Editor's Note: Heading into the new century, we felt compelled to take a look back at what will undoubtedly be one of the 20th century's biggest contributions to daily life-the automobile. Of course, Super Chevy looks at the history of the automobile through the eyes of the Chevrolet enthusiast. The following is the sixth in a series that will run throughout the year 2000 and cover the highlights of Chevrolet-from the creation of a company at a time when 270 other companies were vying for buyers of new automobiles, to the present day, when the competition is limited to just a handful of serious automobile makers. Much of the information is taken straight from Chevrolet sources, and some will be from the pages of this magazine's more than 25 years as "The # 1 Chevrolet Enthusiast's Magazine."
1961-1970
The finned look of the late '50s disappeared in the early '60s as Americans looked for cleaner, more tasteful designs in their driveways.
A product of these desires was the '61 Chevrolet Impala lineup, which sported full-length body-side moldings and a "thin pillar" slantback roof. Just the slightest trace of the old fins could be detected. To add spice, Chevrolet offered the Impala Super Sport (SS), a car that ushered this vaunted badge into the lineup.
Chevy promoted Impala SS as the car for those who "won't settle for less than REAL driving excitement." The SS and its new optional 409ci V-8 quickly proved themselves on the performance circuit. One of the first cars equipped with this new powerhouse engine blew away the competition at the 1961 Winter-Nationals Drag Racing Championship, held in Pomona, California. In fact, the 409, teamed with a four-speed and some handling extras, placed the Impala SS among the world's fastest automobiles.
For 1962, the SS package could be combined with an even more gutsy 409 V-8, and drivers were surrounded with sporty option touches everywhere, including bucket seats-now included with SS trim-four on the floor, a 7,000-rpm tachometer, and even a dash-mounted passenger grab handle.
In the compact market, Corvair was undergoing its own evolution, adding wagons and convertible models. But the Corvair that truly caught on was the Monza Spyder, a 150-horsepower, turbocharged "mover" that could outrun any Ford Falcon or Plymouth Valiant of the day.
Corvairs would undergo one restyle through the balance of the decade before disappearing in 1969. But the bigger news in small Chevy vehicles bowed in 1962-the all-new Chevy II-the 110-inch-wheelbase forerunner of the highly successful Nova of the '70s.
Chevy II offered a menu of models for buyers. Its four-cylinder, automatic transmission powertrain was a first for Chevrolet (and the first four-cylinder Chevy since 1928), along with its innovative single-leaf "mono-plate" rear springs. The available inline six was a popular engine option, and a little roar was added in the mid-'60s with optional 283 and 327 V-8s.
The carbureted 327 V-8 found its way into the '65-67 Nova SS. The '66 Nova SS, when equipped with the availa 350hp version of the 327 "Turbo-Fire" V-8, was one of the hottest performers in the compact class.
Performance spread quickly throughout the Chevy lineup during the '60s. "SS" nameplates and sporty features such as bucket seats appeared on several models-and potent V-8 power lurked under the majority of their hoods.
Chevy was just keeping in step with America. Power pervaded mid-'60s culture. Musclecars were hailed by rock groups, including the Beach Boys, who urged a big-block Chevy to "Giddyup, Giddyup 409."
Chevy vehicles were consistently found in the winner's circle on the motorsports circuits. In 1964, Chevrolet took five of the classes at the Pure Oil Performance Trials in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event was the scene of the newest Chevy introduction-the '64 Chevelle-a midsize sedan, hardtop, wagon and convertible series.