t comes to something when a
small-block '70 Chevelle can be
classed as a sensible car. It's all
relative, I suppose – if your other cars
include a Pro Touring big-block
Chevelle and a mighty SP/ET race car,
then yes, a 5.7-litre stocker does start
to look like quite a rational choice.
What it does prove is that sensible
does not necessarily equal dull, and a
nice Cruise Muscle machine like this
can tick all the boxes except the one
marked 'bankruptcy'.
This '70 Chevelle Malibu is owned by
Simon Gough, a demolition contractor
from Essex who knows a thing or two
about muscle cars and whose name will
be familiar to anyone who spends much
time at the strip. “Everyone loves
Camaros,” says Simon. “I've had a '69, and
my last race car was a '68, but it's the
shape of the Chevelle that really attracts
me. It's like Chevrolet took all the best bits
of the Nova and Camaro and made the
perfect muscle car. I used to have four
Chevelles; I'm down to two now.
22 ACM
I
For many, the '68'72
Chevelle was the
perfect muscle car
shape (above).
Simon agrees, and
it's hard to argue
with that. The car
didn't look this nice
when he picked it
up, and Simon was
unsure about the
deal until he spotted
that number plate
(top centre)! The car
has been dropped
all round, but bigger
rims give it that
stance (right)
“It's like
Chevrolet took
all the best bits of
the Nova and
Camaro and
made the perfect
muscle car”
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu
➔
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