eBay Find: Duramax Chevelle SS is a Show Stopper!

$_57-2When you think Chevelle SS you probably think, big block Chevy, maybe some racing stripes, a stock interior, and maybe a safe muscle car color on the outside. What doesn’t spring to mind is twin-turbo charged, intercooled, diesel power in a turquoise shell. This one off restored 1970 Chevelle SS is a custom take to put all the cookie cutter cars to shame! A full restoration for all the comforts of street driving, and a monster at the race track.

From the ground up this car has been massaged, tuned and tweaked to a new level of muscle car resto-modding. The proof is in the pudding, this car has been shown in multiple mainstream publications, and has been appraised at a value of over $220,000, now it can be yours! With a “buy it now” of $164,000, have a look at the specs and see if this shiny diesel is worth its asking price.

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This Chevelle sits low and sleek.

Lets start with the obvious, appearances. Chevelle Mist Turquoise is a factory 1970 color, verging on sea-foam or mint it is not necessarily the meanest looking color combo out there but none the less a fitting irony for this show stealing coal roller. The body was completely striped, and worked over including a 4-inch stretch to accommodate the huge rear tires. The custom aluminum sheet metal work is the fabrication craftsmanship of Fast Eddie Race Cars.

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The custom dash is a combination of Chevelle dashes, and fiberglass. Autometer gauges keep instruments modern and a touch screen satellite navigation unit keeps the driver headed the right direction.

The interior is a contemporary take on classic muscle car. A custom dash includes modern air-conditioning cannibalized from a Pontiac Solstice, modern heated seats, custom shifter, and Autometer gauges are brought together with stock style carpets and door panels. Touch screen sound system and satellite navigation make sure this muscle car keeps its sense of direction, geographically and aesthetically. A suede headliner screams high-end build in the luxurious spacious cockpit.

Now what everyone wants to know, what powers this wild custom Chevelle? A 6.6-liter Duramax V8 was plucked from a 2005 Chevy truck and was completely rebuilt by Mike Racke of Fullerton, California. While the bottom end of this Duramax diesel remains mostly stock other than Carillo rods, the crank was balanced for smooth running, and So Cal Diesel camshafts now lift the valves for a custom tune. Stock pistons were retained but modified by So Cal Diesel to provide a 16:1 compression ratio. Keeping everything togther is ARP hardware throughout the engine.

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The paint is 1970 Chevelle Mist Turquoise.

The focus of this engine is definitely the extensive top-end modification. The four-valve LLY cylinder heads have been CNC ported to flow what the owner later threw at them with induction. 33mm stainless intake valves, and 33mm Inconel exhaust valves control the entry and exit of gasses through this force fed Chevy. Custom aluminum plenum intakes feed the pair of Garret T38R turbos which are spooled up by exhaust flowing out custom Bassani headers. Countless other touches make this engine one exotic custom powerplant.

An Allison five-speed transmission has been rebuilt to include a 2,200 rpm stall ATS convertor, ATS Billet Flywheel, and is cooled by a SETRAB cooler. For a neat appearance, wiring harnesses, fuel lines, master cylinders, and such eyesores were cleverly hidden under intake manifolds, and in firewalls.

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Different lighting really shows the color variation.

Estimated at 1,100 horsepower and 1,800 lb-ft of torque means this Chevelle makes it down the quarter in 13.3 seconds at 123 mph on street tires. Running on bio-diesel and putting down these incredible numbers, this muscle car still manages 32 mpg according to the owner.

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A full tub rear, four-link, and 10-point cage came from Fast Eddie Race Cars.

In order to keep this machine in the groove on the track and on the road the suspension is far from stock. Front and rear suspension comes courtesy of Koni coilovers and chassis work by Fast Eddie Race Cars. Front suspension components, spindles, and sway bars are all C-5 Corvette for the security of modern geometry and handling. A four-linked rear end is tied into the 10-point roll cage for traction. Slowing down this massive ride is no small feat considering the added weight of the cage, engine, and transmission. Willwood six-piston calipers clamp 14-inch drilled and slotted front rotors while four-piston Willwood calipers put the binders on 16-inch drilled and slotted rotors in the back.

Don’t have $164,000 to spend on a diesel toy? The owner is accepting trade offers for an electric car? Interesting change of tastes. You can be sure you’ll never pull up to the next cruise night or show and shine next to another Chevelle like this.

About the author

Trevor Anderson

Trevor Anderson comes from an eclectic background of technical and creative disciplines. His first racing love can be found in the deserts of Baja California. In 2012 he won the SCORE Baja 1000 driving solo from Ensenada to La Paz in an aircooled VW. Trevor is engaged with hands-on skill sets such as fabrication and engine building, but also the theoretical discussion of design and technology. Trevor has a private pilot's license and is pursuing an MFA in fine art - specifically researching the aesthetics of machines, high performance materials and their social importance to enthusiast culture.
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