Over the years, Chevrolet has made some impressive vehicles, but there are certain muscle cars that standout. Here are five of our favorites.
Chevrolet didn’t « invent » the muscle car — that honor usually goes to Pontiac — but it was already building them. Even before the introduction of the Chevelle in 1964, Chevrolet was a go-to source for go-fast cars. Then, after the muscle car era ended and the Malaise era began, Chevrolet still produced vehicles that fit the spirit of the big-engine, intermediate-sized car for going fast in a straight line, and once performance returned in the mid-late ’80s (albeit led by Buick’s Corvette-smushing GNX) it has done so with regularity.
Some of the most impressive muscle cars from Chevrolet are as famous on the screen as on the track; others sit at stoplights unnoticed until it’s time to school the unwary. Also, while the idea of a muscle car has changed over the years, the basic idea of a big engine in a not-so-big car is the same. With that in mind, we’ll leave sleeper cars like the big 1990s version of the Impala SS off this list. What remains might contain a few surprises. 1962-1964 Impala SS
While the 1996 Impala SS is one big car at over 4,200 pounds, the early 1960s version weighs in at 3,750 pounds and is barely longer than the 1970 Chevelle SS. You could get an Impala SS in the early 1960s with a six-cylinder, but at the top of the list was the 409 cubic inch grandfather of the 454. Unlike the 327 or 350 small blocks found in these cars, the 409 and 454 were big block engines.
The 425 hp version of the 409 had two Carter four-barrel carburetors sitting on top of it, pushing enough air flow for MotorTrend to run a quarter mile in under 15.0 seconds. The 1964 Impala is a fast enough car, but it’s impressive for just how versatile and popular it is. Whether you’re into concours restorations, restomod, or low-riders, there’s a 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS out there for you.1970 Chevelle SS 454
Chevrolet’s era-defining muscle car is the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6.
