Chevrolet Chevelle

The Chevrolet Chevelle was created in 1964 as a midsize model automobile from Chevrolet. It was produced throughout the 1960s and 70s and was one of General Motors' most successful models. Chevelle models ranged from economical family cars (by the standards of the day) to powerful coupes, although many survivors are from the latter group. The Malibu was at first an upmarket submodel of the Chevelle but later became a model in its own right. 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 lineup was originally deemed as a Chevy II replacement; however, Chevy II sales filled the niche for the Corvair since it could not outsell its competition.

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 1988 - some suggest that the sales of the Chevrolet S-10 pickup led to the El Camino's demise.

The Chevelle SS represented Chevrolet's entry into the hot midsize muscle car battle. Early 1964 and 1965 Chevelles had a Malibu SS badge on the quarter panels; after 1966, the Malibu badging disappeared except for those sold in Canada. The Chevelle SS was the high performance version and had its own line of engines and performance equipment. The engines available included a 350, a 396 - rated at 325, 350 and 375 hp, and the venerable 454 - rated at 390 and 450hp. It was the 454 that made the Chevelle a legend. The Ls-6, with 450 hp and 500 ft·lbf of torque would rocket this car through the 1/4 mile in low to mid 13s at 105 to 108 mph. This is Corvette ZR-1, Ferrari Testarossa and Porsche 911 stomping ground. After 1970, the engine ratings went south quickly and 1972 would be the last of the great Chevelle SS models. With the top engine rated at 245 gross horsepower (183 kW), the car was a good performer, but not legendary.

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.

The Chevelle nameplate became superfluous in the mid-1970s, as it was tied to the Malibu name in sales literature (as in, Chevelle Malibu), and it was retired after the 1977 model year.

• KOConnell

On screen

• Chevrolet Chevelles appear in the background of a number of Dirty Harry films including The Enforcer and Magnum Force.

• A 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu appeared in Quentin Tarantino's cult movie Pulp Fiction. It is the car owned and driven by Vincent Vega.

More Pictures of Chevelles

Source Chevy Chevelle SS

Source Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu

Source

Chevrolet Chevelle V8 and V6 1969-87 Chevelle, Malibu, El Camino Owner's Workshop Manual (USA Service & Repair Manuals) from Amazon.co.uk

Pictures of your car

Send a picture of your car attached to this Email, tell us a little about it and we'll show it here.

Both of these  chevelles are '67  396, 4 speed cars. Low miles on each and are only driven on sunny days. The red one is my bosses and the green one is a good friend of his. They both live in port Dover Ontario Canada. - from Kim

This is a '67 biscayne it is a 454, 4 speed car, with a bench seat. Nice car in great shape. - from Kim

Comments

those cars are very beautiful those are luxus cars

The earlier writer is correct.  The grey Biscayne is a '68 and was apparently originally a 6 cylinder car based on the front fender light, and being a full-sized Chevy it is not a Chevelle, which is how the photo is labelled.

Hi, The silver Biscayne is a 68.Thanks for the pics!

i think these cars are great to work on

The King of muscle cars - LS6 rules, and the I have a soft spot for the Heavy Chevy (a package beneath the Super Sport)