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November 18, 2009

CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot – The 1973 Chevy Chevelle SS Wagon

UDMan

Welcome to another installment of the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, a regular feature which aims to expand the definition of what a muscle car is, and to discover hidden treasures while doing so. During the 1970s, the age of the fire breathing muscle car was quickly coming to an end, though there were several surprises. One such surprise is the first station wagon that wore the heralded SS badge. Introducing a true paradox, the 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS station wagon.

Continue reading after the jump!

When Chevrolet joined the growing performance car market in 1962, the SS badges on its enhanced Chevrolets were known to stand for “Super Sport.” Armed with enhanced performance features and adorned with custom styling touches, the Chevrolet Chevelle SS had earned a deserved place among the top rank of the era’s muscle cars. However, the auto industry’s taste for such cars began turning sour in response to political and economic trends in the early 1970s, but Detroit still issued sports models, and an SS package was created for the completely redesigned 1973 Chevelle.

After five years on the same basic body shells, all General Motors intermediates were totally new for 1973. Wheelbases remained 112 inches for two-door cars and 116 inches for four-doors and station wagons, but convertibles were dropped and closed cars were dressed in new “Colonnade” styling. The two-door hardtops of the past were replaced by true coupes with thick B-pillars and fixed rear side-window glass. Heavy government-mandated five-mph “crash bumpers” were fitted up front.

The mid-size Chevy came in Deluxe, Malibu, and new upscale Laguna trim. Checking off option Z15 and plunking down $243 would make an SS out of any Malibu coupe or — for the only time ever — station wagon equipped with a 350- or 454-cid V-8. Package equipment included a blacked-out grille, dual sport mirrors, color-keyed lower body striping, black-accented taillight bezels (on coupes), black-rimmed round instrument dials, front and rear stabilizer bars, rally wheels, and G70 X 14 white-letter tires. SS identification showed up on the grille, front fenders, rear fascia (or wagon lift-gate), steering wheel, and interior door panels.

Since 1971, GM engines had been detuned to run on low-lead fuel. The 350 engine was rated at 145 net horsepower with a two-barrel carburetor; 175 horses with a four-barrel carb. The optional big-block 454 now netted 245 horses. Automatic transmissions were standard with the SS engines, but four-speed manuals could be ordered for the 454 and the stouter of the two 350s. As it was, the 1973 Chevelle SS was the last one offered, even though 28,647 were ordered, an increase of almost 4,000 from the 1972 totals. The Laguna Type S-3 coupe served as the sportiest Chevelle from 1974 to 1976. These Chevelles have become the “Lost Generation” considering most collectors and parts suppliers focus on pre-1973 Chevelles.

The SS option cost $243, and was sold on 28,647 Chevelles. The 454 option cost another $235, and was only sold on around 2,500 of those cars. The wagons are very rare, as I could not find any information as to the number sold. And with no CarDomain Members sporting around with the sportiest of Station Wagons, its no wonder I can’t find any information about them. So, with the last year of a Chevelle SS offered, and a one year only Station Wagon model, is this a true Obscure Muscle Car, or should it be confined into Station Wagon Hell? Let em know, as I will be watching during SEMA Week!

While this is not an SS model, the illustration shows the very clean back end.

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Posted at 2:34 am in CarDomain Feature, CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, Chevelle, Chevy, SS, Station Wagon, udman

Comments

Obscure Muscle from the Past: The 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Wagon : Hooniverse
May 9, 2010 at 6:03 am

[...] is it a Muscle Car? You know my vote, but what about you? Read my Original Posting here, and while you’re at it, why not re-visit my entire library of Obscure Muscle at CarDomain. [...]

CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot Year End Wrap-Up; The 70’s OPEC Inspired Cruisers – CarDomain Blog
Jan 4, 2010 at 10:18 am

[...] CJ equipped Torino. – The 1973 – 74 Chevrolet Laguna S-3, equipped with a 454 Big Block. – The 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Wagon, built in very limited numbers. – The 1970 1/2 Ford Falcon with the 429 Cobra [...]

dine73ss
Dec 20, 2009 at 3:31 pm

Depending on the individual, these cars can be cool. I personally grew up with an SS 350 3 seat wagon (maroon/silver stripes) and during the late 1980s that thing beat a few of my buddys parents cars including a 305/4bbl 1978 Camaro. The only one I lost to was another buddy’s 1970 350 camaro. It would do every bit of the 120 MPH speedo.
As far as horsepower, 1971 and 1972 were just as crappy as 1973 or later. Of course, who cares about remembering that as long as the body style is cool right? Of course!
A real car guy knows that GM put smaller cams and more restrictive exhausts and more vacuum hoses to meet the smog requirements. Just look at the RPMs on the charts. Why does 1972 and earlier rev their engines more and in 1973 and later revs 1 grand less to look like weaker horsepower? Put a cam/headers/gears and it will run just as quick.
Everyone has their opinions and it doesn’t matter if one even has the Caprice/Buick/Olds/ Impala wagon 90s version even with an LT1 engine, it will never be a factory SS and it will always look like a giant Tylenol with wheels.
They are not the muscle cars many people expect. I would more classify them as a “SPORT WAGON” than a muscle car.
Make all the judgements about these cars remembering the fact that Chevrolet built these cars in 1973 and will never been made again.

road_monster
Nov 23, 2009 at 4:25 pm

Dunno if these should be called Muscle Cars or not, but I’d LOVE to have one!

80-zcamaro
Nov 23, 2009 at 11:11 am

I remember these cars from way back when I was very young. I have always stated that I have no right to judge anyone elses opinions or taste of what they like or what they are into. I for myself feel that the last realy nice looking Chevelle made was in 1970. I do not mind the 71-72 but they looked better with the four headlights.
Dose this car belong in the obscure muscle car parking lot?, well it was my understanding that a muscle car had to have two doors and a back seat with a big engine but I am told that the Elcamino is a muscle car and it has a bed in it and no back seat so I figure It all depends on your own personal oppinion is,,,mine is no. It was a family car with a big engin and some decals and I don’t think that just because it has an SS badge on it means it is a muscle car. It would be like slapping a GT on a Ford Pinto and calling it a high performance car.
They were big, heavy and carried and got grocries but they were in my oppinion not a muscle car.

The_Cordia_Kid
Nov 22, 2009 at 11:11 am

I would love to own one of these, but if I had one, the first thing I’d do is have a body shop shave the ugly roof rack right the fuck off of there. Why, oh why, do so many station wagons and SUVs have their styling ruined with those atrocious things?

Alex Vickers
Nov 21, 2009 at 9:57 am

There was a mint Chevelle SS two-door wagon for sale at a local classic car dealer a few months ago. It’s always there when I drive by, but I haven’t been by in a few weeks.

blackfriday490
Nov 19, 2009 at 8:26 am

I’m putting my vote in favor of muscle car, and its obscure without a doubt. Good choice for a feature.

wsbob
Nov 18, 2009 at 10:59 pm

Exactly what the column is about. This is a VERY obscure Muscle Car

FRSGUMP
Nov 18, 2009 at 4:29 pm

I think anything that wears an SS badge should only have two doors. I cannot believe there was only 245hp from a 454. Personally, I think the entire auto industry started (more or less) falling apart with the year 1973 models. All due to the prices of oil and gas.

lejourinator
Nov 18, 2009 at 12:08 pm

175 in a 350 powered SS…. compare that to the last sport wagon from GM(Roadmaster estate) with a 350 lt1 making 260 hp. then consider the weight and mpg saving. My Buick is starting to look like an M3, lol. amazing to step back and see how technology changes over the years.

But still, it definitely belongs to the lot.

RareT
Nov 18, 2009 at 5:51 am

WOW! I had many Chevelles back in the late 70′s and 80′s, and even had a ’73 SS model. I never knew they had an SS wagon! Talk about de-tuned! These cars were GM’s poor idea of a “Sport Coupe”. However, I loved the body lines, and wish I still had a few of them today.