Chevy Muscle Cars, The Heartbeat Of America!

The Camaro may possibly be the most popular of all Chevy Muscle Cars. Introduced in 1967 to compete with the Ford Mustang, the '67 Camaro was based on the upcomming 1968 Chevy Nova platform and featured a unibody structure from the firewall on back, with a separate steel rail subframe up front.

The Camaro was available in both the hardtop and convertible body styles and could be ordered with nearly 80 factory options. The SS package included as standard equipment a modified 295 horse 350 V8 with an optional 396 big block available, producing 325 horsepower and later a 375 horse version.

Also in the lineup of Chevy Muscle Cars, the Z-28 Camaro came standard with power disc brakes, a Muncie 4-speed transmission and a 302 engine that was created by taking the 327 block and installing the short-stroke 283 crank. Advertised horsepower was listed at 290 hp but dyno tests showed actual readings of 360-400 hp.

The Z-28 also came with a competition suspension and broad racing stripes running down the hood and trunk lid. The Z-28's high reving engine worked best when it was shifted at 7500 rpm.

1969 brought the availability of L-72 427 equipped Camaros to the growing list of Chevy Muscle Cars. Most notable was the Yenko 427 Camaro. The Yenko Camaro came from the factory with the 427 engine in a crate with a factory rating of 430 horse-power.

Yenko installed the engine and changed the rating to a more realistic 450 hp. 15 inch rally wheels were added, a big front roll bar, and the sYc (Yenko Sports Car) badges. Racing add-ons were also available and 12 second quarter mile runs were possible.

One of the most rare Chevy Muscle Cars, the factory ZL-1 Camaro was also an option in '69. It was specially designed to compete in the NHRA Super Stock drag classes and came with the F41 suspension, a 427 engine, cowl-induction hood, front disc brakes, a heavy duty 4 speed transmissions or optional Turbo Hydramatic, and a 4:10 posi rear end.

The ZL-1 427 sported aluminum heads and an aluminum block and weighed the same as a 327 small block. It made close to 500 horsepower and with headers and slicks, it could turn 11.6 @ 122 mph in the quarter mile.

A Super Sport option first became available on the Chevy II in 1963. This was the only year that Chevrolet built a "drop-top" Nova SS because it discontinued the convertible body style on Novas in 1964 but it only came with the 194 cid 6 cylinder engine. The 195 and 220 horsepower 283 small blocks were offered in 1964 and the Nova began to take on the persona of a real Muscle Car.

Finally joining the ensemble of true Chevy Muscle Cars, in 1965 both the 250 and 300 horse version of the 327 was added to the options list for the Nova as well as the optional close-ratio four-speed or Powerglide automatic and a 12 bolt rear end with a set of 3.36 gears. The SS package included bucket seats, a floor shift and a console and Nova SS badges on the quarters and rear cove area.

The Chevy II Nova underwent a complete restyling in 1966 and was available with the 327 mouse-motor rated at 350 horsepower and had forged high-compression pistons, a high-performance camshaft, big-valve heads, an aluminum intake and a four-barrel Holley carb. Very few changes were implemented on the '67 Nova.

The compact Chevy Muscle Car underwent another complete makeover in 1968 with a long hood and a short rear deck. Small SS badges on the grille and between the rear taillights were the only tips that this was anything but a grocery getter. The '68 Nova was the first of its kind to receive an infusion of big-block power with the 350 and 375 horsepower versions of the popular 396.

The Yenko big-block Nova was Produced in 1969 and the small-block Deuce debuted in 1970. According to Yenko, the L72 427-powered Novas were the wildest Chevy Muscle Cars he had ever built, capable of reaching 60 mph in less than four seconds. 1970 was the last year for the Rat-Motor compact.

The high-performance Chevelle was originally equipped with only the 300 horsepower 327, but that all changed after 1965 when the Z-16, 375 horse 396 became an option and in 1966 the 396 big-block was the standard engine for the Chevelle SS.

1968 brought on the Yenko Chevelle with the solid-lifter L72 427 Rat-Motor, with an aluminum manifold and an 800 cfm Holley four-barrel. Chevy rated it at 425 horsepower, but in calculating the car's stock drag class, the NHRA claimed a truer 450 hp.

These intimidating Chevy Muscle Cars came with a four-speed "Rock Crusher" transmission or TH400 automatic and F41 suspension.

The Yenko Chevelle featured a Super Sport blackout grille with bow tie emblem, Super Sport hood, black rear cove panel, 12-bolt differential with 4.10:1 gearing, RPO NC8 chambered exhaust, a standard Malibu interior and optional side body stripes.

In 1970 the 450 horsepower LS6 454 Chevelle hit the streets producing 500 ft-lb of torque. Only two transmissions were able to handle these Rat-Motor Chevy Muscle Cars. The Muncie M22 "Rock Crusher" and the Turbo-Hydromatic 400 automatic transmission. The SS package came with the distinctive cowl induction hood, an upgraded F41 suspension and a full length 2.5 inch dual exhaust.

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The Synchro-Mesh three-speed transmission was standard, but a wide or close ratio four-speed transmission or two-speed Powerglide automatic were available as options.

The '67 model received a few minor cosmetic changes, and the performance suspension was required for El Camino's equipped with the 396 engine.

The '68 El Camino received the same complete makeover as the Chevelle. The SS396 debuted as a new model and just like in the Chevelle, the 325 horse 396 remained the standard engine. The 350 hp version was still available and the 375 horse L78 396 was finally available for the first time.

The '69 El Camino was basically a carry over from the '68 with some minor cosmetic changes. The big change was that the SS396 was no longer its own model but was now technically an option on the regular El Camino.

The SS396 option included the 325 horse 396, bright engine accents, power front disc brakes, three-speed floor shift transmission, dual exhausts, black painted grille, special SS hood, 14x7 inch sport wheels, and red strip tires.

In 1970 the El Camino again received the same big changes as the Chevelle including a new more blunted Vee front end and the popular cowl induction hood was an option for the SS.

The SS option also included 15x7 Rally rims, wide-profile radial white-letter-tires and the 396 engines now displaced 402 cubic inches, but they were either called "396" or "Turbo-Jet 400."

1970 also brought the introduction of the new 454 engines for big-block Chevy Muscle Cars. The LS5 rated at 360 horsepower and the 450 horse LS6. The 454 engines only came with the TH400 automatic or a "Rock Crusher" four-speed.

In 1971, all GM engines had to meet ever restrictive emission standards, so Chevrolet detuned all its engines which resulted in large drops in engine output.

The "Turbo-Jet 400" offered only 300 horsepower and the LS6 454 was dropped. However, the LS5 454 returned with 365 horsepower, an increase of 5 hp over 1970.

This would also be the year that Chevrolet introduced its 409 cid V8 putting out 360 horsepower. The 409 engine had 11.25:1 compression, was topped with a four barrel carburetor and came with only the four-speed manual transmission.

1963 saw the Impala SS continue to increase in performance and popularity. The 409 was detuned with 340 hp and was made available with an optional Powerglide automatic transmission.

Chevrolet offered the 409 with solid lifters and a single four-barrel carb rated at 400 horsepower or a solid lifters, dual four barrel version putting out 425 horse.

Chevrolet also introduced the Z-11 in mid '63, a 427 cid V8 loosely based on the existing 409 but featured a smaller bore and a longer stroke. Officially rated at 430 horsepower, it easily made closer to 500 horse and was an instant hit at the drag strip.

In 1964 the Impala SS became its own series and was available only as a convertible or sport coupe and was offered with the same engines as the '63 model, including the top of the line 409.

The Impala was completely redesigned for 1965 and was one of the most attractive Chevy Muscle Cars to date. The SS continued as a separate series and came with the new 396 big-block mated to the new Turbo-Hydramatic 350 transmission.

By 1966, the Impala SS was beginning to lose its luster and sales dropped dramatically in favor of the smaller mid-size Chevy Muscle Cars.

The Mark IV 396 continued as the standard power-plant, but a larger 427 version was introduced, rated at 390 hp and a "special performance" version was rated at 425 horse featuring solid lifters, a four barrel carb with an aluminum manifold and a heavy duty four bolt main block. The 427 was available with the "Rock-Crusher" four speed manual transmission.

But, the 1960 Corvette began to show some true Chevy Muscle when the horsepower ratings of the fuel-injected 283 V8s grew to 275 and 315 horsepower. A rear anti-sway bar was also added to help tame the solid rear axle.

The '61 Corvette carried over almost unchanged from 1960 model. But in 1962 the small-block V8 grew to 327 cubic inches. The 327 four-barrel engine knocked out 250 horse with versions available producing 300 and 340 horsepower.

The dual-quad option was dropped, but the fuel injection system was back and it was now rated at an impressive 360 horsepower.

For many enthusiasts, the '63 to '67 Corvette Sting Rays are the most compelling of these compact Chevy Muscle Cars. The wheelbase was cut down to 98 inches. A ladder frame was designed that was much stiffer than the previous X-member design and a new independent rear suspension was designed that economically used a single transverse nine-leaf spring and the half shafts as part of the linkage.

Most of the engines from the '62 Corvette were carried over to the '63 as were the four-wheel drum brakes and the general styling of the rear quarters. A three-speed manual was still the standard transmission and the base 327 V8 was still rated at 250 horsepower.

On the options sheet were 300 and 340 horsepower four-barrel, and 360 horsepower fuel-injected versions of the 327. Also available was the legendary "Z-06" race pack option for the coupe that included metallic brake pads, a heavy-duty suspension and an oversize fuel tank.

Motor Trend tested a '63 Corvette powered by the fuel-injected engine backed by the Muncie four-speed transmission. The 'Vette hustled from zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and consumed the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds at 102 mph.

For 1964 the Sting Ray's styling mostly carried over from '63. The dummy hood vents were eliminated as was the center bar from the rear window. New to the options list was a 360 horsepower four-barrel 327, and the fuelie motor was now rated at a stout 375 horsepower.

The biggest change for the 1965 Vette was the availability of the new 396 big-block. And four-wheel disc brakes became standard. The L78 396 put out a staggering 425 horsepower and became an instant legend. With the arrival of big-block power, 1965 was the last year for the fuel-injected 327's.

The 396 lasted only one year in the Corvette as it was replaced by the 427 for 1966. Buyers could opt for the standard 327, which was now rated at 300 horsepower or a 350 horse four-barrel version. Other engine options included the L39 427 rated at 390 horse or the L72 427 rated at 425 horsepower.

For 1967 the louver count on each front fender went up to five. But the real glory of the '67 came with the L88 427 Rat-Motor, which used aluminum cylinder heads, had an intimidating 12.5:1 compression ratio and was topped with a huge 850 cfm four-barrel carburetor to make an estimated 560 horsepower. Only 20 L88s were ever built, but were symbolic of how far the Vette had come.

Today they are the most desirable of the first generation Sting Rays. Also new to the Corvette options list was an L68 427 rated at 400 horse and the L71 427 rated at 435 horsepower, which featured three two-barrel carbs.

This generation of Corvettes has never been as beloved as the second generation, but it's still a car that commands attention wherever it goes.

The standard engine was still a 300 horsepower 327 small-block topped by a four-barrel carburetor. The optional engines included a 350 horsepower 327 and all the big-block 427s from '67 including the awesome L88.

For 1969, the Sting Ray name returned and the most significant change for the fiberglass Chevy Muscle Cars was the replacement of the 327 small-block with new 350 cid. The 350s were rated at 300 hp and 350 horse in the optional L46 motor. The 427s also returned in force carrying the same power ratings as in 1968.

One earth-shattering addition to the line of engines was the ZL-1, which was basically an L88 427 big-block with an aluminum block and heads, which made it about 25 pounds lighter than the 327 small-block. Fully intended for road racing, only two of the 585 horsepower ZL-1s were ever produced in the Corvette.

For the '70 model a four-speed manual transmission was finally made standard equipment and the engine lineup was also revised with a 370 horsepower LT-1 350 and the 427s departing in favor of the 390 horse LS5 454 with a four-barrel carburetor and a tri-power equipped LS7 rated at 460 horsepower.

The compression ratios on all Corvette engines dropped for 1971. The base 350 was now rated at 270 horsepower, the LT-1 350 dropped to 330 horsepower, and the detuned LS5 454 now made a mere 365 horsepower.

Gone was the LS7 454 and in its place was an LS6 454 four-barrel rated at 425 horsepower. Except for the power losses, the '71 Vette was essentially the same as the '70. However, the power drain would continue for 1972 and the era of street stomping Chevy Muscle Cars drew to a close.

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