5 Top Chevy Muscle Cars of All Time: Little Known Facts
You wouldn't dare call these classics "used cars," now would you? These wild and rare Chevy muscle cars are revered and with good reason.
Here's our list of the top 5 best Chevy muscle cars of all time.
1984 Chevy Corvette
Sleek, elegant, and sporty. That's a hard combination to beat. Chevy's third generation sports car, the Corvette, had a very long run, 1968-1982!
When General Motors launched the C4 Corvette, it was wildly speculated that the company would use a mid-engine chassis like an Italian vehicle, or maybe a rotary engine like the Mazda.
Turns out, the next Corvette wasn't at all radical. It still used the small block Chevy V-8 to drive the rear wheels.
Although the horsepower was meager at 205, Chevy later switched to a new tuned port fuel-injection system. Horsepower and performance jumped!
What isn't generally known is that there was no 1983 Corvette. While 1982 was indeed the last year for this third-generation pleaser, Chevy waited until 1984 to launch an all-new Corvette.
Some claim it was the tighter emission regulations, which prompted more development time. Others speculate that there were quality glitches at the factory.
Bottom line. Nobody really knows. What we do know is that every 1983 Corvette prototype was destroyed, except one. You can find it at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.
1970 Chevy Chevelle LS6
For a L-O-N-G time, GM wouldn't allow engines larger than 400 cubic inches in midsized cars. When the company finally relaxed that rule, it set off a muscle frenzy across GM's company divisions.
Oldsmobile installed a huge 455 cubic inch into the 442. Chevy installed a unique 454 cubic inch V-8, called the LS6, into the Chevelle SS.
The conservative estimate of the LS6's power was between 450 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. But because of its high 11.25:1 compression ratio and its giant Holley 780 CFM carb, it's real output was more like 500 hp.
In 1970, the Chevelle SS could hit 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, running the quarter mile in just 13.8 seconds.
That was using the 1970 skinny low-grip tires. Today, that same car would be much quicker. Of all the muscle cars, the LS6 carries the highest factory horsepower rating.
But the Chevelle SS wasn't always Chevy's top performing car. Until the LS6, GM wouldn't allow any Chevy to have a horsepower rating higher than its Corvette.
In 1970, GM relaxed that rule.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Fewer than 70 legendary 1969 Camaro ZL1's were ever made. Not only was it the most powerful Chevrolet engine offered to the public for decades, it's also the rarest Chevy production car.
According to HowStuffWorks.com, the price tag to own it at the time was $7,200. The Camaro ZL1 was based on Chevrolet's 427 V-8 engine. Instead of the regular 427 iron block, the ZL power plant had an aluminum block. That was a first for Chevy.
Rated at the 427's 430 hp, most independent testers put the output much higher.
Most people don't know that when the Camaro was in development, it was code named "Panther."
1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Okay, so it wasn't the fastest muscle car, but it was a small block screamer! The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 hugged the road like no other. So much so it was nicknamed "the hugger."
Designed to target young buyers, it had a longer, lower body, a brand new grille and bumpers, round parking lights, a revised rear, and a two-tone paint job for a completely fresh look.
Of all of the first generation Camaro models, the '69 had the highest sales volume. And that's because of its makeover.
Almost 250,000 were sold. Needless to say, fans loved it.
Ever wonder how specific Camaro models like the Z28 and ZL1 got their Z28 digits? They're named for their Regular Production Option codes.
1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454
If you wanted to be cool and respected, the muscle car to drive was the Chevy El Camino SS 454. In 1970, it was probably the first time ever in engine history that a truck wasn't seen as just a truck.
And a muscle car was way more than a muscle car. You can thank the Chevy El Camino SS 454 for that!
This car changed the way we viewed trucks and it pioneered the truck/muscle car combo. Although it was thought to be light in the rear end, it actually wasn't.
The El Camino had a front/rear weight distribution that was similar to other V8 front engine, rear wheel drive coupes of the day.
And it was so closely related to the Chevelle that much of the two vehicles were shared, including the engine.
However, 1968 was the only year that the legendary SS was a stand-alone model.
Chevrolet has had an extraordinary history. If you want to be a part of that tradition, come see Joe Bowman Auto Plaza for your next new or used vehicle!
