With a confluence of digital design, 3D-printed parts, and the one percent with too much money, anything automotive now seems possible. Even a new Chevy Chevelle. This year, Trans Am Worldwide in Tallahassee demonstrated this synergy by introducing its 70/SS. A contemporary take on the 1970 Chevelle, it follows the company’s playbook of reimaginings based on the current Camaro platform.
What is the 2024 Chevy Chevelle based on?
Their most ambitious project yet, the entire Camaro is restyled from carbon fiber into an iconic Chevelle, an iconic name long gone from Chevy’s lexicon of iconic cars. Everything that’s available with a new sixth-generation Camaro, especially its overall engineering and modern reliability, you can get with the 70/SS. That means convertible or coupe, and six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
trans am Upgrade the suspension and modify the interior to go along with the external modifications. The company makes limited editions of certain engines like a 1,500-hp twin-turbo version it calls the LSX. But it will also make various reincarnations of signs from Chevelle history like the “454” and “SS 396.” This keeps them limited as well. But it helps pay for its design, engineering, and tooling in more than 25 examples in all.
This has worked well for their current contemporary Firebird also based on the Camaro. Available for a few years now, it has proven Trans Am’s business case for these well-made, unique cars. Especially since with the Camaro platform you instantly get both a coupe and a convertible. But then what?
Is the El Camino popular enough to be created from a 2024 Chevelle?
GM’s path has always been to create as many variants of its expensive tools as it could. The original Chevelle came as a coupe and convertible, but also as a wagon and four-door sedan. It was also the basis for the El Camino Ute pickup truck.
That Chevelle sub-brand still has a strong following today, 35 years after the last one rolled off the assembly line in Mexico. And its sedan/pickup composition has found new favor with Hyundai’s Santa Cruz, Ford Maverick, as well as smaller unibody trucks in the pipeline from other manufacturers.
So, since we’re talking about confluences, we wonder if the collision of increased El Camino-like popularity, combined with Trans Am’s excellent contemporary Chevelle creations, could point to the company making an El Camino variant. We’re sure your plate is probably extremely full churning out your limited edition Trans Am and Chevelle.
What are the chances of Trans Am doing an El Camino?
But it seems so ripe for it to happen. The probability is doubtful, but we can at least wonder. This variant would require slightly more modifications to the Camaro platform than the company’s current offerings. So that in itself you probably consider unlikely.
But we’re seeing truck conversions in kit form for Dodge Chargers, A4 Audis, Jettas and more. And the prices seem reasonable. Could this kit getting close to the ingredients of Trans Ams really make it more workable?
Who knows? We can speculate all day. The point is that with the impossible production proliferation of reborn Aston Martin DB4s, recreated Bugatti Type 37As and more, anything and everything is possible. If there’s a market for a car far away, there might be a dedicated group of enthusiasts ready to fill it.