When I first saw it, I hated it. When I saw it with wheels that weren’t wearing Chevrolet Celebrity hubcaps, I started to come around. When I bought it in 2007, it spit the harmonic balancer pulley off in the first ten miles of driving it, caught fire twice and wound up being parked for months because I had to go back to Iraq. Coming home the next year, I found that the car had been moved, the battery left hooked up and a pile of the white fluffy stuff that said “battery corrosion” underneath the car. You could rip it down to first at 65 miles an hour, stomp the throttle and ride it out as fast as you dared…and that happened more than a few times between then and the day I finally had to say goodbye to the rusting hulk. But my god, what a car. My 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle left an impression on me, and I’ve wanted another badly. I’ve been following a snipe hunt for years in Kentucky regarding one that will probably never pan out and even if it did, there’s only rumors that it’s a legitimate 454 powered Super Sport. They aren’t the most loved version of the vaunted Chevrolet model, but far as I’m concerned, their loss.
Many write Chevelles off after 1972. They’re missing out on at least two more good years before emissions really kicked the engines in the junk. Downrated? Of course they were, the SAE tests had taken over versus a gross horsepower rating and every single engine lost the big numbers. That’s because the accessories and a real exhaust system were put on instead of headers on a dyno stand. 245 horsepower from an SAE rating seemed like neutering, but 375 ft/lbs of torque better explained what happened: the EGR system was to blame for most of the loss and it was still plenty potent compared to what would happen for the next couple of years. Pair it off with a four-speed, like maybe 600 cars came with, and you still had something worth mentioning. And anybody bitching about the looks can shove it. The front bumper is a railroad beam, sure, but the rest of the car works out nicely. And they handle far better than any car this large should ever be able to.
This one has been socked away for fifteen years. That means it’s the right time to wake it up.
(Thanks to Scott Liggett for sending this one in!)
Big fan on the Colonnade coupes. I have a matching numbers ’73 Century Gran Sport with a 455 TH400.
I had a 72 Chevelle SS, 454 INn the front.
I got stuck in a drivethru carwash cuz of my headers. Got her out but damn she was badass
I’d lift her from the back. Damn she’d hug that road. & VOOM! Oh how i miss her. RIP Sexy machine. A woman in her S.S. I cant complain.
Mmm the power of goin so fast on the road just hugs th car all smooth, Now thats a RUSH!
I really like the 1973 Chevy Chevelle body style. You either love them or hate them and I love them. This is my second Chevelle I had one when I was 18. Now I have another at age 54. The one I have now is in mint condition with original 15,000 miles on it when I purchased it two years ago. Now sitting at under 20,000 miles love the car could not ask for a better riding and handling car at the age. All original except for I did put and elderbrock performance kits in the motor and heads. Now she really gets out and runs really good. Everybody and their mother has 68 Camaros and 72 Chevelle. 1973 is a i g r and they just are not around anymore. Makes it unique.
anyone that see my chevelle or ride in it always want one after. I love the colonnades and the 70s style. Mine handle like a modified 70-72 but its Stock. Tuck the bumpers, ad some hp and some wheels and you Got a looked that eat Road.
I had a chance to buy a real 1973 SS454 w/TH400. for $500 30 years ago. It was beat and i still kick myself….
I think these cars look great!
I hear you man I bought a 1974 brown with tan interior worst Chevelle ever right not even deserving the name but after I kind of got used to it I passed it on a friend and I found a white SS with the red stripes around the bottom and put a set of Cragar SS 5 spoke wheels with white letter tires remove the EGR system smog pump and all that jump so it can breathe did you know do you keep the combustion cylinder temperature down they pump exhaust gas into the cylinders
You’re definitely correct about the handling better than any car that big should. I had 73 Chevelle. 307 engine 3 on the tree (which I converted to a floor shifter) Anyway, I used to take turns that were warned at 45 mph at 80 or 90. That thing stuck to the road like glue no matter how hard you pushed it. I never had another car like it for fast running through the twisty turns.
I would like to keep getting updated on the progress I had one and wished I never sold it
I bought a 74 Malibu Classic in 84.I also thought it was ugly but had some ideas. Originally sold in Tempe, AZ. Basically I got a bare shell, dumped a well used 350 in to start with. Ended up rebuilding the engine, redid the interior with swivel buckets and console. Ripped the white vinyl top off, and went from an ugly blue to a shiny black. Still have it and don’t think of it as being ugly anymore. LoL.
I’m a 60s and 70s muscle car freak… but I just LOVE the Colonnade’s ! I own a ’77 Buick Regal and I just love it !
I first had 2 Buick Century’s but always wanted a Regal… finally thank GOD I have one !!!
I really like the 1973 Chevy Chevelle body style. You either love them or hate them and I love them. This is my second Chevelle I had one when I was 18. Now I have another at age 54. The one I have now is in mint condition with original 15,000 miles on it when I purchased it two years ago. Now sitting at under 20,000 miles love the car could not ask for a better riding and handling car at the age. All original except for I did put and elderbrock performance kits in the motor and heads. Now she really gets out and runs really good. Everybody and their mother has 68 Camaros and 72 Chevelle. 1973 is a i g r and they just are not around anymore. Makes it unique.