CHEVY DE HEAVY
1971 Chevy ChevelleText By Jim Smart Photos By Bob Ryder
A Proud Legacy of Muscle-Bound Performance Lives in Robb McIntosh’s Garage
Page 8 & 9
Even if you’re the most die-hard Ford, Mopar or AMC guy, you have to acknowledge that Chevrolet’s Chevelle is easily the most Popular Classic Muscle Car Ever Made. There is no Equal..The Beauty of Chevy’s timeless Chevelle mid-size is its large footprint. They were well-made automobiles for the masses, and GM built a ton of them in a number of U.S. and Foreign assembly plants. When it comes to performance enthusiasts, Chevelle has been the most versatile platform in the world on which to build muscle. Before you is the Chevelle’s best side, a great rear ¾ shot captured by Maximum Drive’s Editor Bob Ryder, where you get an idea of what Chevelle has always been about—power. On the ground is rolling stock we only could have dreamt! About 40 years ago. Those super-wide G10s and Nitto Invos put the “heavy” in the “Chevy.” They provide handling and they get this Chevelle’s 502-ci power to the pavement. Underneath is a GM 12-bolt with 3.70:1 cogs in locking style. Robb’s Chevelle is all about packaging and assembling the right combination of components. You want parts that mesh together smoothly with lockstep precision. What Robb gets for his hard-earned money and time is a GM intermediate that can go anywhere, yet deliver rocket ship power as needed. This is where fun and function meet and get along. The 1968 Chevelle moved through a number of changes that kept it fresh. From 1968-70, Chevelle had twinset headlights and a variety of sheet metal revisions. In cost-cutting moves, the Chevelle’s grille because simpler over time with fewer and fewer parts to ease assembly and save money. By 1971, Chevelle had larger single-set headlights and a one-piece plastic grille, which would remain through 1972. Despite these changes, the car remained sharp with a tough-guy disposition. Parking lamps and side markers stayed single shared units with easy-to –service lamps, sockets and lenses. One GM innovation, the bolt-on front fasciaa, makes it possible to alter a car line’s appearance without extensive sheet metal changes. What’s more, it made vehicle assembly easier. GM’s intermediates of the era all have the same side profile, and it’s a memorable persona. At a glance you see Pontiac GTO, Olds 4-4-2 and Buick GS because the greenhouse was shared by all of these GM lines. However, only one enjoys the powerful muscle car legend of Chevelle with its sculpted fenders and quarter panels. These slippery stamped panels gave Chevelle character linke no other mid-size at the time. And thanks to these huge wheel wells, you can fit a lot of rummber and aluminum in them. The Budnik G10s and Nitto Invos deliver a stunning message of power and brawn. Visible through the spokes are those CPP disc brakes we were talking about earlier. In 1971, we never could have envisioned 19- and 20-inch wheels, yet they look right at home because this was a body born for them. Scat Procar custom-upholstered, fully adjustable bucket seats give us a rush with their red-on-black stitching and breathing holes designed to keep a hot posterior cool. Side bolsters keep you stable in hard corners. Good lumbar support helps you steer clear of backache on a long trip. Adjustable seat backs articulate to just about any driving position. The Budnik G10 steering wheel matches the G10 wheels perfectly. Team McIntosh worked together to keep everything consistent throughout. Westminster Auto Upholstery took the Chevelle’s original rear seat frame and spring and built an incredible rear seat with red stitching and heavy side bolsters for extraordinary comfort. This is a back seat to comfort you whether the trip is local or long distance. Not even in high-end luxury cars did the General get it this good, and check out the armrest! Quarter trim panels were also custom-fabricated by Westminster Auto Upholstery. Inside, Robb introduces us to a world of craftsmanship carried out by people who aren’t content with the mundane. They want over-the-top results, and that’s what Robb got when he visited Westminster Auto Upholstery in Anaheim, CA. We like this custom-made center console with a B&M Quick Silver ratchet shifter for the GM 700-R4 underneath. That’s a Covan Thunder Road dash insert with Auto Meter Sport Comp instrumentation. Vintage Air provides climate control for year-round comfort in any kind of weather. TRANSMISSION: GM 700-R4 built by Remac Transmissions, San Dimas, CA REAR AXLE: Ford 9-Inch from Currie Enterprises with Detroit Locker and 3.70:1 gears and 31-spline axles BODY AND PAINT: Viper Red with black graphics by Lanzini Body Works in Huntington Beach, CA INTERIOR: Westminster Auto Upholstery, Anaheim, CA, black custom upholstery over Scat/Procar bucket seats, Covan Thunder Road dash insert, American Autowire electrical, Budnik G10 steering wheel |