No. 142 of 207
This is a body-off restoration and modification done by R-M-R Restoration.
The Chevelle was one of Chevrolet's most successful nameplates. The 1971 model year Chevelle retained the 1970 body, with a new front-end and rear-end styling, including large Power-Beam single-unit headlights, a reworked grille and bumper, and integral park/signal/marker lights. The grille was widened and featured a bright horizontal bar divided into two sections. At the center of this bar was a large Chevy bowtie for Malibus, or a large "SS" emblem for the SS models. The grille on the Super Sport was painted flat black, while the other models featured a silver-finish version. Base Chevelles had a thinner, plain bar with no ornamentation. A small "Chevelle" nameplate was located in the lower-left corner of the grille. New dual round taillights were integral with the back bumper. Chevrolet introduced the "Heavy Chevy" (RPO YF3) model at midyear. It was primarily an appearance trim for the base Chevelle (13437) and was available with any V8 engine except the 454. Options were limited to those on the standard Chevelle sport coupe; vinyl floor, front bench seat, no center console shift, etc.
Chevrolet specifications for 1971 included both "gross" and "net" horsepower figures for all engines. The standard Chevelle SS engine was a two-barrel 350-cubic-inch V8 rated at 245 gross (165 net) horsepower. Optional was a four-barrel carbureted version of the 350 V8 rated at 275 gross (200 net with dual exhaust and 175 net with single exhaust) horsepower. The 402 cid big-block engine continued to be optional as the SS 396 but was only available in one horsepower rating, 300 gross (260 net) horsepower, and was not available with cowl induction. The base LS5 454 V8 produced 365 gross and 285 net horsepower, but cowl induction was available, which produced more power because of the air induction and a louder exhaust system. The LS6 454 option, originally announced as a regular production option on the Chevelle SS for 1971, was dropped early in the model year. No official records indicate that any 1971 Chevelles were assembled with the LS6 engine.
For 1971, the SS option could be ordered with any optional V8, becoming more of a dress-up option than a performance option. The SS option was reduced to one RPO code, RPO Z15, and was only available for the Chevelle Malibu. This RPO code required any optional engine and transmission available in the Chevelle lineup. Since the 307 V8 was the standard base V8 in 1971, it could not be ordered with the SS option; one had to order the LS3 402 or the LS5 454, or one of the two 350 V8 engines (L65 or L48 - which reintroduced the small block to the SS option for the first time since the 1965 model year for USA market Chevelles).
GM mandated all divisions to design engines on regular, low-octane, lower-lead, or unleaded gasoline. To permit usage of the lower-octane fuels, all engines featured low compression ratios (9:1 and lower; well below the 10.25-11.25:1 range on high-performance engines of 1970 and earlier). This move reduced horsepower ratings on the big-block engines to 300 for the 402 cubic-inch V8, but the LS5 454 option had an "advertised" five-horsepower increase to 365.
Both 350 V8 engines and the dual exhaust 402 cid V8 engine were available without the SS option; only the LS5 454 V8 required the SS option. A single-exhaust version of the 402 cid engine existed in 1970 with 330 gross hp and in 1972 with 210 net hp. In 1971, the single exhaust version of the 402 cid engine was rated 206 net hp, but it only appeared in the full-size Chevrolet brochure.
The original price for the 1971 Chevelle 2-door sports coupe was $3, 150.
454 cubic-inch engine
465 horsepower
5-speed transmission
Custom paint
Muscle & Speed / 1960–1979
More from the collection.
1960 Ford Fairlane “The Spaceliner” Custom Concept
1960 Frontenac Falcon Ranchero
1961 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Convertible
1963 Chevrolet Bel Air 5th Gen.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window C2
1963 Chrysler 300 Pace Setter Convertible
1963 Ford Galaxie 500/XL Convertible
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible
1964 Ford Thunderbird Convertible (4th Generation)
1965 Dodge Coronet A/FX Kentucky Colonels
