
The Chevelle was one of the few muscle cars that Chevrolet put into production between 1964 and 1973. In its last year of production, Chevelle received a major makeover that did not sit well with muscle car fans. Due to the race to produce more economy efficient cars they also received a well detuned motor which would eventually lead it to being discontinued. But before 1973, Chevelle enjoyed eight long years as one of the more popular muscle cars on the road and even in its retirement, it still enjoys the recognition as some of the most popular muscle cars that are available for purchase to this day.
So, what made the Chevelle so popular
among consumers and muscle car fans? The price, the size, and the
power. As a mid-size car, you could put your whole family in one and
head to the grocery store, go shopping, come home, drop the family
and the grocery off, and then head to the drag strip for some race time.
You can do all this, for what at the time, was a very reasonable
price.
In 1964, when the Chevelle made its
way in to production for the first time, it came with a couple of
different motors, but the larger and the most powerful of them all
was a 300 horsepower 327 cubic inch motor. This really didn't hit the
nail on the head for consumers for it was a little under powered for
the weight of the car. But in 1965, Chevelle upped the ante with a 396
cubic-inch motor that produced the type of power that the public was
waiting for. The new Z-16, 396 V8 produced 375hp and could go 0-60
mph in 6.0 seconds and drop a quarter mile time in 14.66 sec. at
99.8mph. This was impressive for 1965.
In 1966, the Chevelle would see some
body modification and although the power rating stayed the same the
times at the track would be cut from a 14.66 sec. quarter-mile time down
to a 14.40 sec. quarter-mile time due to a solid lifter cam and bigger
values given to the 396 motor. In 1967 Chevrolet would stick with the
same body style for the Chevelle but would make some major changes. Front wheel disc brakes would be implicated to help stop the
wider tires and new 14 inch rims, a new reworked bumper and blacked
out rear panel were all part of the new features the '67 had to
offer. Unfortunately, because of GM curb weight standards, it would
experience less power and slower times at the track. The L34 396
would only produce 350hp and do 0-60 mph in 6.5 sec. with a quarter-mile
time of 15.3 sec. at 94mph.

With consumers still having complaints
about power, Chevrolet would up the ante again for the 1969. Although
the badges and the build sheets would say the Chevelle was built with
a 396 cubic-inch motor with 375 hp, it was well know that the motors
were bored out to 402 cubic inches. The deceit was mainly to meet emissions
standards and to gain some horsepower.
This was also the year Chevrolet
brought about one of the most rarest Chevelles to date, the '69 COPO.
The COPO was designed pacifically for the drag strip. With a 427
cubic-inch motor producing 425 horsepower capable of
producing numbers like 0-60 mph in 5.1 sec and a quarter-mile time of
13.3 sec at 108mph, it became the fastest production Chevelle that
Chevrolet ever produced. The COPO wasn't only the fastest produced,
but with only 323 made for sale, it still holds today as one of the
rarest.

Unfortunately, for 1971-72 the Chevelle would see some extremely harsh decreases in power. In response to GM's new rules that all engines must run on unleaded fuel and meet every restrictive emission standards, the muscle car era was starting to be come a thing of the past. There was one good thing about the years of '71-'72, even though the big 454 motor's power was lowered due to restrictions, you still could order them, and if you knew what you were doing, you could take that motor and fix it up to get the power out of it that it once had in 1970.
Even though the Chevelle was canceled
after 1973, it was not the only muscle car that got the ax. The GTO,
Oldsmobile 422, the Plymouth Roadrunner and many other cars would see
the same fate right around the same era due to the pursuit to find
more fuel efficient and economy friendly cars. But the Chevelle and
all of its muscle car brothers and sisters still to this day are
extremely popular to car enthusiast.