The Chevy Chevelle debuted for the 1964 model year
Taken from either Hebrew or French, Chevelle is said to mean “beautiful and bold.
Aimed at the Ford Fairlane, the Chevelle was built on GM’s new mid-size
A-body platform. It rapidly became one of Chevrolet’s best sellers. As it evolved
the V8 powered two-door coupe and convertible
Chevelles would emerge as heavy hitters in the muscle car wars.
The 1970 model year would be the pinnacle for power in GM muscle cars. Government
fuel economy and emissions regulations, combined with insurance companies’
reluctance to cover young drivers in increasingly high-powered cars, marked
the end for big-horsepower factory specials. Rather than quietly exit the muscle car stage,
GM removed their rule limiting displacement on mid-size passenger cars to 400 cubic inches
and let each division go for broke. Chevy stuffed Chevelles full of Big Block