Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevrolet Chevelle was a car of the middle class, which was built in model years 1964 to 1977 by Chevrolet in the United States. The sub - model series were called Chevelle 300, Chevelle 300 Deluxe Chevelle Malibu Chevelle SS Chevelle Concours and Chevelle Laguna.
The Chevelle was to make the similarly sized Ford Fairlane competition and complement the Chevrolet range with a model that was based in size and concept to the popular models from 1955 to 1957. In the model program of the sixties Chevelle and its luxury version Malibu occupied the central region between the compact car Corvair and Nova on the one hand and the large models Impala and Caprice other.
The model range of the Chevelle handed cheapest sedans and station wagons up to powerful coupes and convertibles. The sporty versions were called Chevelle SS ( Super Sport) and were among the muscle cars. At the beginning of the Malibu was the deluxe version of the Chevelle series until 1977, the entire series was given this name. The chassis of the Chevelle also provided the basis for the 1969 Chevrolet introduced the Monte Carlo, which was a very successful model itself.
Show early design concepts that the Chevelle was originally intended to carry the Nova name tags - a term which was then used for the smaller Chevy II series.
Year by year
Chevelle (1964-1967)
Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Series 135/136 (1966)
In model year 1964 Chevrolet introduced a new mid-range model out the Chevelle, which was stylistically derived from the smaller Chevy II / Nova. The vehicles were first in two sub-series, the simpler Chevelle 300 and the luxurious Chevelle Malibu. Both had the serial number 0300 and were equipped with six-cylinder in-line engines from the Chevy II / Nova - available series or V8 engines of the full-size Chevrolets. While there were only six -seater saloons with 2 or 4 doors and six-seater station wagon with 3 or 5 doors from the 300, even a 2-door sports coupe and 2-door convertible with 5 seats came at Malibu so. On request, there was a Super Sport package with a sportier features, more powerful engines and an SS lettering.
1965 Chevelle series has been slightly revised and split into four sub-series. Simplest version was, as before, the Chevelle 300, the six-cylinder versions, the new serial number 131 received, with the V8 versions were designated as Series 132. Besides the two sedans, there were only the 3- door station wagon. Something elegant were the Chevelle 300 Deluxe, the serial numbers 133/134 used and available as sedans or 5 - door station wagon were. Top model was the Chevelle Malibu Series 135/136, from which you could buy a 2-door convertible, a 2-door hardtop coupe, a four -door sedan and a 5- door station wagon. The Chevelle Super Sport became its own sub- series with the number 137/138 and was only available as a convertible and hardtop coupe with two doors. On the sides of the wagon was to read " Malibu SS ".
In model year 1966, all Chevelle got a new body in the modern trapezoid shape ( with forward inclined front and back slightly sloping rear end plate ) and a more pronounced hip bend over the rear wheel arches. The 3- door wagon of the Chevelle 300 - series was abandoned, it was the Chevelle Malibu series as a new model, a 4- door hardtop sedan. The Super Sport was promoted to SS -396 with 6.5 -liter V8 engine; the six-cylinder variant was omitted.
Light retouching identified the model year 1967. Example were the front direction indicators moved to the corners of the vehicle. For the model range of the previous year, a 5-door luxury station wagon with imitation wood to the sides of the vehicle came under the name Chevelle Concours Series 137/138 to ( The serial number 138 was awarded so twice this year ).
Incurred a total of approximately 1,490,000 Chevelle the first generation in four years.
Chevelle (1968-1972)
Chevrolet Chevelle SS Coupe (1970 )
Complete the Chevelle was revised model presented in 1968. The wheelbase of sedans, coupes and convertibles was " shrunk, while the station wagon to a 1" by 3 had longer wheelbase. Completely new was the 5 - door wagon Chevelle Nomad Wagon which introduced the 300 and the 300 Deluxe. The name should remind us of the 3-door flagship model of the great 1955 Chevrolet. In addition to this combination there was the 300, only a 2 -door coupe, the 300 Deluxe also a 2-door hardtop coupe and a 4-door sedan. The Malibu, the Concours and the SS -396 had the same lineup as last year has to offer.
In the following year the base model Chevelle 300 and the luxury combi Chevelle Concours fell away. Simplest version was now the Chevelle 300 Deluxe, while the Chevelle Malibu still functioned as a top model. The SS -396 was, as in 1964, only a sports package that could be ordered for all Chevelle Malibu with a V8 engine. The Nomad, inherited from the previous series Chevelle 300, was the only model in the Chevelle 300 Deluxe - series nor the serial numbers 131/ 132 The other station wagons of the series were given the name Greenbrier Series 133/134, the anterior for a bus to the Corvair series was used. These suits were either six or nine seats. Also, the Chevelle Malibu had now 5-door station wagon with six or nine seats, the Chevelle Malibu Estate Wagon were called. There were still the convertible, hardtop, the two models and the 4-door sedan.
1970, a particularly luxurious sports coupe was developed from the Chevelle, which has its own series formed as Monte Carlo. It was on the equipment level of the Concours Estate Wagon series again offered 138, which represented as a six - or nine- seater, only with V8 engines, the top of the range. Among them was ranked the Chevelle Malibu with a station wagon now Concours Wagon were called. The 2-door hardtop coupe became the sports coupe with B-pillars. In the middle segment of the Chevelle was offered ( The addition of 300 Deluxe was repealed), which was available as a 5-door Greenbrier station wagon with six or nine seats, as a 2- door coupe and as a 4- door sedan. Simplest model was the Nomad station wagon.
1971 was the Chevelle bulkier bumpers and single headlight in the strongly contoured front. The front turn signals were sitting together with the parking lights in a separate enclosure at the protruding corners of the vehicle. The model range was unchanged.
In 1972, the appearance of the Chevelle remained almost unchanged, only the grille received two rather than a horizontal chrome strips. New were the series names, which are now no longer a distinction between six-cylinder and V8 engine: 1B for the Nomad station wagon, 1C for Chevelle sub- series, 1D for the Malibu subseries and 1H for luxury Concours Estate Wagon.
In five years, originated approximately 2.085 million Chevelle 2nd generation.
Chevelle (1973-1977)
Chevrolet Chevelle SS (1973 )
The Chevelle was redesigned for model year 1973. The so-called " Colonnade Hardtop " design contained frameless side windows in the doors and fixed B-pillars. The rear side windows in the coupes could not be opened, but there was an additional cost GM air conditioning. The engines ranged from a 4.1 l - line six cylinder to the powerful 7.4 -liter V8. Hardened valve seats and hydraulic valve play compensation made the engines reliable and allowed the use of the increasingly popular unleaded gasoline. Cross- flow radiator and closed cooling systems that prevent the entry of air into the cooling system prevented overheating of the motors. Individual seats, and center console for automatic and manual transmission cars were offered in all models, as well as additional instruments. Front disc brakes and rear drum brakes and a brake booster included as standard equipment. Benefit packages, air conditioning and stereo radio recorder were ordered more often in those years. In the model years 1973-1975 there was a request electrically operated glass sunroof.
The combination gave it six or nine seats and a large tailgate. The Chevrolet El Camino and GMC Sprint were based on the Chevelle. As before, the shape of the front and rear of each year has been changed a bit. The Chevelle was one of the best sellers of GM, as well as the Oldsmobile Cutlass was also built on the GM A platform.
The model range began in 1973 with the top-of Laguna with its PU nose, followed by the Malibu and deluxe models. The Super Sport package it was for Malibu coupes and - exclusively in this year - for the station wagon. The SS package consisted of a black grille, SS emblems inside and outside, stripes on the sides of the vehicle, Rally wheels and tires with white lettering, the F41 sport suspension with stabilizers on front and back and a V8 engine with a 5.7 or 7, 4 liter capacity (350 or 454 cu.in. ). For the so- motorized vehicles there was also a 4-level Muncie transmission.
1974 replaced the Laguna S-3 Coupe SS as uprated sports version of the Chevelle. The nomenclature S3 referred to the 3rd generation of Chevelle. The cars had a special PU nose, stripes on the sides of the vehicle, Laguna S-3 emblems, rally wheels, four-spoke steering wheel and F41 sport suspension with front and rear stabilizers. Radial tires on 15 " rims and it tuned suspension made for traction and then introduced three-point inertia-reel belts are still used today in modern vehicles. A 6.6 -liter V8 engine was new this year. The 7.4 liter V8 was the top engine and combined with a Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic or Muncie four-speed transmission.
Since the Laguna now was the sport model of the Chevelle, the top models have now been renamed Malibu Classic and offered as a sedan, coupe or wagon. Unlike the 1973 Laguna Malibu Classic had the same grille as the simpler Chevelle models, but a spring-loaded hood ornament. Interior had the Malibu Classic with benches and foldable backrest to offer luxurious amenities (or a Strato single seats as well), which were covered with fabric or vinyl. In addition, there were door panels carpet, imitation wood on the dash, vertical "Opera - Windows " (small window in the C-pillars ) in the coupes and imitation wood to the vehicle side of the station wagon. This year also fell off the Chevelle Deluxe series and the normal Chevelle Malibu became the entry-level series.
The Laguna S -3 was the 1975 model year, in February, presented in the middle and had a new, rising front in Nascar style. H.E.I. - High Energy Ignition - caused a strong spark with minimal maintenance and increased power. The larger distributor cap led to better performance at high speed, because they prevented a spark was sent to the wrong spark plug. The 7.4 -liter V8 in conjunction with the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 was delivered in the first half of the model, then there was the 6.6 -liter V8 as the top engine.
1976, it gave the Chevelle with the new 5.0 -liter V8, the 5.7 -liter V8 or 6.6 -liter V8.
In 1977, the Malibu Classic, the top model and the 5.7 -liter V8, the top engine. There was a Chevelle S. E. (Special Edition), the spoiler front and hung, rally wheels, a custom paint job and a sport suspension offered. And there were built only 50 copies.
NASCAR: The Chevelle 1973 to 1977 was in the 1970s, the most successful car in the Nascar race. The car was so popular and successful on the race courses that Chevrolet in 1975 provided a new nose, which was leading to today's aerodynamic cars. The cars dominated the race so much that the NASCAR organization dictated the use of a cover plate for the carburetor for all Chevelle Laguna. Drivers of these cars were: Darrell Waltrip, Junior Johnson, Benny Parsons, Cale Yarborough, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Bobby Isaac, Lennie Pond, AJ Foyt, Ricky Rudd, Dale Earnhardt and the driver Janet Guthrie.
When GM models reduced the middle class in 1978, the name was dropped and called the Chevelle series only Chevrolet Malibu.
From the 3rd generation Chevelle approximately 1,600,000 units were built in five years.