1971 Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevelle was Chevrolet’s entry into the “intermediate” segment, and was manufactured from 1964 through 1977. The 1964-’65 cars were very similar, likewise with the 1966-’67 models. 1968-’72 Chevelles are close in size and shape, and many parts over this 5 model year run are interchangeable. Although some of the sheet metal and trim changed over the years, 1973-’77 Chevelles are typically grouped into one “generation”. The 1977 model year spelt the end of the Chevelle nameplate, and the mid-size Chevrolet would continue on as Malibu.
The 1971 Chevelle kept many of the same body lines as the 1970. The fenders were changed a bit to accommodate the new grille and headlight treatment. The quad-headlights of the 1970 model gave way for a single headlight design of the Monte Carlo. The tail lights were also redesigned with four round lamps within the chrome bumper.
The big-block was still available, but as the musclecar era was winding down, insurance and emissions mandates forced them to be detuned to offer at the most 425 hp. The lowered horsepower numbers were obtained by lower compression on all their engines. This permitted using low octane, low-lead or unleaded gasoline.
A new “Heavy Chevy” model was introduced. Heavy Chevy was an option off the base Chevelle sport coupe and primarily a dress-up option and limited to other options available such as vinyl flooring, front bench seat and no center console shift.
Chevrolet produced only 387,000 Chevelles, due to the declining fuel situation of the early 1970’s.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1971 Chevelle
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 4 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Wagon
- Engine Options
- 250 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 307 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 245 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 270 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (400) cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional)
1971 Chevelle Malibu
- Body Styles
- 4 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Sport Sedan
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 2 Door Convertible
- 4 Door Concours Wagon
- Engine Options
- 250 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 307 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 350 cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (400) cubic inch 330 horsepower V8 (optional)
1971 Chevelle Nomad Wagon
- Engine Options
- 250 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 307 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
1971 Chevelle Heavy Chevy
- Engine Options
- 350 cubic inch 200 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 245 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 350 cubic inch 270 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 400 cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional)
1971 Chevelle SS (Super Sport)
- Body Styles
- 2 door sport coupe
- 2 door convertible
- Engine Options
- 350 cubic inch 245 horsepower V8 (base)
- 350 cubic inch 270 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 402 (396) cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional)
1971 Chevelle SS454 (Super Sport)
- Body Styles
- 2 door sport coupe
- 2 door convertible
- Engine Options
- 454 cubic inch 285 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 454 cubic inch 425 horsepower V8 (optional)
1971 Chevelle VIN Decoder:
First Character: Division of General Motors
Second and Third Character: Series Designation *
- 31 ~ Nomad station wagon, 6-cylinder
- 32 ~ Nomad station wagon, 8-cylinder
- 33 ~ Chevelle, 6-cylinder
- 34 ~ Chevelle and Greenbrier station wagon, 8-cylinder
- 35 ~ Malibu, 6-cylinder
- 36 ~ Malibu and Concours station wagon, 8-cylinder
- 38 ~ Concours Estate station wagon and Monte Carlo, 8-cylinder
Fourth and Fifth Character: Body Style/Model
- 36 ~ 4-door station wagon, 2-seat
- 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe
- 39 ~ 4-door sport sedan
- 46 ~ 4-door station wagon, 3-seat
- 57 ~ Monte Carlo 2-door sport coupe
- 67 ~ 2-door convertible
- 69 ~ 4-door sedan
- 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup
Sixth Character: Year of Production
Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
- R ~ Arlington, Texas
- B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
- K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
- L ~ Van Nuys, California
- 1 ~ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Eighth through Thirteenth Characters: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1971 Chevelle was 100001 at all Chevelle assembly plants except Oshawa, Ontario which started at 500001. Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 13857 Monte Carlo followed a 13667 Malibu convertible, the sequence number would be one unit higher for the Monte Carlo. It's also entirely possible to have the same sequence number from all five 1971 U.S. assembly plants with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code. Oshawa, Ontario would not have a matching sequence number of a U.S. plant Chevelle due to the starting sequence of 500001. No 1971 Monte Carlos were built at Arlington.
Production at the Baltimore assembly plant in early May and the Kansas City plant exceeded 100,000 units sometime in late April, so the VIN sequence from those time frames to the end of production would be 2nnnnn for the Baltimore and Kansas City plants.
* The El Camino is not a separate series nameplate but rather a body style in both the base Standard (33/34) and Malibu (35/36) series although it's often listed as such. The base (33/34) El Camino is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with standard trim where the (35/36) El Camino Custom is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with Malibu trim.
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