The Chevelle was first introduced to the press in August 1963 as a 1964 model year car. It was a mid-sized car available in 2-door, 4-door, wagon and convertible. The time period when the Chevelle came out was called: "The horsepower years". This meant, the Big Three (Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Ford) were all trying to build cars with lots of power. From the get go Chevelles could be had with powerful engines. Although, the base engine in 1964 was a 120hp 194ci engine, you could have gotten a 300hp 327ci. With the right timing a 365hp 327 could have been checked on the option list (Less than a handfull of these were built before Chevy dropped it). Also from the start, Super Sports (SS) were an option. This added more brightwork to the car, different wheelcovers, console w/shifter, bucket seats, gauges instead of the "idiot lights", sport suspension, and a host of other "sport" options.
In 1965, one of the rarest of Chevelles was produced; the Z16 Malibu. Only 201 were produced, including a mysterious convertible. All were a Malibu SS with a 396ci/375hp engine. They came with a more rigid frame and suspension to handle the power, big power drum brakes, 6,000rpm tach, special exterior trim, etc. The price was upwards of $4200. The top non-special engine was a 327/350hp.
In 1966, the Chevelle got its first redesign. New exterior as well as interior redesigns and new options were added. The 396/375hp engine became RPO (Regular Production Option) L78, which meant is was regularly produced. Although no "special" engines were available the best Chevelle would probably be the SS 396 with a Muncie M22 "Rock Crusher" four- speed transmission. Only 12 were built like this. The M22 was a manual close-ratio trans that had steep angled gears that would gnash together harder than typical gears; hence the name. The price for this Chevelle was probably in the $3500 range (I may may be wrong though). The L78 could also be ordered in a convertible.
The '67 Chevelles had the same basic body style as the '66s. Changes were made to the grill, front end, and rear end. A new model was also added-the Concours station wagon. Modifications to SS 396 Chevelles were mainly dealing with appearances. Body stripes were added to the option sheet. These stripes (RPO D96 and Z29) ran along the lower part of the body. Engine choices remained the same, except the L34 396 was down- rated to 350hp from 360hp. The L78 375hp 396 was still the top dog. In the tranny department, the long-awaited Turbo Hydra-matic three-speed automatic (RPO M40) was introduced to the Chevelle line. This automatic later became known simply as the TH-400. Although it couldn't be ordered for duty behind the L78, the other 396s could call it into action. The Muncie four-speeds were still the option sheet for duty as well. The best '67 Chevelle in my opinion would have been the SS 396 L78 with a M-22 Muncie. In general there wasn't much change in the SS Chevelles for 1967.
Major changes were made to the Chevelle for the 1968 model year. Underneath, the frame
was now stronger and two different ones were used. A 112 inch frame for two-door cars and
a 115 inch frame for use under a four-door or El Camino. The body received another
re-design, making it more shapely along with a more noticeable 'fastback' -long hood,
short rear deck-look. This was also the year that SS 396 El Caminos became a separate
model line. In previous years all SS equipment could have be ordered for an El Camino,
except no SS name tag would have been attached.
The SS 396's received a few exterior and interior changes. Different body stripes and
badges were the exterior identification changes. A new U-shaped floor shifter handle along
with the tachmeter being placed in the center of the optional instrumentation cluster
rounded out the major interior changes. Engine choices for the SS's remained the same. The
standard engine was still the 325hp 396, with the L34 next, and the L78 keeping the
Chevelle in the hunt as the best muscle car. This was the first year that the L78 was put
on the option sheet. Before '68 you had to look on the back of the sheet to find it. The
sales showed that people wanted more power, with 4,751 L78's being sold. In 1967, only 612
L78's were sold. Transmission options included the Powerglide (M35), Turbo Hydra-matic
(M40), the M20 wide-ratio four-speed, and the M21 close-ratio. The M22 Rock Crusher still
was taking the power from the L78, and would propell a Chevelle (with 3.55 12 bolt posi)
to 14.8 second quarter mile times. This would have been the best Chevelle on the showroom
floor for 1968.
Nineteen Sixty-Nine Chevelle's had the same basic body stlye has the '68's, except for a different front and rear end. Chevelle sport coupes and convertibles did away with side vent windows, while they remained on the other models.
Source of Info: Illustrated Chevelle Buyer's Guide by Mike Mueller.
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