2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the Chevrolet Chevelle! This car is regarded by many as America’s favorite muscle car. The Chevelle name plate ran from 1964 all the way until 1977. We are paying a tribute to the car that started it all, the 1964 Chevelle.
The 1964 A-Body spanned across the General Motors line. The most notable ’64, often given credit for the muscle car era, is the Pontiac GTO. Other A-bodies were in the Buick and Oldsmobile lines. These new A-bodies were a full framed car, unlike the smaller more economical Novas. They had coil suspension at all four corners for a smooth ride and four wheel drum brakes.
In 1964 there was a total of four main variations, not including versions with four doors and two doors. Those versions included a Coupe/Sedan, Convertible, Wagon and the El Camino. In the Coupe/Sedan and Wagon versions there was also two door and four door versions.
There was also several different levels of trim models. The baseline was the Chevelle. However you could upgrade to a Malibu trim package or even an Super Sport package. The Malibu versions had more chrome and nicer interiors. These usually meant a coupe as well, not a sedan.
The Super Sport package also gained more chrome striping down the body panels, and SS logos throughout. Other upgrades could include a full set of gauges and upgraded hubcaps. Some of the options included bucket seats, a console with a floor shifter, and air conditioning.
The SS package was on top of the Malibu package which was only offered in the coupe variation of the car. While we know that SS generally means a big high horsepower motor, at this point it was only a trim package. Some ’64 SS Chevelles left the factory with a straight six in them.
Engines that were available in 1964 Chevelles included four different straight six motors along with two small block V8′s. The big block 396 didn’t come out until 1965 with the Z16 package.
These cars were an answer to battling the midsize war with the Ford Fairlane. Their hope was to grasp some of the market that the 1955-1957 Bel Air’s occupied. The Chevelle was and still is wildly popular, mission accomplished there.
Looking at some of the original advertisements from 1964, Chevrolet was really proud of this Chevelle. They had a huge push in 1963 for the debut. The claimed that you can easily park it between parking meters, with five feet of space leftover. They were really proud of the 27.3 cubic foot trunk claiming that “it can hold 4 overnight bags, 2 two-suiters, 2 pullmans, 1 wardrobe and 1 traincase with a set of golf clubs thrown in for good measure.”
What they mean is, there is a huge trunk that can fit just about anything you want in it.
We are here to help celebrate with Chevrolet the 50th birthday of the 1964 Chevelle. The Chevelle is an amazing car that holds a lot of memories for Chevrolet gear heads. 1964 was the first year of Chevelle, the car that started it all!
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