle was the basis for the similar Beaumont, a re-trimmed Canadian model sold by Pontiac dealers.
Four-door hardtops were available from 1966 though 1972. A two-door station wagon was available in 1964 and 1965.
A utility version of the Chevelle station wagon, the El Camino, was part of the lineup. The El Camino outlived its passenger car counterpart until its demise in 1987.
Chevelle SS
The Chevelle SS represented Chevrolet's entry into the muscle car battle. Early 1964 and 1965 Chevelles had a Malibu SS badge on the rear quarter panel (the sought-after Z16 option had the emblem on the front fender, where 201 Malibu SS 396s were produced); after 1965, the Malibu SS badging disappeared except for those sold in Canada. The Chevelle SS, which became a regular series of its own in 1966 called the SS 396, was the high performance version and had its own line of engines and performance equipment. The performance engines available included 327 in³, 350 in³, and 396 in³ V8s - rated at 325, 350 and 375 hp respectively.
Previous to 1970, GM had a restriction stating that no mid-size car could have an engine with a displacement over 400 in³, though some inventive people figured out ways around this through the dealership; 1968 and 1969 were the times of the COPO (Central Office Production Order), in which a car was ordered by the dealer with a larger than allowed engine in it for racing purposes.
In 1970 the COPO dropped the displacement rule, and that was when the bigger engines came out, resulting the addition of an SS 454 line to the existing SS 396 series. The first change was that the 396 engine was bored out to 402 in³ , but the car kept the 396 badging, as so much advertising had been put into the 396 namesake that they didn't want to change it. Most notable was the 454 in³ LS5 V8 rated at 360 hp (low compression)and the LS6 at 450 hp(high compression). It was the 454 that made the Chevelle a legend. The LS6, with 450 hp and 500 ft·lbf of torque, would rocket the Chevelle through the 1/4 mile in low to mid-13 second times at 105 to 108 mph.
1972 Chevelle SS had a top engine rated at 270 net hp (201 kW) conforming with GM's decree that all engines were to be rated at their net engine ratings. Despite the lower rating there was no evidence that power had actually changed on production cars of that year.
Many customers, however, chose the Chevelle as an economical family car that, while not as expensive to operate as larger models (including the Chevrolet Impala), had enough room to seat a family of five in reasonable comfort. Popular convenience items ranged from power steering, power brakes, automatic transmission, air conditioning and stereo radio; plus appearance items including vinyl top, full wheel covers and whitewall tires.
Chevelles in Nascar
The Chevelle was a Nascar stock car. Mechanics such as Smokey Yunick built them and Drivers such as Curtis Turner drove them.
1973-1977
The Chevelle underwent a redesign for the 1973 model year. The so called "colonnade hardtop" styling featured frameless door glass and stronger "B" pillars. Front suspension was based on the Camaro/Firebird which greatly enhanced handling. Engine choices ranged from the 250 I6 to the venerable 454 V8. Hardened engine valve seats and hydraulic camshafts made these engines reliable for many miles. Crossflow radiators and coolant reservoirs that prevented air from entering the system prevented overheating. Swivel bucket seats and center console for automatic and manual shift cars were offered in every model as was the instrument gauge cluster. Power front disc and rear drum brakes were standard. Power accessories, air conditioning and AM/FM tape stereo were more prevalent these years and provided a pleasing drive. A power moonroof was an option in 73-75.
The station wagon, available in 6 or 9 passenger seating featured a rear hatchback door which allowed for easier entry and loading. The Chevrolet ElCamino and GMC Sprint were based on the Chevelle. Yearly design changes to the front and rear mark the aesthetic differences as in previous years. The 1973-1977 Chevelles were top sellers for G.M. as was the Oldsmobile Cutlass.
1973 model offerings started with the top luxury Laguna series with it's distinct urethane nose, followed by Malibu and then Deluxe models. An SS package was available for Malibu coupes and for the only time station wagons. The SS option included a black front grille, SS badging on the interior and exterior, body side striping, rally wheels with white letter tires, F41 sport suspension with front and rear sway bars, and a 350 or 454 V8. A 4 speed Muncie transmission was available with 350 or 454 equipped cars on any model.
For 1974 the Laguna S3 coupe replaced the SS for insurance purposes. The nomenclature S3 referred to sport and 3rd generation Chevelle. It sported a special urethane nose, body side striping, rally wheels, 4 spoke steering wheel, F41 sport suspension with front and rear swaybars. The Malibu Classic became the luxury model, and the Malibu the base model. Radial tires on 15" wheels and radial tuned suspension provided road grip and retractable 3 point seat belts were introduced and still used in new cars today. A 400 engine was new this year. The 454 was the top engine and available with the turbo hydramatic 400 or Muncie 4 speed transmissions.
The 1975 Laguna S-3 debeued as a 1/2 year model in February and sported a new sloped front nose designed for Nascar. H.E.I. or High Energy Ignition provided spark to the spark plugs with minimal maintence and increased power. The larger distributor cap also provided better high RPM performance by decreasing the likelyhood of the spark conducting to the wrong terminal. The 454 and turbo hydramatic 400 transmission was available for the first half of the model year and then the 400 was the top engine choice.
For 1976, Chevelle was available with the new 5.0 liter 305 V8 the 350 and the 400.
1977 offered the Malibu Classic as the top model and the 350 was the top engine. A Chevelle S.E. or special edition was available and provided front and rear spoilers, rally wheels, special graphics and sport suspension. Only 50 or so were built.
NASCAR The 73-77 Chevelle was the top car in the Nascar circuit in the 1970's. The car was so popular and successful on the track that Chevrolet developed a new front nose in 1975 that lead to the aerodynamic cars of today. The car dominated the field so much that Nascar imposed a carburetor restrictor plate for all Lagunas. Drivers that raced 73-77 Chevelles include: Darrell Waltrip, Junior Johnson, Benny Parsons, Cale Yarborough, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Bobby Isaac, Lennie Pond, A.J. Foyt, Ricky Rudd, Dale Earnhardt and female racer Janet Guthrie.
When GM downsized its intermediate models for 1978, the Chevelle name was dropped and all models took the Chevrolet Malibu name.
Onscreen
- in the invisible a black 69 chevelle is driven by Annie Newton (Margarita Levieva) that she takes from her boyfriend so she can save nick powell (Justin Chatwin)
- In Tales from the Crypt episode "King of the Road" (Season 4, Episode 9), Brad Pitt's character Billy is a ruthless street racer who drives a Yellow 1969 Chevelle SS 396.
- Chevrolet Chevelles appear in the background of a number of Dirty Harry films including The Enforcer and Magnum Force.
- There was rumor that a 1970 Chevelle SS454 would be featured as one of the main cars in next The Fast and the Furious movie, following The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift instead was replaced by a Ford Mustang.
- A 1964 Chevelle Malibu appeared in Quentin Tarantino's cult movie Pulp Fiction. It is the car owned and driven by character Vincent Vega.
- In The Fast and the Furious a short scene occurs after the end-credits, showing Vin Diesel's character Dominic Toretto speeding through Baja, Mexico in a 1970 Chevelle SS 454.
- A 1964 Chevelle Malibu sedan was in the movie Repo Man, starring Emilio Estevez.
- In the movie S.W.A.T., Officer Jim Street drives a blue 1972 Chevelle.
- In Dazed and Confused a 1970 Chevelle SS with a 454-ci LS-5 (390-hp, 500-lb/ft) V8 appears, driven by Matthew McConaughey's character Wooderson.
- In Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Reese Bobby, Ricky's dad, drives a black and gold #13 1969 Chevelle Malibu, an apparent homage to Smokey Yunick who campaigned similar Chevelles with driver Curtis Turner in NASCAR in the mid 60's.
- In Gran Turismo 4 for the Playstation 2, one of the available cars is a 1970 Chevelle SS454.
- Rapper The Game's "Put You on the Game" music video features the rapper riding in a 1970 Chevelle SS454.
- In Need For Speed: Carbon, one of the available cars is a 1970 Chevelle SS454.
- In Sega GT2002, one of the available cars is a 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS-6 spec.
- In Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix, one of the available cars is a 1970 Chevelle SS454.
- In L.A. Rush, one of the available cars is a 1970 Chevelle SS454.
- Rapper Mannie Fresh's music video "Real Big" features a 1970's Chevelle SS 454
- In TV show Columbo a fleet of 1974 Lagunas is featured through out one episode. They are all white with red stripes and have 400 badges on the front fender.
- In Cannonball Run - A red 1976 Laguna with Hawaiian Tropic lettering resembling Donnie Allison's 1977 Nascar racer was featured. It was driven into a hotel pool in one scene.
- In the movie Say Anything actor John Cusack drives a blue 1976 Chevelle throught the movie. The song In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel in the famous 'boom box' scene features the car in front of his girlfriends house.
External links
- Chevrolet Chevelle SS - MuscleCarClub.com
- Chevrolet Chevelle Horsepower Ratings, Specifications, Photos - MuscleCarDrive.com
- Chevy Chevelle at Muscle Car Facts — A year by year account