# Chevrolet Chevelle drag car (1964–1972 bodies)

- Source: https://racingcarnetwork.com/wiki/chevrolet-chevelle-drag/
- Publisher: Racing Car Network (racingcarnetwork.com), the race car marketplace
- Type: car · Brand: Chevrolet
- Discipline: drift-drag, historic-racing
- Series: drag
- Era: 1960s
- Last updated: 2026-11-06

A Chevrolet Chevelle built for the quarter mile, from period Super Stock cars to today's bracket, index, Pro Street and radial builds. Buyers are sportsman racers and collectors of period race history. It matters because the 1964–1972 A-body is cheap to buy, easy to tub and back-half, and still wins in NHRA Stock and Super Stock.

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | Big-block Chevrolet V8, 396 to 632 cu in in modern builds; 454 LS6 factory-rated 450 hp [14]; 632 cu in nitrous engine around 1,250 hp [17] |
| Power | 375 hp (L78 396) to 450 hp (LS6 454) as built [1][14]; 526–865 hp typical in bracket engines [8][16]; 850 hp plus 500 hp nitrous in a 7-second car [11] |
| Weight | 3,200 lb race weight for a back-halved 1970 car [10]; 3,300 lb for a stock-suspension 9-second car [13] |
| Gearbox | Powerglide 2-speed or TH400 3-speed automatic with transbrake [8][9][11] |
| Chassis | Steel body on full perimeter frame; back-half or full tube chassis for quicker cars; SFI 25.4/25.5 needed for 8.49 to 7.50 s [7] |
| Brakes | Four-wheel discs on built cars, e.g. four-piston Aerospace calipers [10]; parachute compulsory at 150 mph, two chutes at 200 mph [4] |
| Years | 1964–1972 body shells; most race cars are 1966–1970 |
| Class | NHRA Stock, Super Stock, bracket, index (8.50 etc.), Pro Street, X275 / radial [8][17] |
| Built | 4,475 LS6 cars in 1970 [14]; 323 COPO 427 Chevelles in 1969 [12] |

## History

Chevrolet's mid-size A-body went drag racing almost at once. Dick Harrell and Malcolm Durham campaigned Chevelles after the 1965 Z16 option arrived [14]. In 1969 Chevrolet's Vince Piggins approved COPO order 9562, which put the 427 L72 Corvette engine in a Chevelle. Don Yenko offered to take 99 of them. Only 323 were built, rated at 425 hp at 5,600 rpm with 460 lb-ft [12].

For 1970 the big-block grew to 454 cu in. The LS6 version was rated at 450 hp and 500 lb-ft, and the rating was conservative. It was aimed squarely at taking NHRA Super Stock away from Chrysler [14]. Chevrolet built 4,475 LS6 cars that year, of which an estimated 18 were convertibles [14]. The L78 396/375 had been the hot Chevelle engine until then; the last factory L78 Chevelle was reportedly built on 21 November 1969 [1].

The LS6 did its job. Ray Allen, racing with Ralph Truppi and Tommy Kling, took a 1970 LS6 convertible through an unbeaten season in SS/EA. He set a national record of 11.33 s, about half a second under the Mopars, and won the 1970 Super Stock world championship [1][2]. The car also won the North East Division title, the World Finals and the Supernationals, with a best of 11.01 s [3]. Emissions rules ended the LS6 after one year, and the 1971 LS5 was softer.

The Chevelle never left the strip. Its full frame makes a back-half simple, and the body is light for its size. Today the same shells run in NHRA Stock and Super Stock, bracket and index racing [8][10]. Others run Pro Street and radial classes such as X275 [17]. A 1968 car with a 632 cu in big-block and a 25.5-spec chassis was built for 8.50 index in 2012 [17]. A 1971 with a 7.50-certified funny-car cage was offered at $79,995 in 2019 [11]. Many period cars have since been restored to street trim, which is why the ex-Truppi-Kling convertible sold for $1,242,000 in 2006 [3].

## Palmarès

The 1970 Truppi-Kling / Ray Allen LS6 convertible went unbeaten in SS/EA in 1970 and won the Super Stock world championship [1][2]. It also took the NHRA North East Division title, the 1970 World Finals and the 1970 Supernationals, running as quick as 11.01 s [3]. In 1969 the COPO 427 Chevelles raced successfully in Super Stock against Chrysler and Ford [14]. A modern example is a stock-suspension 1970 Chevelle running 9.24 s at 144 mph at 3,300 lb. It won the PSCA Street Muscle title in 2011 [13].

## What to check before you buy

Read the chassis tag punches and expiry month: The tag shows the certified ET band and the month and year of inspection; certification lasts three years. Match the cage level to the ET you plan to run: A funny-car cage alone does not allow runs under 8.50; 8.49 to 7.50 needs SFI 25.4 or 25.5 chassis work. Ask whether the rear has C-clip eliminators or a 9-inch: Required by NHRA at 10.99 or quicker or with a spool; a 12-bolt with stock C-clips is a tech failure. Ask for time slips with date and track: Verified passes such as 10.77 s at 124 mph on 24 May 2026 are worth more than seller estimates. Check parachute, mounts and wheelie bars against trap speed: 150 mph requires a chute; 200 mph requires two. Confirm the transmission case and converter rating: A Powerglide with an SFI case rated for 700 hp is a different car from a stock case. Verify LS6, L78 or COPO claims with paperwork: Only 4,475 LS6 cars and 323 COPO Chevelles were built; engines are easily swapped into base cars. Ask about the title: Many race-only Chevelles are sold on a bill of sale, which limits resale and any return to the street.

## Did you know

- The LS6 454 was rated at 450 hp, and Chevrolet knew it was underrated; the aim was to take Super Stock from Chrysler [14].
- Ray Allen's 1970 LS6 convertible set an 11.33 s national record, about half a second quicker than the Mopars it beat [1].
- Only 323 COPO 427 Chevelles were built in 1969, after Don Yenko promised to buy 99 of them [12].

## Frequently asked questions

**Do I need a certified chassis to race a Chevelle?** Only once the car is quick enough. NHRA requires chassis certification in ET bands, renewed every three years. An 8.50-and-slower full-bodied sticker is the common level for back-halved cars. Running 8.49 to 7.50 needs an SFI 25.4 or 25.5 chassis with a funny-car cage [7].

**Is the factory 12-bolt rear strong enough?** For bracket cars, yes, with the right parts. NHRA bans C-clip axle retention at 10.99 or quicker or with a spool, so fit an eliminator kit (about USD 245) and aftermarket axles. Quicker cars usually move to a fabricated 9-inch or a Moser M9 [6][15][17].

**Powerglide or TH400?** Both are common. Bracket cars with 500–700 hp often use a Powerglide with an SFI case and transbrake [8]. Heavier Pro Street and nitrous cars tend to use a TH400 with a reverse-pattern valve body and transbrake [9][17]. Ask what the case is rated for.

**When does a Chevelle need a parachute?** NHRA requires one parachute from 150 mph in the quarter mile and two once the car exceeds 200 mph [4]. A 10-second car at 124 mph does not need one; a 7-second car does. Check the mounts are independent and the chute has been repacked.

**What does a real LS6 or COPO race car cost?** Far more than a built bracket car. The ex-Ray Allen LS6 convertible sold for USD 1,242,000 in 2006, resold for USD 264,000 in 2009 and bid to USD 450,000 without selling in 2015 [2][3]. Paperwork is everything, as only 4,475 LS6 cars and 323 COPO Chevelles were built [12][14].

**Can I register a built Chevelle drag car for the road?** Often not. Many back-halved cars are sold on a bill of sale only [10], and nitrous engines with 14:1 compression need race fuel [11]. Pro Street cars with a title, pump-gas engines and no cage are the easier road option [9].

## Sources

- 1967 Chevelle Drag Car (Stock #3860) — https://racingcarnetwork.com/race-car/1967-chevelle-drag-car/
- You Can Own Ray Allen's Championship-Winning LS6 Powered Chevelle — https://www.dragzine.com/?p=5477
- Truppi-Kling Chevelle Drag Racer Depreciates $1 Million In 3 Years — https://jalopnik.com/5379095/truppi+kling-chevelle-drag-racer-depreciates-1-million-in-3-years-new-owner-gets-screamin-deal
- This Chevy Muscle Car Lost Its Owner A Million Dollars — https://jalopnik.com/2173405/chevy-muscle-car-that-became-collectors-nightmare/
- STOP! Selecting And Mounting The Right Parachute For Your Race Car — https://www.dragzine.com/?p=33527
- SFI 25.3 Cert: Keeping up with Heavy Horsepower — https://www.dragzine.com/?p=1635
- Strange But True: C-Clip Eliminators on Sale — https://www.dragzine.com/?p=2421
- Tuesday Tech Question presented by Evans Coolant (chassis tag) — https://www.nhraracer.com/post/tuesday-tech-question-presented-by-evans-coolant-84
- 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle for sale in Medina, Minnesota (CC-2076011) — https://classiccars.com/listings/view/2076011/1969-chevrolet-chevelle-for-sale-in-medina-minnesota-55340
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle for sale in Calverton, New York (CC-2107246) — https://classiccars.com/listings/view/2107246/1970-chevrolet-chevelle-for-sale-in-calverton-new-york-11933
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS for sale in Pleasant Hill, California (CC-1796598) — https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1796598/1970-chevrolet-chevelle-ss-for-sale-in-pleasant-hill-california-94523
- Bowtie Heaven: 7.5 Second Certified 1971 Chevy Chevelle Drag Car For Sale — https://www.hotcars.com/bowtie-heaven-7-second-1971-chevelle-drag-car/
- Rare Rides: The 1969 Chevy Chevelle COPO L72 — https://www.streetmusclemag.com/?p=2346
- Sportsman Spotlight: Dal Trubey's 1970 Chevelle — https://www.chevyhardcore.com/?p=7660
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6, Fort Lauderdale 2012, Lot 578 — https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/fl12/lots/r253-1970-chevrolet-chevelle-ls6/
- 10 and 12 Bolt C-Clip Eliminator Kit for OEM Axles (A1033) — https://www.strangeengineering.net/product/10-and-12-bolt-c-clip-eliminator-kit-for-oem-axles.html
- 540 Big Block Chevy Drag Race Engine — https://www.shafiroff.com/chevy-drag-race-engine-sportsman/540-big-block-drag-race.php
- From The Ashes: Lou Dreisch's New '68 Chevelle 8.50 Index Racer — https://www.streetmusclemag.com/?p=12699
- File:Chevelle Pro Xtreme Mantorp 2023.jpg — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chevelle_Pro_Xtreme_Mantorp_2023.jpg

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