Maurer Hot Rods built Chevelle 468/600 HP V8 Super T10 4 Speed Ford 9" Hotchkis

The storied Chevelle is one of those timeless designs that looks good no matter how it's built. Stock, modified, race, pro-touring, whatever; the clean lines and balanced stance on these tough classics create a confident swagger that's universally admired. Best of all, that universal appeal, and subsequent high production numbers, provides the Chevelle with one of the largest networks of aftermarket support in the collector car hobby. And that means cars like this killer coupe, which mixes custom design with serious performance, are poised to never go out of style!

Originally leaving GM's Kansas City factory in a lot more humble condition, this slick Chevy hardtop features a seamless and sinister appearance that's highlighted by an immaculate layer of PPG Vibrance Candy Pearl Sunburst Yellow. Now, we all know it isn't easy to perfect a body that's going to be dipped in monochromatic pigment. And that difficulty doubles when said pigment is draped over a highly customized, six-figure show stopper. But, no worries here; just take one look down the sides of this Chevelle's rock-solid fuselage and it becomes obvious that the skilled customizers at Maurer Hot Rods in Fairbury, Illinois took great care ensuring each of its panels were aligned to better-than-factory fit. Step closer to those panels' hypnotic finish and check out their straight and ripple-free surfaces, which are a product of high quality prep work and crisp sheetmetal. Grab that sheetmetal's well-adjusted pivot points and feel how smoothly they close to provide an excellent fit, which is highlighted by swaths of PPG Ditzler Hot Rod Black. Now, step back and watch it all add up to one extremely impressive classic that's built to exacting specifications.

The key to creating a world class custom is building a car that, even though it looks virtually seamless, actually contains many labor-intensive modifications. Take this foreboding A-Body, for example. Thanks to subtle metalwork and a little help from Tier 1 aftermarket suppliers, GM's mid-size sales champ has never looked so good! At the front of the car, a custom grille hangs bright mesh between smoked HID headlights, LED parking lamps and a spotless chrome bumper. At the sides of the car, machined, Hot Rod Black fender emblems and Satin Black wheel trim hint at a serious personality while Ringbrothers door handles, smoked LED marker lamps and a low-profile driver's mirror add modern form to major function. At the top of the car, a custom cowl induction hood leads the eye to smoked glass that rides behind straight, Satin Black trim. And at the back of the car, a custom spoiler hangs over a custom-integrated valance and second bumper that's fitted with a custom insert and smoked, sequential LED tail lights.

Few cars fit the 'muscle car' description better than a Chevelle. And when you build a Chevelle that's this outrageous, you'd better stock some SERIOUS chutzpah. Packing 10.6 to 1 compression and roughly 600 horsepower in to 468 cubic inches of big block glory, this coupe's killer V8 is a logical testament to the old rule: more cubic inches equals more horsepower. Thoroughly massaged by a professional machine shop, the brutal mill utilizes forged pistons, polished rods, a balanced rotating assembly and a beefy Isky cam to flat out whip pretty much anything with four wheels. A perfect air/fuel mixture is supplied by a Holley 850 double-pumper, which is anchored between a Billet Specialties air cleaner and Weiand Team G intake. That mixture flows to ported, polished and fully rebuilt heads which hide Harland Sharp roller rockers under Billet Specialties valve covers. Spark is sequenced from a new MSD distributor to requisite Taylor plug wires. Gases roar through large, custom-cut exhaust pipes via high quality Hooker Competition headers. Cooling comes courtesy of two Spal puller fans and a big Be Cool radiator. And a fresh Optima battery, billet belt supports and a noisy Pete Jackson gear drive ensure rocket-like acceleration. Visually, the classy gray block rides in an exceptionally clean engine bay that displays OEM-level attentiveness to both engineering and assembly. And details like billet fittings, hydraulic hood supports and a Be Cool overflow tank create clean and purposeful aesthetics.

This is usually the point in a pro-tourer breakdown where passive optimism has turned into nail-biting enthusiasm. And unfortunately, that excitement is sometimes dampened by statements like “a factory-correct transmission” or “a corporate GM rear end”. Not so with this first class Chevelle! Its owner's crystal clear vision of eventual perfection has culminated in a completely custom chassis that's chock full of high performance hardware and proven drivetrain components. The brazen big block twists to redline thanks to a fresh Super T10 4-speed, which backs a 650 horsepower RAM clutch with a Lakewood scattershield and Hurst Competition Plus shifter linkage. That proven gearbox utilizes a heavy duty driveshaft to spin a Currie 9-inch that's fitted with a Truetrac differential and impressive, 3.50 gears. Holding that spry drivetrain off the pavement is a massaged frame that's been smoothed, bathed in Ferrari Metallic Black and sealed in PPG Satin Clear. That frame rolls on a custom suspension which includes: raised ball joints, raised spring and shock mounts, tubular front control arms, adjustable, billet rear control arms, billet tie rod adjusters, Hotchkis springs, Hotchkis shocks, Hotchkis sway bars and Heidts drop spindles. Turns are provided by a power-assisted, billet AGR steering box. Stops come courtesy of a fancy Wilwood brake system that utilizes a Hydratech hydraulic booster and big bore master cylinder to wrap polished, 4-piston calipers around drilled and slotted rotors, which measure 12 inches up front and 14 inches out back. Exhaust swirls through 3-inch, mandrel-bent pipes that follow Flowmaster dual-chamber mufflers with polished-edge tips. And at the corners of the body-matched floors, fully-polished Intros spin 245/35ZR19 Nitto NT555 Extreme ZRs in front of 285/35ZR22 Nitto NT555 Extreme ZRs.

Inside the car, clean '70s style is augmented by careful customization. TMI buckets and a factory bench are all-day comfortable, featuring supple hides that display no significant wrinkles. In front of those seats, a custom dash hangs a satellite-capable Pioneer stereo between Dakota Digital gauges and controls for a Vintage Air climate system. On the floor, high quality Mercedes carpet rides under black sills, color-keyed mats and a custom console that's built around a Ringbrothers shifter and billet power window switches. Opposite that console, a 1-piece suede headliner flows to a custom, 3-dimensional package tray that's fitted with dual Infinity speakers. In front of the driver, a tough Billet Specialties steering wheel laps Clayton Machine Works foot pedals. At the sides of the passengers, custom door panels frame electronic locks behind grilled Infinity speakers. And behind the cockpit, a carpeted and stitched trunk hides an Alpine subwoofer and Alpine Monoblock amplifier.

With its incredible motor, lust-worthy body and fully sorted chassis, this Chevelle is the very definition of muscle car. Its professional build, which combines stunning design with no-limits performance, represents first class showmanship at its finest. If you're in the market for a top notch classic that'll win trophies and literally own the street, this Chevy is your kind of car!