Chevy Muscle Cars

Chevy muscle cars from the 1960s are famous for their speed and affordability. Besides the beloved Corvette Stingray, two other popular muscle cars produced by Chevy include the Chevrolet Impala SS and the Chevy Camaro.

The Chevrolet Impala had been a best-selling staple of the Chevy car lineup since the late 50s, but the introduction of the Chevrolet Impala SS gave muscle car enthusiasts something to gnash their teeth on. Debuting in 1961, the Impala SS was a performance version of the standard Impala model, customized with high powered V-8 engines with up to 425 brake horsepower. Though many of the improvements in the Impala SS were visual, including different trim styling, the SS version was generally sold with option packages. Many people consider the 1969 Impala SS, the last SS model until 1994, to be the most valuable Impala due to the availability of the Z24 package that included, among other things, front disc brakes.

The Chevy Camaro has been described as Chevy's answer to the Ford Mustang. The Camaro was produced annually from 1966-2002 before taking a seven year break and reappearing as the fifth generation Camaro in 2009. Though the first generation Camaro retains the classic Chevy muscle car look, the second generation was engineered with more proficiency. The 1970 Z/28 Camaro was perhaps the most powerful of the early Camaro generations, capable of driving at breakneck speeds with a 360 horsepower engine. Like the Impala, the Camaro had SS models that had noticeable differences in styling and accessories. However, the SS line was dropped in 1973.

Chevy muscle cars are seen even today in films like Transformers, which showcased a yellow 1976 Camaro, named Bumblebee, which transforms into a yellow concept version of the fifth generation Camaro.