There are two ways to view the Chevrolet 250ci inline-six. There’s the way that most people I know see them: the base-model engine of many a GM product, solid and robust, but about as exciting as a warm cup of tapioca pudding and about as desirable. My 1977 Chevy Impala had a 250 six that certainly fit that bill…the damn thing needed a gasoline kick down the carb to wake up after it had sat longer than overnight and it’s power output was only just enough to spin a tire on dirt, nothing more. Then there is the second viewpoint, the inline-six that just doesn’t get enough of it’s due in the States. Stock, it’s not that impressive and during it’s production and sales in the States, it was relegated to base models of both cars and trucks. But tweak with the camshaft, mess with the heads, play with the exhaust and do the other tricks that any other engine responds to and it’ll run just fine. Add boost and you’ll quickly get past “fine” and go to heroic status. My mother’s 1975 Oldsmobile Omega ran some wicked-up 250 sixes during the time I knew the car, and they held up to some abuses that I will never write about in detail.

In Brazil, they loved 250 sixes, especially in the Chevrolet Opala. Six-cylinder Opalas were something to watch for on the streets, capable of taking 318-powered Darts and Chargers and 302-powered Mavericks to school if the drivers of those cars weren’t careful. And wherever a car exists, there will always be someone at the ready to hit it with speed parts in the name of showing the other guy who is boss. It looks like a proper musclecar, it behaves like a proper musclecar, but an Opala that has been wicked up doesn’t quite sound like what you’d expect from a proper musclecar. Hit play below and see what we mean!