From the minute Chevrolet joined the growing market place for " average " cars in 1964 , the SS badge on its gamey mid - size of it Chevelles were sleep with to stand for " Super Sport . " arm with enhanced performance features and adorn with usage styling touching , by 1970 , the Chevrolet Chevelle SS coupe had earn a deserved place among the top rank of the era ’s heftiness cars .
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The auto industry ’s taste for such cars began turning sour in response to political and economic tendency in the other 1970s , but Detroit still issue sports simulation – albeit in weakened form . Perhaps it was by force of habit , then , that an SS package was created for the completely redesign 1973 Chevelle .
After five days on the same basic organic structure shell , all General Motors intermediates were totally novel for 1973 . Wheelbases remained 112 inches for two - door cars and 116 inch for four - door and station wagon , but convertible were spend and closed in cars were dressed in new " Colonnade " styling .
The two - door hardtop of the past were replaced by reliable coupes with boneheaded boron - pillar and fixed rear side - window glass . All now had a dual - head - light design , which was nothing novel to Chevelle ; it had dropped four - lamp lighting in 1971 . gruelling government - mandate five - mph " crash bumpers " were fitted up front .
The mid - size of it Chevy came in Deluxe , Malibu , and fresh upscale Laguna trim . Checking off choice Z15 and plunk down $ 243 would make an SS out of any Malibu coupe or – for the only time ever – post wagon equip with a 350- or 454 - Criminal Investigation Command V-8 .
Package equipment include a blacked - out grille , dual summercater mirrors , color - keyed lower dead body striping , black - accented taillight bezel ( on coupes ) , dim - rim round instrument dials , front and rear stabilizer Browning automatic rifle , mass meeting wheels , and G70 X 14 white-hot - missive tires . S identification showed up on the grille , front buffer , rear fascia ( or wagon lift - logic gate ) , direction cycle , and internal room access jury .
Since 1971 , GM locomotive had been detuned to extend on low-pitched - lead fuel . The 350 engine was rated at 145 net horsepower with a two - gun barrel carburettor ; 175 horses with a four - pot carb . The optional large - stoppage 454 now sack 245 horse . Automatic transmissions were standard with the SS engines , but four - f number manuals could be regulate for the 454 and the chestier of the two 350s .
As it was , SS came to mean " Swan Song " in 1973 , even though 28,647 were range , an increase of almost 4,000 from the 1972 totals . ( A Laguna S-3 coupe served as the sportiest Chevelle from 1974 to 1976 . ) Twenty - five years after , the label could abide for " Seldom assure , " considering most collectors and parts provider focalize on pre-1973 Chevelles .
If that posture ever changes , Leroy and Judy Williams , of Haubstadt , Indiana , will be quick . They bought the Super Sport coupe seen here new in 1973 and used it as the family railway car until 1987 , when it was restored to like - new stipulation . Their SS is powered by the 175 - horse small - block locomotive . Options include pivot bucket keister , center console , atmosphere conditioning , and a caliber package with tachometer .
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