Photo: Hemmings
This Pearl White, unassuming Chevrolet Chevelle, is from the 1966 model year. It looks nice, you know it’s mean, because it wears the SS badges, but you have no idea how mean it can be.
The Chevelle, despite its rather short life span – the model was produced for just 13 years – was one of the major Chevrolet hits back in the golden age of muscle cars. Sold in a seemingly infinite choice of model lines, the Chevelle family was of course led into battle by the almighty SS.
This variant, as the nameplate's entry into the muscle car segment, managed to leave such a mark on the industry that even to this day they are among the most sought after models coming from that era, whether they come in stock configuration, or featuring modifications so great they are transformed into real monsters.
The soothingly white build we have in the gallery above comes from 1966, and started out as a SS 396, the largest engine available at the time for the model. It wasn’t enough apparently for someone, who pulled that out and replaced it with a crate engine.
And not just any crate engine, but the largest one available anywhere in the world, GM’s enormous ZZ572. That’s 572ci (9.4-liter) of sheer power, hidden under a body so pure-looking it can be misleading.
Rated out of the box at 620 hp and 645 pound-feet (875 Nm) of torque, the ZZ was enhanced even further with the addition of an Edelbrock throttle-body fuel injection system, and by linking it to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.
The visual changes made to the Chevelle SS, although there, are rather minor. They include a new cowl-induction scoop at the front and Cragar S/S wheels. Separately, the underside got the blessing of a new air suspension system.
The Chevelle in this configuration can be had as part of an online auction. The current bid, with some two weeks remaining, is at just $16,000.
This variant, as the nameplate's entry into the muscle car segment, managed to leave such a mark on the industry that even to this day they are among the most sought after models coming from that era, whether they come in stock configuration, or featuring modifications so great they are transformed into real monsters.
The soothingly white build we have in the gallery above comes from 1966, and started out as a SS 396, the largest engine available at the time for the model. It wasn’t enough apparently for someone, who pulled that out and replaced it with a crate engine.
And not just any crate engine, but the largest one available anywhere in the world, GM’s enormous ZZ572. That’s 572ci (9.4-liter) of sheer power, hidden under a body so pure-looking it can be misleading.
Rated out of the box at 620 hp and 645 pound-feet (875 Nm) of torque, the ZZ was enhanced even further with the addition of an Edelbrock throttle-body fuel injection system, and by linking it to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.
The visual changes made to the Chevelle SS, although there, are rather minor. They include a new cowl-induction scoop at the front and Cragar S/S wheels. Separately, the underside got the blessing of a new air suspension system.
The Chevelle in this configuration can be had as part of an online auction. The current bid, with some two weeks remaining, is at just $16,000.
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