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Originally Posted by 442w30
Thanks for your response, but I'm more curious about this:
- Why was the L79 not available in the Chevelle in 1966? To not compete with the new SS 396? Okay, but it returned for 1967 (now rated 325 hp).
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As you stated . . . not to compete with the brand new 1966 Chevelle SS396. The Muscle Car Wars were just getting up steam for the model year 1966. And it was all about big block engines with lots of horsepower and torque.
Both Chrysler and Ford really weren't contenders yet - they would get serious the following model year (at least Chrysler would. Ford waited until 1968). Pontiac lead the way with the GTO followed by (a great distance behind) Olds with the 442.
The accepted definition of a Muscle Car is a big engine in an intermediate sized car. Chevy put it's toe in the water so to speak with the 1965 SS396 Malibu - to get media and dealer reaction- all very positive.
Chevy knew it had a great engine with the L79. But marketing felt that big blocks were where the Muscle Car sales would be . . . and they were correct. If you wanted handling and a Muscle Car, the L79 would be a great choice as we all know that big block cars are nose heavy. But at the same time you had to give up many of the features that became standard on a Muscle Car like hood treatment, stripes, redline tires and badges.
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- Why was the L79 available in 1966 for the Chevy II but seemingly not available till the end of the model year for 1967?
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The 1967 model year, for Chevrolet, was all about the brand new Camaro. Chevy wasn't going to offer any models that would compete with it if they could help it. So the Nova SS got a max engine of 275 hp, the full size Chevrolet had a single 427, the 385 hp engine. They couldn't cripple the Chevelle like they did those cars (though Chevy did hold back the L78 option for most of the model year) because sales were way up as were sales of the GTO which Chevy looked at as it's main competitor.
Small block Muscle Cars only became popular when the insurance companies started raising the premiums on BB Muscle Cars into the stratosphere.
AFAIK the L79 was never an option on the 1967 Nova SS. At least a published option. How those handful of cars made it out of the factory - I don't know.