Mr. Regular of Regular Car Reviews likes his cars…well, regular. Nothing fancy, nothing showy, nothing high-end really. This is a guy who gets hot and bothered over a low-mileage Plymouth Horizon four door in Tapioca Beige, for Pete’s sake. Which means two things: One, he officially has stranger tastes in cars than I EVER will, and two, the Chevy II is right up his alley. Why the Chevy II? Because it wasn’t the fire-breather that 95% of the running examples have been converted into. When these cars came out, they were the answer to two of GM’s problems: the Ford Falcon and the Corvair. The Falcon had debuted in 1960 and had knocked the small-car idea out of the park. The Corvair…well, let’s be nice and say that it was very advanced for it’s time and turned off traditional buyers who wanted anvil-like durability, simplicity of mechanics, and enough room to fit a family inside without turning the family budget into dust. There, the Chevy II succeeded, even if it did ape the Falcon’s schtick just a little bit.
Most of these little machines have 350s under the hoods now, but that wouldn’t do for our picky Pennsylvania-based YouTube friend. Finding a completely, 100% stock example that isn’t restored to perfection is a chore, but here’s a close runner up: a six-cylinder, Powerglide equipped, radio-delete four-door that’s aged very well over the years. Disregard the Torque-Thrust wheels and listen as he explains his appreciation for the little Chevy that did very well for itself:T
What sort of moron gets his shorts in a twist over a under-powered load of Chevy site like this? He probably runs the US branch of the Sunderland AFC supporters club and his house is painted in red and white stripes…
Any old car is cool.
Any old car is cool.
He really nails what its like driving an old stock 6 banger car. I have a 60 falcon, in red that’s a 4 door that was 100% stock original. It was fun, lots of fun. What it lacks in power and refinement it makes up for in character. The cars are just fun. Simple as that.
The heater in mine worked really good though. I would drive it daily when it was stock. The 9″ drum brakes were great for the 144 2 speed. The suspension was good enough. The car just did what it needed to.
I love driving my big 61 Meteor wagon with manual steering and brakes. It is not fast, not particularly reliable or trouble free but that is adventure.