1973-1977 History

The Chevelle underwent a redesign for the 1973 model year. The so-called "colonnade hardtop" styling featured frameless door glass and fixed "B" pillars. Rear windows on coupes no longer could be opened, no doubt encouragement from GM to purchase the increasingly popular optional air conditioning. Front suspension was based on the Camaro/Firebird which greatly enhanced handling. Engine choices ranged from the 250 I6 to the venerable 454 V8. Hardened engine valve seats and hydraulic camshafts made these engines reliable for many miles, and allowed them to accept the increasingly popular unleaded regular gasoline. Crossflow radiators and coolant reservoirs that prevented air from entering the system prevented overheating. Swivel bucket seats and center console for automatic and manual shift cars were offered in every model as was the instrument gauge cluster. Power front disc and rear drum brakes were standard. Power accessories, air conditioning and AM/FM tape stereo were more prevalent these years and provided a pleasing drive. A power moonroof was an option in 73-75.

The station wagon, available in 6 or 9 passenger seating, featured a rear hatchback door which allowed for easier entry and loading. The Chevrolet El Camino and GMC Sprint were based on the Chevelle. Yearly design changes to the front and rear mark the aesthetic differences as in previous years. The Chevelles were top sellers for GM as was the Oldsmobile Cutlass, which used the same corporate A-body platform.

1973 model offerings started with the top luxury Laguna series with its distinct urethane nose, followed by Malibu and then Deluxe models. An SS package was available for Malibu coupes and for the only time, station wagons. The SS option included a black front grille, SS badging on the interior and exterior, body side striping, rally wheels with white letter tires, F41 sport suspension with front and rear sway bars, and a 350 or 454 V8. A 4 speed Muncie transmission was available with 350 or 454 equipped cars on any model.

For 1974 the Laguna S3 coupe replaced the "SS" as the sporty/performance option on the Chevelle. The nomenclature S3 referred to sport and 3rd generation Chevelle. It sported a special urethane nose, body side striping, Laguna S3 badging, rally wheels, 4 spoke steering wheel and F41 sport suspension with front and rear sway bars. Radial tires on 15" wheels and radial tuned suspension provided road grip and retractable 3 point seat belts were introduced and still used in new cars today. A 400 engine was new this year. The 454 was the top engine and available with the Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic 400 or Muncie 4 speed manual transmissions.

With the Laguna nameplate now bearing the sporty model in the Chevelle line, the top-line series for 1974 became the Malibu Classic, offered in sedan, coupe and station wagon models. Unlike the '73 Laguna, the Malibu Classic used the same grillework as lesser Chevelle models but added a spring-loaded hood ornament. Inside, Malibu Classic featured luxurious interiors with notchback bench seats (or optional Strato bucket seats) upholstered in cloth or vinyl, carpeted door panels and woodgrain instrument panel trim, and vertical opera windows on coupes or exterior wood trim on station wagons. Also for 1974, the base Chevelle Deluxe series was dropped, leaving the plain Malibu as the low-end series.

The 1975 Laguna S-3 debuted as a 1/2 year model in February and sported a new sloped front nose designed for NASCAR. H.E.I. or High Energy Ignition provided spark to the spark plugs with minimal maintenance and increased power. The larger distributor cap also provided better high RPM performance by decreasing the likelihood of the spark conducting to the wrong terminal. The 454 and Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 transmission was available for the first half of the model year and then the 400 was the top engine choice.

For 1976, Chevelle was available with the new 5.0 liter 305 V8 the 350 and the 400. Malibu Classic models now featured the new rectangular headlights that other high-end GM cars were sporting. These were quad units in stacked arrangement, replacing the previous single round headlights (which were still used for the cheaper Malibu series).

1977 offered the Malibu Classic as the top model and the 350 was the top engine. A Chevelle S.E. or special edition was available and provided front and rear spoilers, turbin II wheels, F60x15 tires, special graphics and decals, laguna quarter window trim, front and rear sway bars, f41 sport suspension, deluxe interior. Three colors were available. Only 50 (fifty) or so of these rare cars were built.

When GM downsized its intermediate models for 1978, the Chevelle name was dropped and all models took the Chevrolet Malibu name.

cite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevelle