Super Chevy Blog Goes Back in Time For 1967 Impala SS Road Test

As part of its ongoing series of Car Club Road Tests back in 1967, Car Craft magazines' Dick Scritchfield met with members of the Chancellors Car Club of Van Nuys, California, in February 1967, to give the brawny and legendary Chevy Impala SS a thorough test-drive. They then had a quite legendary status as the oldest show and go club in the San Fernando Valley, and had demonstrated extreme knowledge and prowess of all things auto-related.

Up for testing was the Impala Sport Coupe, equipped with a 325 hp/396 big block joined to a Turbo Hydramatic, equipped with front disc brakes, full instrumentation, and a floor-mounted shifter with center console. When it came down to it on paper, the combination of the lower-power Turbo-jet, slushbox, and tall rear end could potentially morph the big car such as the Impala into a model that would put some seasoned drivers to sleep. However, club VP Jack Henderson claimed that “Performance wise, it's the best new car I've driven”, and also said that there were definitely noticeable benefits of the car being so large and heavy.

It handled for the bunch like a sports car, but simultaneously a luxury car for cruising. The full instrumentation option then only cost $79, which added a dash-mounted tachometer to replace the super large fuel gauge in the left bezel. The trim rings came with 15-inch rally wheels, and the team did have a bit of difficulty snapping them on. After beating on them for half an hour, the dealer had to then beat hammer them in with a mallet, a humorous shot that is one of the most memorable elements of this testing. They then took the Impala to tuner John Geraghty to see just how much power the engine was truly sending to the rear wheels.

This profound expert started by power timing and analyzing the fuel-air mixture, which drastically increases power at the low end with alterations to the Ignition system: the distributor was recurved, and a Cadillac rotor with built-in resistor to prevent power surging and arcing to the distributor cap, which is very common. They also upgraded the plug wires, and changed the thermostat to bring down temps in the combustion chamber. When this master tuner discovered that the Quadrajet's secondaries were running rich, he replaced the metering rod, a hard find even in a metro the size of LA. The results turned out to be worth it, and the group saw a 67 hp gain on the dyno.

At the time, this was a car that took living large to a whole new level. At just under 18 feet long, it barely fit in a regular garage, and the sweeping fastback roof was amazingly long. As strange as the concept of a full-size performance car seems, most major manufacturers offered one during the mid 60's, and Pontiac's giant Bonneville rang in at about the same in the size department. All of us here at Chuck Hutton greatly enjoyed this memorable recap of a car that was never intended to be eco-friendly when gas hovered around 27 cents a gallon, and offered up space combined with performance, in a major and thoroughly menacing way!

Mending the Spend Factor: 2019 Silverado Discount Increase During April 2019

It's almost time for the heavily-anticipated launch of the 2019 Silverado 1500, as retail availability of the all-new full-size pickup truck is on the uptick and more powertrain options, as well as body styles, enter the production stage. During mid-January was when a heavy discount incentive first went into play, and during April the brand we love to represent here every day at Chuck Hutton is now offering a discount exceeding $9,500.

The discount is applicable to a single model equipped with two very specific packages, and the discounts for this spring on the T1 platform stack up like this:

·         2019 Silverado Crew Cab LT with All Star and Z71 Packages:

◦         $3,015 price reduction below MSRP + $4,000 cash allowance + $2,000 Competitive Owner Cash + $500 option package discount equals $9,515 discount, OR:

◦         0 percent APR for 72 months when using GM Financial for backing

·         2019 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab/Double Cab: $1,500 cash allowance when financing with GM Financial

·         2019 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT: 0 percent APR for 72 months when financing with GM Financial

·         2019 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab RST: 0 percent APR for 72 months when financing with GM Financial

During the first three months of the year, Chevy was only offering discounts for one very specific model of the 2019 Silverado: the LT Crew Cab with the All Star Package, while competitors such as Ford and FCA's Ram were providing discounts for their entire model range. This discount for April essentially is maintaining the same discount, but now adds a $1,500 cash allowance on other trim levels and models, including on the very popular Crew Cab and Double Cab models.

The Silverado takes up a hefty spot in the current truck lineup above the mid-size Chevy Colorado, and is Chevy's largest model. It represents the fifth model year of the third-generation Silverado and is based on the GM K2 platform that it shares with other full-size pickup trucks and SUVS from GM. Changes made to the current-year Silverado took place after the detailed conducting of over 7,000 customer interviews – the deepest research in its entire history. The new model incorporates higher grade alloy steel in the bed floor as well as other various mixed materials that result in improved performance and shedding of excess weight. The plan definitely was a success, with weight dropping about 450 pounds.

Details about the five powertrain combos have already been fully revealed, but GM has not quite yet provided for the masses the specs on the new inline-six 3.0-L Duramax Diesel engine. It has been stated that it will be “Best-performing” which we don't doubt for a minute, and also mated to GM's brand-new 10-speed transmission. During the holiday season last year, Liz Kim of the New York Daily News proclaimed “Whether you're hauling a cement mixer, a three-horse trailer, or a sparkling new speedboat, you won't find a more useful tool than a pickup truck”, and a hefty discount on a truck this fantastic is sure to up the appeal factor for you and your family if you have thought about buying new this spring!

Boston.com Ranks 2019 Blazer as Offering Up “Tight, Crisp Steering, Abundant Personality”

Nicole Wakelin of Boston.com was hot on the trail of an exciting new-car release story this week when she was put on assignment to give her thoughts regarding the 2019 Chevy Blazer. All-new for this year here at Chuck Hutton, it is solidly celebrating the return of a heavily-followed platform. The original Blazer was discontinued more than 10 years ago, and lovers of its rugged abilities have been patiently waiting for its return ever since. Nicole stated clearly that this is a Blazer that has been revamped with today's driver in mind, taking a bit of a different approach than the original.

The design specifically aims for a vibe that is very performance-focused, and heavy inspiration is drawn from the Corvette and Camaro, which can really be seen from a glance at the front. The base level L trim features a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 193 horsepower, and 188 lb-ft of torque paired to a 9-speed automatic, and also comes standard with front-wheel drive. After a few steps up, there's the available 3.6-liter V6 brandishing 305 horsepower, and 269 lb-ft of torque together with all-wheel drive. There is always the option to up the ante and add leather, providing more interior comfort and upper-end appearance.

The RS trim is the sportiest of the bunch, and you get the darker-presence luster of unique black trims, including the iconic Chevy bowtie on the grille, more powerful V6 engine, and perforated leather seats with red accents. This is the version that the Boston.com testing staff spent their time with and found it thoroughly fun as well as highly responsive on the road. This article had quite a bit of truth regarding the fact that not every SUV can really live up to the claim that it's fun to drive, as they are vehicles that are all about hauling people and cargo around, while possessing a high dose of everyday practicality.

The V6 provides ample pep as well as power, and the nimble feel of the new Blazer is due to tight, crisp steering. Make sure you ask us about the Premier, which is the luxury trim with sporty black accents and heavy dose of chilling and ambient chrome inside. You'll also get to roll around in audio lover's bliss with a booming and crisp 8-speaker stereo by Bose. Five passengers are seated easily, and rear seats can slide forward to make room for more passengers or back for more cargo. This is the 2019 model that Motor 1.com claims “looks cooler by a mile than the dozens of other SUVs parked near it”, and we guarantee that your family or business's needs will be met with ease while cruising in savvy style and the best of safety and tech features out there!

Autoblog Provides Scoop on Trademark Filings for Cavalier's Rebirth

Jonathon Ramsey of Autoblog jokingly said that on April Fool's day itself, he thought it was a bit crazy to hear the news that GM had recently filed trademark applications for “Cavalier” and “Chevy Cavalier”. What really startled him was that it was the second time the entity has done so within 3.5 years. On March 27^th, GM was in virtual line at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for both trademarks to apply to “motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles, sport utility vehicles, trucks, vans, engines therefor and structural parts thereof”.

The requests that were filed during September of 2015 have lapsed, but now the brand we are proud to represent every day here at Chuck Hutton is back at it again, with potentially fresh ideas and perhaps an engineering team at bat. By the time the Cavalier's first run was finished, it had sold as a 4-door sedan, a couple, and the popular two-door convertible. It was replaced in 2005 with the Cobalt, and the Cavalier did not really see the light of day again until 2016, when a fourth-generation version was released in China.

Everyone is still wondering if this is a project that will carry its weight all of the way to the finish line, and many are speculating upon whether or not GM would really bring it back as a discrete model to the States. Even though many scoffed at the Cavalier in its heyday, a few Facebook fan sites for the car have way many more members than we expected, and it seems to be a given that there are probably plenty of buyers who'd like an inexpensive compact domestic option. The Cruze is no longer in the land of the living, the Sonic is seven years old, and so much has changed in the name of safety and tech features, that this is not necessarily a terrible idea!

As we have seen during years past and present, consumers are eager to have accessible, fun-to-drive cars for the daily trip that don't break the bank. You can check out pictures here showcasing what the Chinese model looked like a few years ago, and we have to agree that many out there will be excited about a variant that oozes budget-minded practicality. The one pictured here was designed as competition for the Ford Escort in mind, and the platform that it rides on is the Delta II platform shared with the global Cruze. It sported a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 107 hp and 103 lb-ft of torque, and paired with a five-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. Thoughts and anticipation levels vary when it comes to the Cavalier: some are under the impression that another sedan may not be what will be added to the lineup, but time and demand trends will soon tell!

2019 Chevy Silverado Proclaimed as “Properly Inched out its Rivals” By The Car Connection.com

This summer, the pickup that the entire nation has been head over heels for since its release is slated to offer a light-duty diesel engine for the first time in over ten years – and the writers at The Car Connection.com claim that it absolutely has bragging rights for topping Ford and Ram. Chevy confirmed this week that the 2019 Silverado's soon-arriving 3.0-Liter Duramax inline-6 turbodiesel cranks out 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. The Ecodiesel V-6 engine made 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque in the Ram 1500's last version.

 

As it now stands, Chevy has absolutely “inched out its rivals”, and all of us on staff here at Chuck Hutton are excited to see just how hot the coming summer is going to get with all of this raw power and prowess under the Silverado's hood. During the 2018 North American International Auto Show where the 2019 Silverado made its first appearance, GM President Mark Reuss said that the truck would absolutely “be the best-performing diesel-powered pickup in the segment”. This powerful engine is also slated to be available in the 2019 GMC Sierra, boasting the same output numbers.

Buyers will also have the option of a 2.7-liter turbo-4 engine as its primary, and in the volume-selling trims like the LT and RST models. The 4.3-liter V-6 engine is now only available in the most basic of spec models like the Work Truck variant. There is now fuel-saving technology on board as well that can shut down as many as up to six cylinders, ultimately saving fuel when full-brimmed muscle is not necessary. The experts on staff at Cars.com claimed that the Silverado 1500 has “excellent ride and handling”, and thought the wider cargo bed and more tie-downs were very useful and ingenious additions.

You also get to reap the benefits of an industry-first power up/down tailgate, and the super cool trailer app that provides the best in high-tech assistance for coupling and towing. Every cabin configuration has been redesigned to provide more room and storage, with the most popular crew-cab model receiving 2.5-inches of additional rear legroom. Make sure you feast your eyes on the Trail Boss model when you're here: it features a 2-inch suspension lift, extra skid plates, the Z71 suspension package, a locking rear differential, and now has all-terrain tires.

The RST is built for a street-oriented performance vibe, and every trim level features the traditional Chevy Bow-tie emblem on the grille. Styling, performance, Interior design, Comfort, and reliability are the Silverado's high-quality offerings, and we'd also have to heartily agree with the Cars.com staff in the “Value for the Money” category, where it received four and a half out of five stars!

2019 Chevy Camaro Featured in Richmond Times-Dispatch as “Same Fun Ride”

Cars that have an amazing and picturesque history are hailed as accomplished athletes, and the Camaro is one of those vehicles that has been turning heads and exciting track fanatics for decades. Long before any official announcement took place, somewhat secret reports began running during April 1965 that our esteemed Chevy brand was hard at work constructing a competitor to the Ford Mustang. On June 21, 1966, nearly 200 journalists who specialized in the car industry received a telegram regarding the very important reveal slated to take place June 28. During a meeting in the early days of summer at Detroit's Statler-Hilton Hotel, Chevy general manager Pete Estes introduced the Camaro, and told attendees that it was going to be a “small vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” This was also the first time in history that 14 cities were connected in real time for a press conference over existing phone lines.

With a new refresh for 2019, our prized pony car sees a completely restyled front end and new taillights, and the staff on duty at the Richmond Times-Dispatch quickly took notice and cranked out this blog about how much they were smitten by the new model. The new 1LE option package is equipped with the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that boasts an even sturdier suspension and brakes, 20-inch tires that are similar to those on the V-8 powered SS, and Driver-selectable Track Mode. The turbo 2.0 is the entry point in a powertrain lineup that touts a non-turbo V-6 and V-8, plus the bad and brawny supercharged V-8 in the Camaro ZL1 that offers up 650 horsepower as well as 650 lb-ft of torque.

One of the coolest ways to beef up the Camaro is by means of the 1LE package: it adds a chin spoiler and a carbon-fiber rear wing that ups the downforce factor by 300 pounds, which helps keep the car rooted during turning. There are also specially-designed dampers plus Goodyear Eagle Supercar tires riding rigorously on top of 19-inch aluminum wheels. The current claims regarding speed are that the ZL1 and ZL1 1LE can reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, and you can also score the 1LE Packages for the V-6 and V-8 models that are non-supercharged.

All of us here at Chuck Hutton as well as experts like the staff of Motor Trend are in sheer awe of the various features you can acquire by stepping up the trim level ladder: the LT is where you add the convertible model, remote engine start, SiriusXM Satellite radio, and additional USB port, and a six-way power passenger's seat. The step up to the 3LT trim provides the V-6 engine, upgraded infotainment with navigation, premium Bose audio, and a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror. The 2SS is where you enjoy the addition of leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats, a Bose audio system, illuminated sill plates, upgraded interior accents, a heated steering wheel, rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross traffic alert, and forward collision alert.

Your needs for serious tech features won't go unmet in the least with the current-model Camaro: the 3LT trim receives an upgraded version of the infotainment system with navigation and Bose Audio, and the game-changing performance data and video recorder are optional on all models. The grip, minimal body roll, incredibly precise steering, hefty brakes, and track run stability are all traits that make this coupe so much better than the competition, and was deemed by multiple publications as a “track happy sports car gem.” It was also said this past year by Motor Trend themselves that “Chevy has turned a once-provincial pony car into an honest to goodness world-class sports model!”

Boston.com Covers Towing Ability + Trailering Features On The 2020 Silverado HD

Christian Wardlaw of the New York Daily News wrote a feature this past week on the coming 2020 Chevy Silverado HD, and the exciting changes made to the towing capacity and payload rating. Everyone on staff here at Chuck Hutton grinned a little bit in agreement when he playfully stated that many customers who buy a light-duty truck would never need to tow or haul anything nearly as hefty as their vehicles can actually handle. While it's true that many customers of today buy a half-ton truck because they want one instead of truly need one, the push to up the figures for ratings has always been a ferocious one!

The maximum towing and payload 'arms race' within the heavy-duty segment truly matters to many riggers, ranchers, and other hard-working truck owners, and that's why Chevy says it is working to increase capacity and payload rating for future models. The 2020's styling is very unique to this truck: only the roof panel is shared between the Silverado HD and 1500, and Christian was particularly drawn to the blunt and forceful appearance it has. There are bed steps just ahead of the rear wheels, situated there to make any fifth-wheel trailering tasks a bit easier.

Selection of higher trim levels provides the addition of extra chrome, and what appears to be LED forward lighting adds some good depth to the truck's appearance, along with the integrated air intake. You can check out photos here that provide a clear idea of what the upcoming model will look like, and be amazed at the raw and menacing stance the truck evokes, while poised to haul, tow, and conquer various obstacles that a day's work may throw in its path. As far as what will be placed under the hood, there are currently vague details about a standard direct-injected gasoline engine paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission, as well as the option of the more muscular turbo-diesel V8, which cranks out 910 lb-ft of torque.

The staff on duty at Motor Trend claims in a feature found here about next year's Silverado that on board may be a small-block derived 6.6-liter gas engine, producing 401 horsepower, and 464 lb-ft of torque, with the towing rating hovering at around 18,200 pounds, and payload around 7,630 pounds. This particular blog does a great job of highlighting what Chevy truly wants as a brand: for our prized truck line to be easiest to live with: easy to load, to hook a trailer to, and to maneuver the trailer with. For the task of loading, there's the industry's only power-up-and-down tailgate, new bedsteps at the front of the bed, and a lift-in height that is now dropped by 0.9 inch. There's also an available 120-volt outlet, 12 tie-down rings, and the option to add nine very useful accessory tie-downs.

The Advanced Trailering System on board puts to use accessory cameras that are connected by coaxial cable to offer up to 15 camera views. Among these are the bull-view hovering in front of the hood, bed and bumper hitch views, shots of tires while you are making turns, and the revolutionary “transparent trailer” view that shows the entire scope of the rear-view as if the trailer was invisible. The system even has the ability to monitor the pressure and temperature of up to six tires, and is able to be programmed to compile the all-important pre-trip checklist!