Chevy hit the nail on the head with the 1966 Chevelle leaving no room and no desire for most enthusiast to add anything to the exterior styling. However, mechanical and comfort feature advancements in the last 50 plus years have left some Chevelle fans wanting when it comes to performance and drivability. Shawn Davis with Autotopia LA recently met up with 1966 Chevelle owner, Butch to show off his highly modified, custom Chevy build. The YouTube video feature can be seen here.
The clean body lines and strong original stance provided Butch with a great start to this build and the sole goal of the body work done to this car was to simply bring the car back to its original form with the addition of a unique blue coat of paint that is truly stunning. While Butch would like to keep the color code to himself, he had no problem sharing his recipe for squeezing 610-horsepower out of this classic Chevy.
The secret is a monstrous 6.7-liter LSA supercharged engine that produces 700 flywheel horsepower. Lending a remarkable tone to the engine, a set of longtime headers feeds into a fully ceramic coated exhaust that features electronic cutouts. The increased power called for a better braking system and Butch’s choice was to go with massive 14-inch disc brakes from Wilwood on all four corners which fit nicely under the 18 and 20-inch Intro wheels.
Utilizing cut-down bucket seats from a 2016 Camaro SS connected by a custom center console the interior has also been modernized. The new seats, door panels, and original rear bench was professionally reupholstered in a modern looking gray leather while the dash is updated with a billet steering wheel, Dakota Digital gauges, and a GM LSA V8 engine badge.
A Vintage Air air conditioner and an audio system are also among the notable modifications that work to bring this classic into the modern automotive world. From the updated interior and drivetrain with custom engine covers to the unique blue paint job and clean original body lines this classic Chevy has received a stunning custom build that leaves no evidence that it all started with a rolling chassis.
Elizabeth is hardcore horsepower enthusiast with unmatched intensity for making things faster and louder. She wakes up for power and performance and only sleeps to charge up for the next project that’s heading to the track. From autocross to drag racing, Elizabeth is there with you, so stay tuned for her unique perspective on horsepower news, builds, tech info, and installs — with her, it’ll never be boring!
