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Chevy Chevelle Cars - The Second Generation


The Sport Coupe, 454, Convertible, and more

By Tom on January 20, 2020 — Updated on March 20, 2020
Chevy Chevelle Cars - The Second Generation

The second generation of the Chevrolet Chevelle covered the periods between 1968 and 1972. The generation featured a radical redesign that has the Chevelle a modern and sleek look. Like the previous generation, this generation of Chevelle cars features various trim options allowing customers the opportunity to switch between a sporty looking muscle car to a great family vehicle when they want to.

The second-generation Chevelle featured several packages with the Chevelle 22396, Nomad, Luxury Concours, Malibu, and El Camino Pick up leading the line. This time, the manufacturers introduced a shorter wheelbase measuring 112". However, most cars in the line ended up having a longer hood. These features, alongside the contoured sides, contributed to give it the popular coke bottle shape.

The 1969 Chevelle was particularly popular for its all-new, distinctively sculpted body, and its feature is a rounded beltline and tapered front fenders. It also featured a short-deck profile/long-hood with a high rear-quarter "kick-up." The 1968 wagons and sedans came with a 116-inch wheelbase. The coupes and convertibles were 112-inch. Hardtop coupes featured a semi-fastback roofline, while the top-trim models came with a new Hide-A-Way wiper system. With the new Federal Safety rules changing, Chevelle's second-generation featured mandated equipment like marker light and shoulder belts for outboard front seat occupants.

1968 Chevy Chevelle SS 396 Sport Coupe

Some of the 1969 Chevelles' changes include a single chrome bar connecting the quad headlights and a slotted bumper designed to hold the parking lights. The taillight lenses got a larger and more vertical design that made it flow into the quarter panels. Many buyers fancied the inclusion of a 396-cubic-inch 325-horsepower V8 in the Super Sport edition. The edition also came with a black-out grille that displayed the famous SS emblem. The company also added some more powerful editions to the options, with the 350 and 375 horsepower engines in full display. The linear layout was replaced by a new set of round instrument pods.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454

1970 served as the peak era for the muscle car design, and it was in this same year that the Chevelle SS was offered with the 450 horsepower rating - a rating that was not seen again for decades. The 450-horsepower V-8 had the power to propel the midsize Chevelle to 100 mph within 13 seconds, a speed that had not been seen prior to that time.

On its physical design, the 1970 SS featured a horizontal split grill that had the SS badge boldly plastered at the center. The rear bumper had their confident rectangular tail lights to provide the required lighting for oncoming vehicles. The front fenders also had the SS badge and a 454 engine designation to complete the car's unique design.

1971 Chevelle SS 454 Sports Coupe

In 1971, Chevelles got a new front-end styling. The design featured a reworked bumper and grille, as well as a Power-Bean single headlight, which had become a trend. During this time, the American company introduced the Heavy Chevy as compensation for the SS models that suffered hefty insurance surcharges. The Heavy Chevy came with different V8 engines and was only available with the base Chevelle sport coupe. This year also saw a reduction of the SS option to just the RPO Z15. The availability of the 307 V8 as the standard base for the 1971 model meant that buyers couldn't order it alongside the SS option. Instead, buyers had to resort to ordering either of the two 350 V8 available.

1972 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 Convertible

The 1972 Chevelles featured single-unit parking lights. Located on the front fender, these lights were outlayed outside the twin-bar grille, which had also been upgraded. The 1972 Chevelles has its SS equipment looking the same as it was in the previous year. The wide appeal of the 1972 Chevelle qualified it as the country's second best selling car. The Malibu Sports Sedans featured a standard 307-cubic-inch V8 engine with a rating of 130 horsepower. The Chevelle SS got a top engine that hit 270 net hp in this year. The other engines remained the same as what they were in the previous year.

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