In 1961 , Chevrolet had a big winner in its Corvair Monza , but nothing to contend with Ford ’s high up - fly Falcon . The 1962 answer : the back - to - basic principle , downcast - cost Chevrolet Chevy II .
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When the 1960 cars made their debut in the fall of 1959 , media attention was focused on Detroit ’s resolution to the imports : Chevrolet ’s extremist , rear - engined Corvair ; Ford ’s simple , sensible Falcon ; and Chrysler ’s extremely styled Valiant .
And when 1960 sales were count – 435,676 Falcons , 250,007 Corvairs , and 194,292 Valiants – one thing was unmortgaged : Falcon was the car to beat , and Corvair was in worry .
In its first yr , Falcon not only outsell the seemingly unstoppable Rambler , but also surpassed combine sales of the two top moment , the Volkswagen Beetle and Renault Dauphine . Not too spoilt for a railway car Chevrolet had derisively termed a " cut - down vainglorious car . "
While Corvair ’s challenging , import - inspire design was wide celebrated in the wardrobe , including aTimemagazine covert story and aMotor Trend"Car of the Year " award , the Falcon was pleasing car buyers with its greater upcountry puff , bigger trunk , and better gas mileage .
fortuitously for Chevy , Corvair sales were " plus " business , so the division ended 1960 as the industriousness ’s top seller , after losing the honor to Ford in 1957 and 1959 . The key to Chevy ’s success was the unrelieved sales strength of the full - size of it Impala . The Falcon , on the other hand , was perhaps too successful , stealing sales from the higher - priced big Fords .
Ironically , even before the Monza manna from heaven began , Chevy had decided to pad its 1961 lineup of Corvairs by adding post waggon , Greenbriar rider vanguard , Corvan commercial caravan , and Loadside and Rampside pickup . With blank space utilization compromised by the rear engine location , all were mistakes .
It thus soon became obvious that if Chevy was to arrest the luxuriously - vanish Falcon , which had added its own Econoline wanton - responsibility trucks , it was n’t pass to be with the Corvair .
Thus , in December 1959 – short after the Falcon enter the marketplace – the decision was made to put a ceremonious front - engine compact in Chevrolet showrooms for the 1962 model year . " It was a real rush business , " say Claire MacKichan , a Chevy fashion designer at the time . " We want to retain some Chevrolet aspects in the design , but it had to adapt to those [ Falcon ] sizes and dimensions . It was such a rush program we had to use the technological knowledge that was available then . "
Learn more about what this " rushing program " created on the next pageboy .
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Creating the Chevrolet Chevy II
" There was no time for experiment or doodle around with new theme from either the engineers or from us in design , " recalled Chevy intriguer Claire MacKichan about make the Chevrolet Chevy II . " And it had to be a canonical - case railroad car . "
" I recollect that was the immediate program we ever did at any time , " she continued . " We worked nighttime and day on that car , and it did n’t take very long to flow it through our shop because we had a deadline . "
And that ’s what made the Chevy II one of the fast Modern - car ontogenesis programs in GM story – just 18 months after the designers got the green igniter , the first output Chevy II rolled off the Willow Run , Michigan , assembly line in August 1961 , in time for its September 29 introduction .
Unlike the Corvair , the 1962 Chevy II was by design never intended to be revolutionary in construct or execution ; its military mission was to give Chevy buyers a simple-minded , back - to - the - BASIC thickset car . When he declare the Chevy II to the press , Chevrolet General Manager Ed Cole draw the car as offering " maximal functionalism with parsimoniousness . "
There was a lot of disputation within the Chevrolet organisation over just what to call this new car , and the decision to go with " Chevy II " was a very former one . Among the finalist was Nova . It lost out because it did n’t start with a " C , " but was take as the name for the top - of - the - line of business series . Ultimately , of track , the Nova badge would replace Chevy II – but that would n’t happen until the turn of the tenner .
In almost every way , the Divine of the Chevy II used Falcon as a benchmark . The 1962 model range let in sedans and wagons , just like Falcon , as well as a two - threshold hardtop and a convertible , which Falcon did n’t yet have .
Wheelbase was 110 inches , overall length 183 inches , and overall width 70.8 inches , all just fractionally larger than Falcon dimensions . As expected , inner measurements more than equalled Falcon , with seats for up to six . Trunk space , an surface area where the Corvair really suffered , was an impressive 25.5 three-dimensional feet in the Chevy II .
Styling was crisp and attractive , with a functional three - box seat shape that contributed to distance efficiency . The pleasing phone line broadly speaking followed the pattern of the full - size Chevrolet , and in fact predicted the overall theme of the 1963 Impala .
Continue to the next page for more details on the 1962 Chevrolet Chevy II .
1962 Chevrolet Chevy II
Three trim levels were featured on the 1962 Chevrolet Chevy II . The low - price 100 series was available as a two- or four - door sedan or a two - seat station wagon .
At $ 2,003 , the four - piston chamber , two - door sedan was price $ 10 gamey than Chevrolet ’s lowest - priced car , the Corvair 500 coupe , and $ 18 above the cheapest Falcon . Standard features on all example included heater and defroster , electric windshield wipers , foam - blow up front seat , cigar lighter , and Magic - Mirror acrylic lacquer exterior paint .
in the beginning , there was to be a 200 series , but this was scour at the last moment . What became the mid - range Chevy II 300 series admit the two sedans , and – unusual for this class – a three - arse wagon with a rear - face third rear end .
The top - of - the - line Nova 400 came as a very good look Sport Coupe two - door hardtop , convertible , two- and four - door sedan , and two - seat Charles’s Wain . Exclusive - to - Nova features included uplevel interior and exterior trimming , include full wheel disk , carpeting , and foam - cushioned rear seats . All - vinyl interiors were found in the waggon and transformable , and pail seats were optional in the Sport Coupe and convertible .
Engineering was straightforward , but present-day . An all - new structure , shared with no other GM car , feature integral torso / frame construction , but with a disjoined front - end U-boat - frame .
thunderbolt - on , instead of welded - on , front fenders reduced mend costs , specially when equate with full unitized cars like Corvair and Valiant . Front coil springs were as expected , but the material news was the refreshing five - foundation - farsighted " Mono - Plate " rear leaf springs – tapered , single - leaf semi - oval-shaped units , made of high - strength rolled brand and mounted in safe bushing .
They boil down unsprung weighting a bit , disregard manufacture costs , and were say to be less susceptible to rust damage . Two - ply tubeless tires and 13 - inch wheels were stock , mounting 6.00 × 13 or 6.50 × 13 tires depend on modeling .
A new family of inline engine was develop to power the Chevy II . The standard railway locomotive for the 100/300 series was a 153 - cubic - inch inline four , Chevrolet ’s first " four - banger " since 1928 .
applied science feature let in a cast - iron block with a weight - save slender - wall casting ( like the Falcon ) , individual - cask carburettor , hydraulic valve lifter , and an 8.5:1 compressing ratio . Horsepower , 90 at 4000 rpm , compared favorably with Falcon ’s 144 - three-dimensional - inch , 85 - horsepower six .
A newfangled 194 - three-dimensional - column inch six , rated at 120 horsepower , was received for Nova 400s , optional on the 100 and 300 ( a 230 - Criminal Investigation Command , 140 - bhp version would make its first appearance in the full - size 1963 Chevrolet ) . Falcon ’s optional 170 - cid six developed only 101 horses . Transmission choice were the common three - speed , chromatography column - shift manual of arms , with Chevy ’s two - speed king - sailplaning automatic optional .
How was the first Chevy II have ? witness out on the next page .
Reaction to the 1962 Chevrolet Chevy II
The response to the 1962 Chevrolet Chevy II was mainly confident . VeteranMechanic Illustratedtester Tom McCahill was favourably impressed with a Chevy II 400 Series Nova convertible he drove at a press prevue for Chevy ’s 1962 simulation , held at GM ’s Milford , Michigan , psychometric test track .
" Flat out , which with Powerglide was 91 mph , this little car never wavered and even over some rough striptease it was one of the good feeling 91 ’s I have ever force . " The styling prompt " Uncle " Tom of a " small Mercedes - Benz , " and he concluded that " with a little hopping up , a stick duty period and its low price , it should betray like cold beer on a hot Fourth of July . "
Car Lifewas even more enthusiastic , honour the Chevy II with its Award for Engineering Excellence . " We think the Chevy II , in either 4- or 6 - piston chamber form , represents an important development in the American automotive field of honor , " report the magazine . " We think it stage a return to sensibility in terms of basic transportation ; it is a car of fairish size , adequate performance and simple elegance . "
Consumer Reportsdescribed the six - cylinder Chevy II as an " ultra - sensible , conventional car with outstanding interior place , " but also report " higher than average " midland racket degree . There were also complaints about the four - cylinder rendering ’s want of nicety . " CRhesitates to recommend the Four for normal utilisation . The Four is an first-class hackabout for specialized local manipulation – if you may bear the vibration . "
McCahill put it this way : " The four was n’t the fluent four I have ever drive , but it had nice response and will plausibly still be bleed long after Castro shave his beard off . " Okay …
Interior room , steering , and brakes were commended . carrying out was rated as " temperate " for a six - piston chamber Nova convertible with Powerglide : 0 - 60 arrive up " a tincture under 16 seconds , " and the top speed was report to be 98 mph , but Titus felt that " the car seems at its best below 75 , where it did not find as though it was working firmly . "
The four , meanwhile , look at 20 seconds to make it from 0 to 60 mph . In comparison , a 1960 90 - bhp Falcon with stick shimmy occupy 21 seconds 0 to 60 , also according toMotor Trend , while the 101 - bhp six insert for 1961 want 14.3 second gear with stick and 15.2 with the two - f number Fordomatic .
In the market , the 1962 Chevrolet Chevy II did exactly what it was supposed to do : fashion model year production totaled 326,607 units . Of these , 59,741 were Nova Sport Coupe hardtops , 23,741 were convertible – the latter a surprisingly gamey human body for an saving car .
More than 86 percent were equip with the six - piston chamber locomotive engine . good of all , Chevy II represented more " plus " business for Chevrolet . Corvair ’s 1962 exemplary - yr cut-rate sale reached a high of 292,531 , and with 1,424,008 full - sizing models built , Chevrolet increased its leading over 2d - billet Ford to intimately 600,000 unit .
It was a sales achievement of historic symmetry , with Chevrolet Division copping 30 percentage of the U.S. market place . Fortunemagazine reported that " total [ 1962 Chevrolet ] sales came to 2,078,029 units . This is more than Chevrolet betray in the record car twelvemonth of 1955 , and is a macrocosm platter for sale of a exclusive make of car . "
Meanwhile , in the Ford camp , it seemed like 1960 all over again . Falcon sales slipped a second to 396,129 unit , but the unexampled - for-1962 intermediate - sized Fairlane cut into Galaxie mass , so Ford ’s overall market parcel was down sharply .
Continue to the next Thomas Nelson Page for item on the 1963 Chevy II .
1963 Chevrolet Chevy II
The SS was a very likable appearance package , specially on the convertible , giving Chevy another substantial incoming in the sporty - compact market segment it had created with the Corvair Monza .
The 1963 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova was a chip chromier , with wider full - duration torso side moldings , and all models received a young , bolder grille , gold front parking lamps , revise decklid embellishment , and unexampled interior cloth . One model was erase , the Nova two - door sedan .
Functional improvement include rust - resistant " flush - and - wry " rocking chair panel , ego - adjusting brakes , and a new " Delcotron " alternator . Powertrain choices - include the Super - Thrift 90 - bhp four and the Hi - Thrift 120 - bhp six - were carried over .
The Chevrolet Chevy II had an excellent class in 1963 : 375,626 unit deliver for the model year , including 42,432 Super Sports . This was enough to disrupt the Falcon ’s flight plan as yield slipped to 328,339 units .
However , word was getting around about the four - cylinder locomotive ’s defect ; only 3,800 were sold . importantly , too , the competition was n’t standing still .
The Falcon was now available in hardtop and convertible models , and the 1963 1/2 Falcon Sprint featured a 260 - cubic - in V-8 , enough to fumble by any Nova , Super Sport or not ( the V-8 was optional on all Falcons ) . Meanwhile , Chrysler entirely restyled its Valiant / Dart compact , andConsumer Reportsgave these Mopar twins its top rating .
NotedConsumer Reports : " unexampled last year , the Chevy II has not yet develop into a smooth - equitation , quiet , or in any sense luxurious cable car . It is an easy driving , agile one . By far its most important plus is a body with considerably the elbow room of intermediate gondola , but with a very succinct silhouette and especially good entrance height . "
All through the spring of 1963 , there was speculation that the Chevy II was going to be discontinue to make elbow room for the upcoming mid - size of it Chevelle . That was , in fact , the original architectural plan , but the high sales of the 1963 model gave Chevy II a respite .
Learn about the 1964 Chevrolet Chevy II on the next page .
1964 Chevrolet Chevy II
As it turned out , 1964 brought both good news and tough word for the 1964 Chevrolet Chevy II .
First , the serious news : Chevy ’s 195 - bhp , 283 - cubic - inch V-8 ( $ 107.70 ) and four - speed manual transmission were new mill option for all 1964 Chevy IIs , as were Positraction and sinter metallic pasture brake linings .
For two years , enthusiasts had been clamor for a V-8 " II , " so finally " Nova SS " would really mean something . Except that there was no Nova SS ! That was the bad news .
In a classic model of one hand not knowing what the other was doing , Chevrolet canceled all 1964 Nova hardtops and ragtops because it was felt they obtrude too much into the new Chevelle ’s price dominion . The 1964 Chevy II V-8 was a great performing artist , but it was available only in Series 100 or Nova sedan and wagons .
The 300 serial publication – and along with it Chevy II ’s only three - seat wagon – was discontinued . One little consolation : the Nova two - door sedan was back after a one - year absence seizure , a " sort - of " replacement for the hardtop . Other changes for 1964 include ego - adjusting brake and a very minor clipping reshuffling – it takes an expert to discern the changes from 1963 . In accession , front - tail end knock became stock on motorcar work up after January 1,1964 .
bow to pressure from partisan , in early 1964 Chevrolet reinstate the Nova Sport Coupe and the Nova Super Sport Coupe . The convertible , sadly , aim no reprieve . Popular Mechanicscommented on this encouraging routine of events in a 1964 " Detroit Listening Post " column : " Speaking of comeback , Chevy II pulled a strange one latterly when Chevrolet Division announce the revivification of the Nova hardtop sports coupe , which had been cast off from the lineup for 1964 . "
" It seems that the public did n’t harmonize with Chevrolet marketing experts who felt that Corvair and Chevelle would overlap Chevy II , " the article continued . " In fact , word was around the manufacture that Chevrolet execs were intent on phasing out the Chevy II altogether . But , the brass had done their body of work too well , if not sagely . vendee demand , relayed through dealer , brought the Chevy II hardtop back . It seems the car is good and the terms is right . "
Throughout the rest of the 1964 poser year , requirement for Super Sport Novas was brisk – especially for the four - cask 220 - H.P. 283 V-8 that had also been announced at mid - year . Motor Trendtested the milder 195 - bhp , two - barrel SS with Powerglide , show 0 to 60 in 11.3 seconds , 18.0 seconds and 75 mph in the stern - mile , and 100 miles per hour all out .
Fuel thriftiness range from 12.3 mpg in heavy traffic to 19.6 on the highway . Motor Trendconcluded that " By adding a V-8 and bigger brake , plus particular change , Chevrolet has made a nice compact even more desirable and a much better performer . "
Not surprisingly , however , the attractively styled , all - young Chevelle Malibu drew vendee off from the Chevy II . Model twelvemonth output was down to 191,691 , let in 10,576 Nova Super Sport Coupes – way behind the Falcon ’s 300,762 assembly . locomotive installation broke down as play along : 25,083 V-8s , 165,487 six , and just 1121 fours .
How would the Chevy II rebound for 1965 ? Find out on the next varlet .
1965 Chevrolet Chevy II
In 1965 , car purchaser continued their gallery upmarket into mid- and full - size cars , which cause the 1965 Chevrolet Chevy II to shinny .
The compact that had been newsmakers in the former sixties – Tempest , F-85 , Special , Falcon , Comet , Dart , and Valiant – originate bigger and heavier and more powerful as the decade wore on . In Chevrolet showrooms , the Chevelle Malibu and Impala put sales records , while the virtually unaltered 1965 Chevy IIs were gathering rubble .
And that ’s really too bad , because the 1965 Nova SS was a neat piffling car . In styling , this was the ultimate elaboration of the 1962 - 1965 bodyshell . Highlighted by a Modern radiator grille , taillights , and trim , the flavor was unclouded and usage . The inside was the most luxurious yet .
In the other series – 100 and Nova – sedan rooflines were qualify for a more " formal " look , and the Nova two - door sedan was again dropped , this time for good .
But , for Chevy II enthusiasts , 1965 is best remembered as the year the Chevy II became a muscle car . The V-8 choice were expand to include 250- and 300 - bhp version of Chevy ’s hot 327 V-8 , suddenly putting Nova SS performance much on a par with the GTO , 4 - 4 - 2 , and 271 - bhp Mustang 289s - at least in straight - stemma acceleration .
Even so , the Chevelle Malibu SS continued to eat away at the Nova SS marketplace : Out of 122,800 Chevy IIs build for 1965 ( compared to 213,601 Falcons ) , only 9,100 were Super Sports . For 1965 , Chevy II had the in question distinction of being the only elevator car in GM ’s lineup to suffer a sale decline .
Consumer Reportsnoted that sedan and Dipper buyers would do better to choose a Dart , Valiant , or the bombastic Chevelle . " Though the best dimensioned ' package ' of the radical , the Chevy II seems to have been neglected by its manufacturer . The Chevy II is a able car but one extend none of the refinements present in some other powder compact . "
Once again , Chevy II obits were being write by the automotive crush , and Chevrolet General Manager Semon E. Knudson attempt to straighten out the breeze in a press conference at the 1965 Chicago Auto Show . " There were some rumors around last capitulation that we were going to break it but we have no intent whatsoever of dropping the Chevy II , " he said . And once again , report of the Chevy II ’s demise were greatly exaggerated – there would be a 1966 Chevy II .
carry on to the next pageboy to instruct about the 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II .
1966 and 1967 Chevrolet Chevy II
Although still based on the 1962 bodyshell , the reskinned 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II was supposedly inspired by the aerodynamic Super Nova show car that had made its debut at the 1965 New York Auto Show .
To many oculus , the appearance of the 1966 Chevy II sedans and station waggon remained , at salutary , unimaginative , but the Nova Super Sport Coupe picked up some of the successful " look " of the bigger Impala and Malibu coupes . SS interiors were upgraded , too , but for the third year in a words the most interesting news show was under the hood .
The expand orbit of available V-8s include the 195- and 220 - bhp 283s , a 275 - bhp 327 and , the ultimate little - block – a new 350 - bhp 327 V-8 directly out of the Corvette Sting Ray . So equipped , the 1966 Nova SS became one of the top weapon in Chevy ’s carrying into action arsenal due to its comparatively low weight . Reportedly , about 2,200 350 - buck 327s were produced , all with the four - speeding stick . Most were SS Novas , but about 50 of the light two - door sedans bring the hot jazz band , too .
While the SS contribute turmoil , Chevy II for 1966 remained far behind its 1962 - 1963 gross sales levels , although up modishly from 1965 . Production totaled 163,300 building block , include 21,000 Super Sports , but this still was n’t enough to mystify out the Falcon ’s 182,669 sales .
In its last yr on the 1962 bodyshell , the 1967 Chevrolet Chevy II was almost unaltered – and unappreciated by 1967 ’s thick - car buyer . Model - year product slump to 106,500 , the lowest ever . Even so , this was enough to pulsate Falcon , which plump to just 64,335 units .
New 1967 Chevrolet Chevy II feature of speech included a reworked grille , couple - tone SS all - vinyl Department of the Interior , and a rarely come across optional vinyl top . Safety feature in every 1967 Chevy II embraced GM ’s new energy - draw steering pillar , front and rear place belts , plod instrument panel , and aggrandize sun visors .
All this notwithstanding , sentence had deepen , but the Chevy II had n’t . Even the four - cylinder motor remained in the card , and at $ 2,258 , the Series 100 two - doorway was one of the industry ’s low-toned price railway car – but also a car few wanted to corrupt .
In 1968 , a very different form of Chevy II Nova appeared , but for a legion of devotees , the real Chevy II story began in 1962 and ended in 1967 . For those six year – in the side of Falcons , Darts , Comets , Tempests , and even a wrecker or two from within – the " back - to - bedrock " Chevrolet Chevy II was a lot like the Eveready Rabbit .
