1965-1970 Chevelle ss

the '64 Chevelle was merely Chevrolet's obligatory variation on the "A-car" intermediate-size platform. Like its brother A's (Oldsmobile Cutlass, Buick Skylark, and Pontiac Tempest), the Chevelle was a conventional front-engine, rear-drive, body-on-frame, midsize car-11 inches longer than a Chevy II, 16 inches shorter than an Impala. Also like its brothers, power came from a passel of existing inline-six and small V-8 engines. Nothing was more ordinary than the '64 Chevelle.

Extraordinary things can happen to ordinary cars. During 1964, Pontiac created the prototype musclecar when it decided its A-car deserved a bigger, 389-cubic-inch engine and a presumptuous name-GTO. The GTO was much faster than the best 283-cubic-inch V-8-powered '64 Chevelle, and, to the Chevrolet hierarchy-megahoncho Pete Estes included-Pontiac was just as much a competitor as Ford. Team Bow Tie couldn't tolerate losing the high-profile, high-performance high ground to Team Indian. So, in 1965, Chevy retaliated.

Revenge came in the form of the 396-cubic-inch "big-block" V-8 engine. Initially developed as a NASCAR race engine (displacing 427 cubic inches), this street version is legendary for its massive low-end torque and famous for its helter-skelter "porcupine" valve arrangement. The first performance application of this new engine appeared in the '65 Corvette, where its 425 horses transformed the 'glass warrior into a serious threat to the Shelby Cobra. But it was in the Chevelle Super Sport (SS), that the race engine found its natural home.

Unless you were a golfing buddy of an exceptionally influential Chevy dealer or a star of "Bonanza" (Dan "Hoss" Blocker was one monied buyer), it was near impossible to get one of those first 201 "Z16," big-block '65 Chevelles. The Chevelle's 396 mirrored the 425-horsepower 396 in the Corvette, except for a more civilized hydraulic cam in place of the Vette's brutal solid-lifter valvetrain. With the big V-8's 375 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, it was quickly apparent that the A-car's splayed four-link and coil-spring rear suspension planted the car for quick launches far better than any semi-elliptical, more conventional leaf-spring arrangement. It was also obvious how miserably inadequate the all-drum brakes were, despite the use of the largest station-wagon components in GM's arsenal.

By 1966, the 396 big-block was a regular option in Chevelle Super Sports, producing either 325 or 360 horsepower depending on states of tune. The Chevelle sprouted new sheetmetal for 1968, but the SS 396 stayed put. In 1969, the SS 396 joined a few special-order "COPO" Chevelles powered by 427-cubic-inch big-blocks (most of which ended up as Yenko tuner cars). Eventually, the SS 396 was powered by a 402-cubic-inch big-block, even though the SS 396 name remained.

But all those big-block Chevelles were just a warmup for the glorious '70 SS 454, powered by the tremendous 450-horsepower 454-cubic-inch "LS6." Nasty, fuel-swilling, and awesomely quick, the LS6 Chevelle embodied everything most people considered an American performance car to be.

The big-block struggled on in the Chevelle through 1975, increasingly choked by emissions controls and wrapped in uninspiring sheetmetal. But no amount of disappointment could overwhelm the memories of the cars built between 1965 and 1970.

1965-1967: The Square CarsRarest of the big-block Chevelles is the very first: the '65 Z16 SS 396. With special suspension, a vinyl roof, and an AM/FM multiplex radio to match its unique engine, the car received rave reviews when Motor Trend drove one for its July '65 issue.

"Performance figures in our spec panel are extremely impressive," wrote MT's John Ethridge, "but they're inadequate inasmuch as they don't tell the story of how this car will accelerate over 100 mph. The needle doesn't hang there, but goes on wiping the face of the 160-mph speedometer [a Z16 exclusive] until the engine redlines. It's the hottest of the hot intermediates." In retrospect, the Z16's 15.3-second quarter-mile pass at 96.3 mph doesn't sound all that impressive, but this is from a car running on 14x7.75-inch bias ply tires. Bolting on a set of sticky slicks easily sent the car plunging into the 13s.

In contrast to the '65s, Chevy didn't produce the restyled '66 and '67 SS 396 Chevelles on a limited basis. But the big news for 1967 was the availability of front disc brakes on Chevelles and changes to the powerplants. "Engine ratings are down this year from '66," MT reported about the '67 SS 396 in its October '66 issue. "Initially two 396 V-8s were made available last year-a 325-hp and 360-hp version. Later in the year, a 375-hp was added (the standard engine in '65s), giving a choice of three powerplants. This year, only two choices can be made, a 325-hp or a 350-hp engine. Compared to last year's 360, the 350-hp is the same engine, but with a milder cam." The '66 and '67 SS 396s also didn't get the '65's special suspension tuning, trim, snazzy radio, or 160-mph speedometer.

Among many Chevelle-aholics, the early "square" cars are the most attractive and most desirable to own. To others, they merely paved the way for the truly brutal musclecars that were to come.