The El Camino SS generally did NOT have any "SS" emblems on the door panels. If the 402 or 350 engine was ordered with the SS package, then there would simply be "SS" emblems all the way around (but no external engine size designation). If the SS-454 package was ordered, the fenders (and tailgate on El Caminos) would sport "SS/454" emblems. The increase was also a result of the overly conservative rating (in the Chevelle) of the previous year's LS5. This was accomplished partly by redesigning the heads. The LS5 454 motor in the '71 Chevelle and El Camino was now rated 5 horsepower HIGHER than it was a year earlier, even though the compression ratio was lowered. There have been rumors that a few LS6 Chevelles were built in '71, but these have all been proven to be false. 188 Corvettes were built with the 425 horsepower LS6 motor in '71. The compression ratio on all GM engines was lowered to 8.5:1. The VIN on a '71 Heavy Chevy starts with 13437, while the VIN on a V8 Malibu or SS coupe starts with 13637. Like the Malibu 400 cars, many Heavy Chevys have been converted to SS clones. The Heavy Chevy could be ordered with any V8 engine except a 454. While the SS was based upon the Malibu, the Heavy Chevy was based upon the base Chevelle model, which had less trim. New for '71 was a "Heavy Chevy" package which featured special decals and some SS equipment. The unusual "Malibu 400" package was also available on the non-SS Chevelle and El Camino. One was the SS-454, and the other was simply the "SS" (available with either the 402, 350-4, or 350-2 engine). Note: We didn’t leave out the rest of Chevy’s more “modern day” SS tribe (Cobalt, Trailblazer, Malibu, and the SS454 Trucks of the early ’90s) on purpose.Genuine 1972 SS-454 El Caminos have a "W" as the fifth character in the VIN.įor 1971, there were two SS packages. Sure, Chevy has had other “muscle” monikers over the years: RS, Z/28, IROC, LTZ, L88, etc., but the legendary SS casts the tallest shadow of them all! Although the original Monte Carlo SS only appeared for a couple of brief years (1970-’71), it turned up again from 1983-1988, and then in 2000-2007.El Camino: Interestingly, even though the El Camino SS was a relative late-comer to the storied SS fold (1968), it continued the longest, running throughout 1987.Camaro SS was discontinued after the 1972 model year and wouldn’t reappear until 1996.After 1973, the Laguna S3 coupe replaced the “SS” as the sporty/performance option on the Chevelle.It resurfaced from 1994 through 1996, then again in 2004 through 2009. Impala SS was discontinued after the 1969 model year.We won’t get into all the engines and sets of features that came on every SS-optioned car that Chevrolet ever offered (that would take an entire book!) Instead, we’ll cover the years the SS major players were offered.ġ961: The full-size Impala started it allġ967: Impala, Chevy II Nova, Chevelle, Camaroġ968: Impala, Chevy II Nova, Chevelle, El Camino, Camaroġ969: Impala, Nova (the “Chevy II” name was discontinued for ’69), Chevelle, El Camino, Camaroġ970: Nova, Chevelle, El Camino, Camaro, Monte Carloġ971: Nova, Chevelle, El Camino, Camaro, Monte Carlo The SS option/model always offered an upscale appearance, and in most cases, a variety of high-performance engines and suspension upgrades. Good thing too, as competition from Ford (with their GT and XL models) and Mopar (with their R/T packages) was always a threat in the showrooms and at the drag strip. Over the rest of the ’60s and on into the ’70s, the SS package was offered on many different Chevrolet models. You might say 1961 was the year that the serious horsepower wars began! The SS/409 combination was Chevy’s response to Ford’s 390 powered Galaxie. This was the year the legendary 409 cube V8 came into play as well. Where did it all start? In 1961, with the introduction of the SS option on the full-size Impala. But the “SS” moniker is the all-encompassing term that will forever symbolize not only power and performance, but a level of pure class as well. And of course, cubic-inch call-outs such as “396”, “427” and “454” all bring to mind big torque and power. ![]() Sure, names like Chevelle, Camaro and Nova conjure up visions of tire-smoking prowess. When it comes right down to it, Chevrolet’s storied performance history can be summed up in two simple letters- “SS”.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |