Classic Car parts Classic Chevelle SS History 1971 to 1973

Classic Car Parts Co.

1971 will see the safety and government regulations bring an end to the muscle car era, we will be driving four bangers made out of plastic if they have their way. As a result of GM policy (other manufactures will follow suit) all engines are “detuned” (decreasing the compression ratio and smaller carburetors were the first steps) with the fall in horsepower came a fall in sales, only 20,000 Chevelle SS’s were sold. Only the LS5 454 will retain some of its former glory, 365 horsepower with 465 foot pounds of torque, the Chevelle front end will be redesigned to have a single head light. The dual head lights of the sixties are history.

1972 will see the a further decline of the Classic Chevelle, the last gasp of the muscle car will be a Chevelle SS with a LS5 454 that will turn out a paltry 270 horse power, with the lower horse power came the lower sales, only 5,333 Chevelle SS will be produced. The end of an era, sad times for performance fans.

1973 as the four banger plastic car makers push forward into America the muscle car will be history, the Chevelle SS will not make a come back, the line will be terminated and replaced by the plastic four banger.