TopSpeed’s Best Classic Car to Restore In 2024: Chevy Chevelle

Summary

• The second-generation Chevy Chevelle is ranked as the best classic car to restore in 2024 due to its widespread appeal, availability of parts, and potential post-restoration value.
• It is financially justified as a restoration project with economically-priced, entry-level units in restorable condition and easily accessible original and aftermarket parts.
• The Chevelle’s popularity extends beyond the car community, with rock legends, hip-hop artists, Hollywood celebrities, NFL players, and award-winning writers/directors owning them, boosting its post-resto value.

In a world where the automotive industry is currently undergoing one of its most significant advancements in history with the EV evolution, does the concept that “everything old is new again” still ring true? Well, when it comes to classic car restoration, the answer is undoubtedly a resounding YES! And such is the case in TopSpeed’s nod to the second-generation Chevy Chevelle as the Best Classic Car to Restore in 2024. While the specific model year may vary, classic car connoisseurs frequently rank Chevrolet’s Chevelle as one of the easiest, most popular, and/or top restoration candidates from the muscle car era. The Chevelle can cross extremes, satisfying the mainstream and a gamut of niche car enthusiasts.

It can be restored back to a vintage luster for the purists, it can run rat rod, powered-up to drag, slammed, jacked, tubbed, and nowadays, even EV swapped.

In order to determine the best vehicle in this category for 2024, our in-house experts have voted on a number of factors, including but not limited to value for the money, performance, and expected reliability and safety. The aggregate review score you see in the display card below is indicative of the average score (rated 1-10) between these factors and is based on real-world experience. Further information regarding our methodology of rating vehicles can be found on the TopSpeed’s methodology page.

Why The Second-Generation Chevy Chevelle Is The Best Classic Car To Restore in 2024

Ranking Criteria for “Best Classic to Restore” pick for 2024

• Average entry-level price and availability of a restorable condition unit
• Cost and availability of original and aftermarket parts
• Difficulty of repair and restoration
• Availability of repair and restoration instruction
• Post-restoration value
• Beauty

Built on the General Motors A-Body platform, three generations of Chevelles came off the line, spanning model years 1964 to 1977. The second-gen stretched from 1968 to 1972 and came to life as one of the triple threats from Chevy’s 1968 performance-minded lineup, which also included the Camaro SS and Corvette Stingray. A distinctive restyling that Chevy touted would “knock your eye out” introduced the Chevelle’s sophomore-generation. The profile’s elongated hood sculpted back into its contoured hips, evoking the archetypical coke-bottle styling associated with some of the most notable classic cars of the era. It’s a drool-worthy aesthetic that has stood the test of time and leaves the Chevelle still pulling double takes whether its in a dusty, crusty barn-find condition or neck-breaking SEMA build.

Simply put, the Chevy Chevelle is muscle car eye candy; however, that’s not the only reason it notches its place at the top of our Best Of list. When appearance isn’t the end-all be-all, the bean counters will find the Chevelle is also financially justified as a restoration. With 2.4 million second-gen Chevelle’s sold, it was billed as “America’s Most Popular Mid-Sized Car” and that popularity has resulted in a high inventory of economically-priced, entry-level units in restorable condition. Both original and aftermarket parts are easily accessible and thereby typically found at competitive costs. It is a project that spans all skill levels – not just a beginner, but even a first-timer can YouTube tutorials and walk themselves through it. On the other end of the spectrum, the Chevelle can be a Bitchin’ Rides quality project from Kindig It Designs or a winner in a Chip Foose build-off competition.

The Chevelle’s widespread attraction extends the buyer pool and in turn rockets its potential post-resto value and not just within the car community. The mass appeal of the second-generation Chevelle has given reason for rock legends, hip-hop artists, Hollywood celebrities, NFL players, and Academy award-winning writers/directors to own them. In fact, this gen Chevelle has so much allure it isn’t just owned by the stars, it has become a star itself in The Fast And The Furious and Jack Reacher. Again, more ammunition for the nameplate’s boosted equity, translating into an amplified return on investment and is illustrated by average resales over the past year hovering over $82,000, with many over six-figures and approximately the top two percent topping a half-million.

Yes, amazingly beautiful, a General Motors classic and an American Icon of the muscle car era. Could there be a better candidate or a more quintessential symbol of the classic car culture? A Chevelle just screams… restore me!

Performance Specifications

A hardtop, coupe, convertible, sedan, Nomad station wagon and the El Camino were all available body styles for the second-generation Chevrolet Chevelle. Over the course of the generation, the Chevelle added options of domes, stripes, the air-gulping Cowl Induction hood, and a variety of trims to choose from. Chevy offered two inline six options and eight V-8s.

Performance-wise, when we look at the span of Chevelles from ’68 – ’72, there are two standouts. Both make the Classic Car & Vintage Automobile Registry’s North American Fastest Production Cars List. The quickest was the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS powered by the LS6 454 V-8, boasting 450 horsepower. In a close runner-up position, potentially by less than a bumper, the ‘68 Chevelle SS with a L78 396 V-8 creating 375 horsepower.

Top Performance Second-Generation Chevelle Year/Models

Best Features of The Second-Generation Chevy Chevelle

The life of any vehicle takes many twists and turns. By the time a half-century or more has passed, a car’s journey consistently degrades its state from its factory release. There are those rare one-owner jewels, or those even more elusive treasures purchased and immediately tucked away in an untouched, hidden vault, unveiled decades later, and auctioned off in a private collection, but for the most part, time is not the friend of a restoration classic. Regardless of its history, every car has a story, so with stars in their eyes, a restorer looks at their build as a blank canvas and sees the potential.

Because they can mold their build with their own stamp, the best features of a restored Chevelle are always in the eye of the beholder and there are as many restoration options as there are car lovers. One example is the above full frame-off, droptop 1970 Chevelle restored by Creative Restomods. The original frame and 12-bolt rear end were sandblasted and powder-coated. The body was sandblasted to metal and epoxy-coated. The entire belly was painted satin black. The exterior’s deep black was accented with factory-style white stripes blanketing the hood and the trunk. The engine bay firewall was shaved, painted, and dressed retro. Mixing the OG with modern flare, the custom interior was brightened, and the vintage dash was untouched sans Dakota digital gauges.

More Mods For The Above 1970 Chevelle SS

• 630-horsepower LSX 454
• Holley Single Plane Fuel Injection
• Holley 1000 CFM Throttle Body
• Holley Dominator EFI Vehicle Management System
• 4L85E Transmission
• UMI Performance Stage 4 Suspension Kit
• Detroit Truetrac Posi 3.73 Gears
• 13-Inch Wilwood Six-Piston Fronts and Four-Piston Rear Brakes
• Wilwood Master Cylinder With Stainless Lines
• Relocated Wipers
• Replacement Emblems, Molding, Latches, Locks
• Vintage Air
• Complete Bluetooth-Powered JL Audio System to Retain Factory Radio Look
• DJ Design Custom Speaker Kick Panels, A-Pillar, and Rear Speakers

The Runners-Up

In addition to the second-generation Chevelle, Chevy flexed with two other models in the TopSpeed’s contenders for Best Classic to Restore for 2024. A rundown of the Chevrolet muscle that the Chevelle beat out was the 1967-1969 Camaro and the 1968-1972 El Camino. Other manufacturer’s models were the 1971-1974 Dodge Charger, the 1973-1977 Olds Cutlass A-Body and the 1964-1973 Ford Mustang. Notably, the Camaro, Mustang, and Charger are wildly popular restoration considerations. So popular, in fact, they have all been brought back by the manufacturers as modern-day releases. The sought-after status of these retro versions spikes the entry-level purchase price of a potential starter car, giving the edge of cost to the Chevelle. The Chevelle squeezed by the other contenders, the Olds and the El Co, for the overall broad accessibility factor.

Final Thoughts And Predictions For 2024

Circling back to our question – in the automotive world, is everything old new again, and can an industry facing the onslaught of governmental regulation attempting to force the eventual demise of the internal combustion engine, find a place for the continued restoration of muscle cars and classics? Our prediction is a high-key yes! Auto restoration isn’t just a hobby, and it isn’t just a profession. It is a community. It is a passion. It is the stuff that wicked dreams are made of and while the second-generation Chevelle may have been voted the Best to Restore for 2024, there is a long line of classics and muscle cars ready to take its place for 2025.