Five Facts You Might Not Know About The Chevrolet Chevelle
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Despite being in production for just 13 years – less time than the Cadillac CTS nameplate – the Chevrolet Chevelle has been heralded as one of the best, most accomplished vehicles ever to don the bowtie.
While late-model Chevelle’s are best left forgotten (like most vehicles produced in the mid-seventies), models like the 1969 Chevelle SS 396 are bound to get any red-blooded enthusiast weak at the knees.
Due to its place in the canon of GM, much of the history of the Chevelle is an open book. However, here are five lesser-known facts you may not know about Chevrolets storied muscle car. Thanks to Hagerty, we’ve learned the following:
1. The Chevelle was built at ten different plants in two countries over the course of its lifespan: Arlington, Texas; Atlanta, Ga; Baltimore, Md; Flint, Mich; Framingham, Mass; Fremont, Calif; Van Nuys, Calif; Kansas City, Mo.; Oshawa, On, Canada; and Sainte-Thérèse, PQ, Canada.
2. It shared a platform with the El Camino and Monte Carlo: Though it was available in convertible, two-door, four-door, and station wagon-wagon body styles, the multi-variant Chevelle also share it’s A-body platform with the El Camino, and the 1970-’72 Monte Carlo (though it was coded as a G-body in the latter).
3. There was a Canada-only version called the Acadian Beaumont. The car rolled out of the two Canadian plants and it wore a slightly different grill and trim. As a result, its even rarer than many versions of the Chevelle.
4. It was created as an intended successor to the widely popular Tri-Five (1955-57) and the designers saw it as a spiritual successor to the Bel Air 210. Why? It shared the same 110-inch wheelbase and, like the Bel Air, buyers could choose from a crazy number of body styles and variants.
3. Despite wearing one of the most famous nameplates of all time, Chevrolet has yet to revive the name. Though we’ve heard rumblings and rumors over the years, Chevrolet has vehemently denied claims that a new Chevelle is in the works.
Pretend your Alan Batey, senior vice president, Global Chevrolet, for a sec: Do you see room in the lineup for a new Chevelle? What segment/ hole would it fill?
We’re curious– What would a modern Chevelle look like to you?
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I’d love to see a new Chevelle, but I’m not sure if there’s room for this car since the Camaro is here. I think it could eat Camaro’s lunch.
The new Malibu would look awesome as coupe. Perhaps a coupe variant and a more powerful engine. Not a Chevelle, but a very welcome adition.
Here is the problem the market has changed and shifted and there really is no place for a Chevelle at this time in todays market.
The segment it was in is now where the Malibu is and it really shares little with what the Chevelle was. To use the name on a FWD 4 cylinder coupe would do more damage than good to the heritage of the name. GM almost killed the Malibu name till the 08 model brought it back.
Chevy has no room for another V8 RWD coupe as it would only rob some sales from The Camaro and both would be pretty much too much alike to make a business case to built it.
I know and understand Chevelles as anyone having had 9 different ones between my father and I. This included a SS 396, GMC Sprint SP (El Camino SS) and 70 Monte Carlo.
I would rather they sit on the name and if there is a slot that opens in the market to where they could do a car that is worthy of the name then use it. Right now sales are good with the Camaro.
Now if they would do a 4 door Alpha sedan to replace the Zeta that could make a good case for a Chevelle to be place back into the line up. Most of the Chevelles ever sold were hard top sedans back in the day so the name would work.
As for the Beaumont That was a Chevelle but it was sold as a Pontiac Beaumont. The Acadian was the Chevy II sold as a Pontiac Acadian.
While not common in all the states we see them in Ohio and there are still a good number in Canada.
Note too they build some large Pontiac sedans with Chevy chassis under the Pontiac body. No wide track and the wheels set in a little more. Also some Pontiac’s had BBC Chevys as well Firebirds that were sold with SBC in the late 60’s.
Keep in mind the A body was shared with the Lemans, GTO, Cutlass, 442, Skylark and GS as well as the Grand Prix too.
The A body in general was a very good line for GM over the year and was used for so many different model.
And here you have it.. Scott3, IE: Scott, SierraGS, BVonscott, Tyler, etc…. Denies once again the once mighty Chevrolet Motor Company. Oh he had a whopping “9” Chevelle’s lol!! Sure bud. Just like you own a couple of Sierra’s, you’re looking at Canyon (Denali of course as Chevrolet is not worthy of a Ford type trim) and your dad has an Impala. Only the GM holding entity could screw up such a massive force as the Chevrolet Motor Company once was. All for the sake of now Buick and GMC. Before it was Pontiac. Before that it was at least a worthy opponent of a company in Oldsmobile.. At least the Chevrolet Corvette has survived in spite of GM. Go ahead Scott, vote this down a million times kid.
So you are Doug today, I don’t remember you using this name before to troll.
Besides get your facts right if you are going to troll.
Never owned a Sierra, I am thinking Canyon but never a Denali not worth the extra money for the chrome.
dad never had an Impala.
Not sure who you are but you really have some mental issues and way too much free time.
Note my comments are still under my own name and will remain there. So if you have any trolling to do bring it on as Scott3 is where I will be.
Vote as you like as you already have given yourself 3 ups under your own names. I do not have to down vote as you get enough on your own. The vote mean nothing as the truth does.
Not sure why you keep thinking I love Buick? Never owned one in my life and have no plans now. You might want to get that fact right too.