Chevrolet Chevelle

The Chevelle was a mid-size vehicle that was built between 1964 and 1977. The car was intended to compete with the similarly sized Ford Fairlane and supplement the Chevrolet range with a model that was based on the popular models from 1955 to 1957 in terms of size and concept. In the model range of the 1960s, the Chevelle and its luxury version Malibu occupied the mid-range between the Corvair and Nova and the large Impala and Caprice models.

The Chevelle model range extended from affordable sedans and station wagons to high-performance coupés and convertibles. The more powerful versions were called Chevelle SS. From 1978, the name of the luxury version Malibu became the type designation for the entire model series.

The range of engines was diverse. Small and big block V8 engines as well as L6 engines were offered in various dimensions. The names of the engines were „Hi-Thrift“ and „Turbo-Thrift“ for the straight sixes, „Turbo-Fire“ for the small blocks and „Turbo-Jet“ for the big blocks. The engines, regardless of whether they had six or eight cylinders, were installed longitudinally. They had OHV valve timing with two overhead valves per cylinder.

Power was also transmitted in very different ways. Manually, automatically, via a steering wheel gearshift or via a gearshift on the center tunnel. The sliding-wheel gearbox had a choice of three or four gears and overdrive on request. The automatic Powerglide torque converter transmission had two gears and was available from 1950 to 1973 before it was replaced by the Turbo Hydra-Matik transmission with three forward gears.

The first-generation Chevelle was generously revised almost every year, which is why we are jumping straight to the popular 1969 model year at this point:

Compared to the previous year's model, the chrome strut in the grille moved from the upper third to the middle and the indicators further into the middle of the vehicle. On the 2-door sports coupé versions and the Cabriolet, the small triangular windows in the doors were removed in favor of larger windows. The rear was given slightly larger tail lights and a differently shaped bumper. The side position lights also became larger. In the interior, the design of the instrument panel (now round) and the control knobs changed. The equipment list allowed a combination of 300 different variants. The Sport Coupés and Cabriolets were also equipped with an „Astro Ventilation“ system for outside air. This fed fresh air into the interior via adjustable air vents. The air volume is regulated by means of a slide control. The ignition lock, which was previously located in the dashboard, was relocated to the steering column. This gave the Chevelle a steering wheel lock for the first time, as was now standard practice at GM. The ignition lock not only locked the steering wheel, but also the transmission selector lever. There was now a warning tone that sounded when the ignition key was inserted and the door was open, as well as the option of ordering a headlight washer system.

The 327 engine was dropped and the 350 became the largest V8 offering, apart from the 396 big block.