I agree that it would be a nice change to see Big-Block, V-8's in new cars, but you must remember that they must be able to pass Federal Emission standards to be street legal and unfortunately with a base requirement of about 20 M.P.G. City milage, they DON'T! Also Federal Emission standards for trucks and S.U.V's are different because they allow 10 M.P.G. as the base requirement which is why you can still buy a GM truck with a 454 or 502 Big-Block!                                             

     As for your complaint about the Corvette! It NEVER had anything larger than 8 Cylinders anyway! So why do you compare it to the Viper which is in a totaly different class of sports cars! The Vette IS RIGHT ON PAR where it should be! It sticks close to it's herritage, even without a Big-Block! I like the Vette just the way it is because it stays in the same performance category it has always been in! It is a car that NEVER had the idea of outrunning the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini on it's mind! It was just built upon the basis of being really Sporty and Muscular all in one package! And who cares if a Viper blows it's doors off anyway! Vipers can challenge the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, and I'll just enjoy my Vette! No I don't own one, but I would like one! Have a nice one!

You say it's not a true Chevelle SS , if it doesn't have a BB engine. If they put the LS-6 engine in the new one it could easily have over 400hp, without the weight of a BB. The one thing they need to work on , is the vehicle's weight, keep it around 3300-3500 pounds. With a weight  of this kind this car could easily be in the 12 to mid 12's, like the Corvette. I would say that would be a good representation of the Chevelle name. Big block power in today's cars that have to meet gas mileage and emissons regulations is not a likelyhood. First GM nor any other car manufacturer have a chassis that can hold a Big Block except trucks and suv's. The current chassis and the one's coming down the pike, will in all likelyhood not have that capacity either. Given the performance of the current small blocks, I believe is the right approach to giving performance and fuel economy. These small blocks are as quick as any car in the 60's that came off the show room floor. Before I get hate mail, every engine can be worked on to improve performance, all I'm saying is, I have a 2004 GTO, according to road tests done on GTO's done in the 60's vs the 2004, the 2004 is faster in the quarter mile, and we won't even go to the road course, where the 04 would smoke the 60's models. The current small blocks can deliver upwards of 500+ hp. Do we need anymore hp on the streets? NOT!!!!! Maybe on the drag strip you would but where are you going to use more that 500hp on the street, and not kill yourself or someone else!!!!  

I was watching the Speed Channel a few weeks ago and a couple guys took a couple GTOs out to Willow Springs and cranked 'em up. Certainly nothing to appologize for, mighty impressive performance.

Still the 20 year old GIrine in the other Chevelle column making 20K a year can't afford one. I would have liked to see Chevy try to bridge the cash gap, but with todays laws and litigation maybe that's out of reach in  a low cost car. He talks about new smog laws eating away at the old Muscle and Pony cars in Pennsylvannia where he lives. Maybe they'll just become museum pieces, those that don't get crushed.

Bogie

Well I Think That Chevrolet Should Build The Chevrolet Chevelle SS But One Thing, That Can Be Left Out Is That Supercharger. I Mean Cmon People chevrolet Has Prooven Back In 1970 That They Didnt Need No Supercharger To Get 500 Hp So Cmon Scratch Out The Supercharger, Show Some Real Muscle Chevrolet.  And The LS-6 Shouldnt Come Out With No Other Engine Except The BB 7.4L 454 CI With 450Hp And 500 Ftlb.  and It Shouldnt Be No Other Way, Please Dont Add An Supercharger, Show Some REAL CLASSIC Muscle Chevrolet. -Ross- Gm Certified #07658.  

I agree with you on the supercharger, however I have read were the new engines coming down the pike for the new Z06 will make close to 500 hp out of a small block, and with the reduced weight of the SBC. With this kind of HP out of a SBC, why would you want the added weight of a BBC. As I stated earlier were are you going to need more than 500hp on the street, and not hurt or kill yourself or someone else? I can see wanting more for track racing, but for street cars, you don't need anymore!!!!  I was a Paramedic in Indianapolis for 20 yrs., and trust me I seen way to much damage done by street racers that had no business racing on the street! Back in the late 60's and early 70's when I was in my early 20's, you could get away with street racing, because there was not as much traffic, but today there is no place for this activity.   There also is the consideration given to fuel economy, these vehicles are required to meet mileage guidelines by the federal government. I know some trucks and suv's have big displacement engines in them, however I have read that the government is going to come down hard on these kinds of vehicles as well as cars to clean up emissons and get better gas mileage. The BBC crate motors are great, but they are meant for the classic muscle cars of earlier years. I really don't believe that any car manufacturer has the frame/ body combination to house a BBC engine in it, and I may be wrong, I don't think there hearts and minds are working in that direction. I remember seeing a new Chevy concept (BEL  AIR ) I think, it was a red 4dr car, with a big displacement engine in it. But if my memory serves me, that car weight in at almost 5000 pounds. This is way to heavy to be a performance car. It looked nice but it was a big car, not intended to be a muscle car. All I'm saying is if we can get the performance we need for the street from SBC's why not!!!!  Big is not always better, ie gas mileage, emissions etc.

   I'll say this again, Big Block engines must be able to meet emission requrements to be Street legal! Trucks are given a minimum of 10 M.P.G. Also, Trucks and Suv's offered with Big Block engines are designed for pulling and hard labor. I know someone where I work who owns a 2000 GMC Sierra with the Pushrod 454 *** V-8! It has 330 horsepower and 450 Pounds of Torque! It has the Heavy Duty Positraction rear end with the 4:10 Gears. and it is a 4x4. He needs it for the kind of work he does. He likes it! He says he won't ever trade it for a smaller engine because he needs the best pulling engines which are Big Blocks. Ford and Chrysler do not make Big Block engines anymore. So GM is his only choice for great pulling engines! Also Passenger Cars have a base requirement of 20 M.P.G. which cannot be met with Big Block engines!

   Now as for me though I wish Big Block engines could be offered in cars again if there was a way to achieve 20 M.P.G. out of them! I want to experimant with Big Block's sometime on my own when I have the finances to do it! If I can achieve 20 M.P.G. I could possibly make a fortune out of it! I think that it is very obvious as to why Big Block engines are loved by people like me! Big Block engines can produce the kind of torque and horsepower levels that made Muscle Cars the hottest thing since fried bread! Oh by the way, the new SSR weighs in at 5000 pounds exactly! 

This is the Defenition of the Muscle Car.

                                             MUSCLE CAR

A Torque Thirsty, Hosepower Hungry, Big-Rumblin', Pushrod Powered, American Car with Big Axle Ratios built to go fast in Low Gears for a Predetermined Distance(1/4, 1/2, 1/8, 1 Mile)!

   And as for the New Chevelle, it ought ot be called a Nova instead!!! It has the right size!!! Just add a few minor styling changes, and some traditional, American Muscle Car handling characteristics!!! If GM did these things by going out on a limb, it not only would look like a retro 1070 Nova Super Sport, but it would feel like one!!! And with the 325 C.I, or 346 *** engine it would run just about like the 1970 Nova SS!!! I mean come on!!! Novas were and always will be COOL!!! So isn't it time we see a modern-day 1970-Style Nova Super Sport!!!

I agree wholeheartedly, If you see my call letters you will notice CHEVY II 66. I have a  1966 2dr sedan with a 383 stroker, 10 bolt posi- rear, 3:73 gears. with a weight of 2700 pounds, this car flat out performs. I do know what the definition of muscle car is, I don't know how old you are, but I'm 54 yrs old. I grew up with these cars. I've owned just about every kind of muscle car you can think of.  A 1962 Dodge Max Wedge, 1970 Cuda, 1967-70 Chevelle 396 SS's, 1968-72 Nova's SS's with  BBC and SBC, Olds 442, Buick Stage 1, 1966-67 Chevy II SBC, 1967 Mustang GTA 390, and the list just goes on. I've owned 262 cars since getting my license in 1966. I truely believe the one I loved the most is the 1966 Chevy II L-79 4sp car. I fell in love with it when I saw Grumpy Jenkins drive one at IRP and beat every BB that he came up against and won the stock divison title that year. A friend had one and he beat everything on the street with that car, he paid for it in one summer with the winnings he took in that year. There was no BB in town that could beat him, no chevy, chrysler product,ford,olds,or buick. Grumpy's winning time that year for the 1/4 was 12.2. For a stock car that was an outstanding time since most BBlocks were in the high 12's and low 13's.