History of Chevy Muscle Cars

The Impala. The Chevelle. The Nova. The Camaro. Chevrolet’s impressive fleet of muscle cars defined the 1960s and 70s. Even today, Chevy’s muscle cars still attract the attention of drivers and collectors.

Muscle cars offered buyers lots of power and performance all at a reasonable price. The introduction of Chevrolet’s small-block V-8 engine in 1955 fueled the automaker’s popular line up of muscle cars.

Chevy’s muscle cars were held in high esteem by both hot rodders and racers. For the average person on the street, it was the introduction of the 409-cubic inch V-8 engine in 1961 that cinched the status of the automaker’s muscle cars. This engine first appeared in the Impala Super Sport. The Impala was first introduced in 1958, as the top-level option on Chevy’s Bel Air line and it is credited as starting Chevy’s muscle car line up. The car was so well received, Chevy made the car a separate option in 1959.

In 1962, Chevy introduced the Nova, originally referred to as the Chevy II. This compact muscle car came into its own in 1964 with the addition of a stronger V-8 engine. Many consider the car less stylish than some of its predecessors, but whatever the car lacked in looks, it made up for in speed.

The next Chevy muscle car to hit the streets was the Chevelle SS in 1964. The Chevelle took the Impala’s power and placed it in a similar, yet slightly smaller interior giving Chevy a leader in the mid-size category. The original Chevelle model lacked the SS’s performance ability. In fact, the Chevelle SS’s had their own line of engines and performance equipment. The Chevelle SS eventually offered the most powerfully rated engine in muscle car history, the 396 V-8.

Two years after Chevy offered the Chevelle; the car company unveiled the Camaro. Designed to compete with Ford’s Mustang, the Camaro survived for 30 years. A concept version of a redesigned Camaro appeared at auto shows in 2006. The concept version featured design elements of the 1969 Camaro. The new model will greet the public in 2009.

Learn The History of the Chevelle

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