Chevrolet Chevelle “Heavy Chevy”
In 1971, dark clouds were on the horizon for muscle car enthusiasts. Tightening government regulations, high insurance rates, and environmental standards limited the segment significantly. Manufacturers understood they had to act fast to save the market. So the first thing they did was to introduce economy versions of their popular muscle cars (via Hemmings).

They gave their cars smaller engines but interesting designs to maintain their appearance and popularity. One of those models is the 1971 Chevelle “Heavy Chevy.” They positioned it as an interesting one-year-only muscle car below the Chevelle SS lineup. The Heavy Chevy came with a 200 HP 307 CID V8 engine, but you could opt for a 245 HP 350 CID V8 engine. The most powerful version was the 300 HP 402 CID V8. But if you wanted the top-of-line 454 big-block V8, you had to go the SS route. The “Heavy Chevy” was a popular model. They built over 6,500 in a year, and it’s very rare and obscure today.