Chevrolet Chevelle drag car (1964–1972 bodies)
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.
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 15. 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 13.
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 15. Chevrolet built 4,475 LS6 cars that year, of which an estimated 18 were convertibles 15. The L78 396/375 had been the hot Chevelle engine until then; the last factory L78 Chevelle was reportedly built on 21 November 1969 2.
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 23. The car also won the North East Division title, the World Finals and the Supernationals, with a best of 11.01 s 4. 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 911. Others run Pro Street and radial classes such as X275 18. A 1968 car with a 632 cu in big-block and a 25.5-spec chassis was built for 8.50 index in 2012 18. A 1971 with a 7.50-certified funny-car cage was offered at $79,995 in 2019 12. 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 4.
Palmarès
The 1970 Truppi-Kling / Ray Allen LS6 convertible went unbeaten in SS/EA in 1970 and won the Super Stock world championship 23. It also took the NHRA North East Division title, the 1970 World Finals and the 1970 Supernationals, running as quick as 11.01 s 4. In 1969 the COPO 427 Chevelles raced successfully in Super Stock against Chrysler and Ford 15. 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 14.
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.
Versions and evolutions
| Version | Years | What changed | How to identify |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS 396 L78 (1966–1969) | 1966–1969 | 396 cu in big-block rated 375 hp; the Super Stock engine before the 454. Dropped during the 1970 model run. 2 | L78 cars are documented by build sheet and Protect-O-Plate; the last factory L78 Chevelle was reportedly built on 21 November 1969. |
| COPO 9562 427 (1969) | 1969 | 427 L72 fitted under a Central Office Production Order for SS/D drag racing; 425 hp rating, 460 lb-ft. 13 | Only 323 built, including Yenko's batch; verify by COPO paperwork, not by badges, as clones are common. |
| SS 454 LS6 (1970) | 1970 | 454 cu in, 450 hp and 500 lb-ft rating, built to beat Chrysler in Super Stock. One year only. 15 | 4,475 built; convertibles estimated at 18. Demand documentation, as LS6 engines are often added to lesser cars. |
| Back-half bracket or index car (modern) | 1990s–today | Rear frame replaced with a four-link or ladder-bar clip, fabricated 9-inch rear, cage certified to the ET the car runs. 11 | Look for a Chris Alston or similar back-half kit, Fab 9 housing, 14-point cage and an 8.50 chassis sticker. |
| Full tube-chassis 7-second car (modern) | 2000s–today | Funny-car cage, carbon tubs, Powerglide, 9-inch, nitrous big-block or small-block; parachute and wheelie bars. 12 | 7.50 certification sticker on the cage, Lexan glass, composite panels. |
Known issues
- Chassis certification out of date or at the wrong level — Sticker expired (three-year cycle) or an 8.50 cage on a car now running 8.49 or quicker; the car will not pass tech. unknown; 25.4/25.5 needs a funny-car cage and chassis work 8
- C-clip axles in the factory 12-bolt rear — NHRA bans C-clip retention at 10.99 or quicker or with a spool; a broken axle lets the wheel leave the housing. USD 245 for a Strange eliminator kit, plus axles 7
- Rust in original shells — Trunk floor, quarters and front sheet metal replaced on cars that have raced for decades; look for replacement panels and bill-of-sale titles. 10
- Parachute missing or badly mounted — A single chute is compulsory from 150 mph and two chutes from 200 mph in the quarter; many 10-second street cars have none. 5
- Nitrous engines on race fuel only — 14:1 compression and a 500 hp shot need 104-octane fuel; seller claims of street use are optimistic. 12
- Owner-claimed times not backed by time slips — Listings quote 11.50 s naturally aspirated and mid-10s on nitrous with no verified pass. n/a 10
- No title on race-only cars — Back-halved and tube-chassis Chevelles are often sold on a bill of sale only. n/a 11
Checklist 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. 8
- 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. 8
- 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. 7
- 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. 9
- Check parachute, mounts and wheelie bars against trap speed — 150 mph requires a chute; 200 mph requires two. 5
- 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. 9
- 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. 15
- Ask about the title — Many race-only Chevelles are sold on a bill of sale, which limits resale and any return to the street. 11
Running costs 17
| Rebuild interval | Not documented for this model; bracket big-blocks are freshened by the season rather than by pass count |
|---|---|
| Typical rebuild cost | A new 540 cu in, 865 hp bracket big-block lists at USD 16,395 without carburettor and ignition 17 |
| Consumables | Slicks or drag radials, race fuel of 104 octane or better on high-compression nitrous engines 12, converter and transbrake service |
| Spares availability | Good: body panels, back-half kits, 12-bolt eliminator kits (USD 245) and crate big-blocks are all catalogue items 1617 |
Where it races today
- NHRA Super Stock (period) · SS/EA in 1970 for the LS6 convertible; COPO 427 aimed at SS/D in 1969 — Class letters have changed since; check the current NHRA class guide. 3
- NHRA sportsman (Stock, Super Stock, Super Street, bracket) · By ET: chassis certification needed from 8.49 down; 25.4/25.5 for 8.49 to 7.50 — Three-year cert cycle; C-clip eliminators at 10.99 or quicker. 8
- Index racing · 8.50 index — A 632 cu in Chevelle on a 25.5 chassis was built for this at Cecil County. 18
- Radial / small-tyre · X275 on 275 radials — Same 1968 car was eligible for MIR's X275 eliminator. 18
- PSCA Street Muscle · Stock suspension, 10.5-inch radials — 1970 Chevelle champion in 2011 at 3,300 lb. 14
Market prices
- 1967 Chevelle drag car, 414 cu in alcohol small-block, TH400, 9-inch, Alston chassis, 4-link (racingcarnetwork.com): 20,000 USD (2022-10) 1
- 1969 Chevelle bracket car, 468 cu in on E85, 150 nitrous, Powerglide, 12-bolt, 10.77 s; sold: 25,000 USD (2026-06) 9
- 1970 Chevelle Pro Street, 468 cu in, TH400, 12-bolt, no cage, dealer asking: 34,995 USD (2026-11) 10
- 1970 Chevelle SS back-half, Alston 4-link, Fab 9, 14-point cage 8.50 cert, 3,200 lb; bill of sale: 47,500 USD (2023-06) 11
- 1971 Chevelle, 7.50-certified funny-car chassis, 427 small-block nitrous, Powerglide, asking: 79,995 USD (2019-11) 12
- Ex-Truppi-Kling / Ray Allen 1970 LS6 convertible, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale: 1,242,000 USD (2006-01) 4
- Same car, RM Icons of Speed and Style: 264,000 USD (2009-09) 3
- Same car, Mecum Kissimmee, high bid, not sold: 450,000 USD (2015-01) 4
As of November 2026, working bracket and Pro Street Chevelles sit at USD 20,000–50,000, with certified 7-second cars near USD 80,000. Documented period Super Stock cars are a separate market and have swung from USD 264,000 to over USD 1.2 million for the same car.
Reference prices are dated and sourced; live asking prices are in the listings above.
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 8.
Is the factory 12-bolt rear strong enough?
Powerglide or TH400?
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 5. 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?
Sources
- 1967 Chevelle Drag Car (Stock #3860), racingcarnetwork.com (2022-10) — RCN price, 414 small-block, TH400, 9-inch, Alston 4-link chassis
- You Can Own Ray Allen's Championship-Winning LS6 Powered Chevelle, Dragzine (2015-01) — 1970 championship, 11.33 s record, Truppi-Kling, L78 end date, Mecum estimate
- Truppi-Kling Chevelle Drag Racer Depreciates $1 Million In 3 Years, Jalopnik (2009-10) — SS/EA class, USD 1.2 million 2006, USD 264,000 2009
- This Chevy Muscle Car Lost Its Owner A Million Dollars, Jalopnik (2026-05) — USD 1,242,000 in 2006, USD 450,000 no-sale 2015, 11.01 s, division and World Finals wins
- STOP! Selecting And Mounting The Right Parachute For Your Race Car, Dragzine (2025-05) — NHRA parachute thresholds 150 mph and 200 mph
- SFI 25.3 Cert: Keeping up with Heavy Horsepower, Dragzine (2010-02) — SFI 25.2 to 6.00 s at 3,200 lb; 25.3 quicker than 7.50 at 3,600 lb
- Strange But True: C-Clip Eliminators on Sale, Dragzine (2010-07) — NHRA C-clip rule at 10.99 or quicker or with a spool; failure mode
- Tuesday Tech Question presented by Evans Coolant (chassis tag), NHRA Racer (2018-07) — Three-year certification, 8.50 & slower full-bodied spec, 25.4/25.5 for 8.49 to 7.50 with funny-car cage
- 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle for sale in Medina, Minnesota (CC-2076011), ClassicCars.com (2026-06) — USD 25,000, 468 cu in E85, 526/683 whp, Powerglide SFI case 700 hp, 12-bolt, 10.77 s at 124 mph on 24 May 2026
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle for sale in Calverton, New York (CC-2107246), ClassicCars.com (2026-11) — USD 34,995, 468 cu in, TH400 transbrake, 12-bolt 4.11, no cage, replaced panels, owner-claimed 11.50 s
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS for sale in Pleasant Hill, California (CC-1796598), ClassicCars.com / Spuds Garage (2023-06) — USD 47,500, Alston 4-link back-half, Fab 9, 14-point cage 8.50 cert, 3,200 lb, bill of sale
- Bowtie Heaven: 7.5 Second Certified 1971 Chevy Chevelle Drag Car For Sale, HotCars (2019-11) — USD 79,995, 7.5 s certified funny-car chassis, 427 small-block 14:1, 850 hp plus 500 hp nitrous, Powerglide, 9-inch, 104 octane
- Rare Rides: The 1969 Chevy Chevelle COPO L72, Street Muscle (2023-12) — COPO 9562, Vince Piggins, Yenko's 99-car pledge, 323 built, 425 hp at 5,600 rpm, 460 lb-ft
- Sportsman Spotlight: Dal Trubey's 1970 Chevelle, Chevy Hardcore (2017-04) — 517 cu in, Powerglide, 9-inch, 9.24 s at 144 mph, 3,300 lb, stock-style suspension, PSCA 2011 title
- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6, Fort Lauderdale 2012, Lot 578, RM Sotheby's (2012) — LS6 450 hp and 500 lb-ft, 4,475 built, 18 convertibles, Harrell and Durham, COPO 1969 racing, aim at Chrysler
- 10 and 12 Bolt C-Clip Eliminator Kit for OEM Axles (A1033), Strange Engineering (2026-11) — USD 245 kit price, fits 12-bolt with small GM ends, NHRA class requirement
- 540 Big Block Chevy Drag Race Engine, Shafiroff Racing Engines (2026-11) — USD 16,395 less carburettor and ignition, 865 hp at 6,900 rpm
- From The Ashes: Lou Dreisch's New '68 Chevelle 8.50 Index Racer, Street Muscle (2012-01) — 25.5 chassis by DC Performance, 632 cu in about 1,250 hp, TH400, Moser M9, 8.50 index and X275
- File:Chevelle Pro Xtreme Mantorp 2023.jpg, Wikimedia Commons (2023-07) — Image, author Arkland, CC BY-SA 4.0
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 15.
- Ray Allen's 1970 LS6 convertible set an 11.33 s national record, about half a second quicker than the Mopars it beat 2.
- Only 323 COPO 427 Chevelles were built in 1969, after Don Yenko promised to buy 99 of them 13.
