The Chevy Chevelle is one of the most prolific vehicles to hit the market since the first-generation model was released in 1963. The early sixties were a hotbed for motor vehicle innovations, specifically for smaller-sized cars, which would eventually transition quickly into the muscle car era - a swift change in the forecast precipitated by the success of the American Motors’ Rambler American and the Pontiac LeMans in the muscle category.
Despite the Chevelle’s long lifeline and commendable status as a classic American car, its profound influence on modern production and marketing has made it one of the most important cars in history.
10 The Yenko Chevelles
Don Yenko, a retired race car driver and car dealer in Pittsburgh developed a line of Chevelle, Camaro, and Nova ‘supercars’ that were built specifically for performance and with the prospect of competing in races. It isn't certain which and how many of these special-ordered vehicles actually ended up competing.
Roughly 350 of these ‘Yenko’ Chevelles were produced, and Don ordered ninety-nine of them for himself using Chevrolet's Central Office Production Order (COPO) system. Fifty-five of these models had four-speed manual transmission. Thirty-seven of them were TH400 automatics.
9 An Iconic Movie Car
The Chevelle is the Samuel L. Jackson of movies cars. Why? Because Hollywood just can't get seem to get enough of this vehicle. From Dazed and Confused to Talladega Nights and multiple Fast and the Furious appearances, there isn't a genre that this car cannot perform in.
With over 1,600 total appearances in movies and TV shows, there aren't many other vehicles that get close to this number, and it might be time to introduce a 'best car' category at the Academy Awards just for this car.
8 NASCAR Success
The third-generation Chevelle body style was popular in NASCAR competition between 1973-1977. Perhaps it isn't just a coincidence that the car's sporting success arrived just when the Chevelle was celebrating its ten-year anniversary in 1973. Incidentally, it was also the most extensive redesign in the car's ten-year history.
Cale Yarborough, a retired race car driver won thirty-four races with the Chevelle Laguna, along with two Grand National championships during a long and successful career competing in NASCAR. The Laguna S-3 became ineligible to compete in NASCAR competition by 1977.
7 New Looks in 1966-1967
In 1966, Chevrolet restyled the Chevelle to comply with the "Coke bottle body" trend that was a popular production choice during the sixties. Aside from the narrow center and flaring fenders of the so-called Coke body style, this year's Chevelle offered smoother frame contours and curved side windows.
Makeover was the name of the game in 1967 when a few finer touches were made to the rework on the Chevelle body the previous year - wraparound taillights, front disc brakes, and three-speed automatic transmission were just a few of the changes made.
6 The Steam-Powered Concept
In the sixties, pollution and carbon dioxide awareness became a rising issue and automotive companies were under increasing pressure from both the government and public to come up with more environmentally-friendly models to combat the issue. An alternative to gas-powered vehicles was at the forefront of the discussion.
In 1969, General Motors was making plans to build a steam-powered concept vehicle based on the Chevelle that was being called the SE-124. Sadly, this concept never got to see the light of day - having capped out at 15 mph, it simply wasn't going to work.
5 Myth Of The Z16 Convertible
In 1965, Chevrolet had an order to fill for 200 regular production Z-16 coupes, and one Z-16 convertible, which would eventually be built at the Kansas City plant. The prototype for the Z-16 model was built at the Baltimore plant.
Rumor has it that the one convertible Z-16 was built especially for Chevrolet General manager Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen, but was eventually destroyed. Some say that this special order was not in fact destroyed but instead kept safe inside a private collection. Only approximately 75 of these rare versions are accounted for.
4 A (Somewhat) Anticlimactic End
There isn't one set reason why the Chevelle had lost its nameplate at the end of an unfulfilling 1977 production year leading into a slow but steady decline until its inevitable discontinuation. In its final year, big-block engines were discontinued and the SS received a considerable downgrade from its previous forms.
Despite the infamous model's inability to evolve into modern standards, it remains one of America's most influential and popular muscle cars to this day, with no signs of a status change coming any time soon.
3 History Of The Name
Where did the name 'Chevelle' come from in the first place? Chevelle is a French word that translates as 'bold and beautiful.' 'Cheval' is also the French word for 'horse', and, considering the immaculate horsepower of the vehicle is known for, is more than just appropriate.
A name made further necessary, considering that Louis Chevrolet, co-founder of the Chevrolet Motor Company in 1911, was a Swiss native and a French speaker. Still, if there's one thing can we can be sure of, it is the boldness and beauty of this vehicle.
2 The Chevelle SS
The Chevelle Super Sport was Chevrolet's attempt at stepping into the muscle car arena in 1965 with this sport trim model - 350 horsepower L9 engine built to compete with the other cars contributing in the muscle car frenzy. Pontiac had already set the bar pretty high with their 389 cubic inch Bonneville engine LeMans.
In 1966, the Chevelle SS had become so popular that it was no longer part of a package but instead got its own nameplate. Early 1964 and 1965 models had the Malibu SS badge on the rear quarter panel. The mid-1965 Z16 option had the same badge on the front fender.
1 New Chassis
In the third-generation of the Chevelle, Chevrolet gave the vehicle a bit of a foundational makeover in creating a newer, sturdier frame model with larger rear axles, wider wheel rims, increased front and rear suspension travel with revised geometry, and more.
John Z. DeLorean, who was Chevrolet's dynamic general manager at the time of the chassis revision, changed positions within the company to start a brief period as vice president of General Motors Car and Truck group, when the new framework models were announced.