Plenty of muscle on display with Chevelle SS …

Chevrolet’s 1967 Chevelle SS is a straightforward muscle car with equally straight, lean lines that reflect fine mid-‘60s styling.

AutoWorld has re-created a variety of Chevelles through the years, including a convertible version of the ’67 in 1/18 scale. Now comes the 1/24 scale model that easily fits into plastic modelers’ collections. Plus it takes up a little less shelf space than the larger scale.

High value is what this glossy tuxedo black die-cast model represents.

The History

Most car guys know Chevelles and GTOs of this era as well as they know their favorite baseball player’s career stats. First-gen Chevelles debuted in 1964 and by 1967 the mid-size Chevy was among the most popular cars in the bowtie brigade’s lineup. About 63,000 were built in 1967, and the SS was top-of-the-heap. Today an SS can go in the neighborhood of $40,000 to $60 grand at better vintage auto auctions.

The SS featured the 396 Turbo Jet big block with 375 horsepower and featured a Holley carburetor. A 325-horse V8 was standard in both 1966 and ’67. Chevy’s 396 is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year.

Folks also liked the wraparound taillights and twin power bulges in the sporty 1967 model’s hood, another reason the SS has remained so popular with collectors.

The Model

This glossy Tuxedo black paint job with twin red pin stripes just above the silver-painted rocker panels accentuates the Chevelle’s lean lines. Plus the Super Sport and crossed flags logos on the rear and front quarter panels really pop visually on the black surface.

There’s a blacked-out grille in front with SS logo too and painted-silver louvered hood vents up top. Think of it as jewelry for the well-dressed muscle car!

Window trim, door handles and key holes are also painted silver while the custom 5-spoke race wheels below give this metal model a serious performance flair.

Being a smaller scale compared with the 1/18 model, this one features only and opening hood, not doors and trunk. But that’s OK for the price and because really the car’s looks and its engine were the stars. Can’t say I care if there’s a spare tire in an empty trunk, especially if a model’s cost can be kept in line. This is!

It’s easy to see inside, even if the doors don’t open, as the side windows are in the down position so you can enjoy the bright red bucket seats. There are no seat belts, but there’s painted silver door trim along with window cranks. The steering wheel looks like wood and there’s a big ol’ white cue ball shifter on the tranny that runs between the front seats. There’s chrome on the three-spoke steering wheel hub and the dash is finished with facing that looks accurate and includes the main instrument pod in front of the driver.

Again, many of us appreciate the scale here as it will fit well into a collection of 1/24 scale plastic  model kits. You can save a little coin too as the 1/24 model goes for about $56 vs. the 1/18 version in the $85 neighborhood.

It seems AutoWorld is expanding its 1/24 offerings after delivering high-value 1/18 scale die-cast cars for years. These also continue to be metal, while many die-cast firms have switched primarily to resin for the majority of their car models. Both can look great, but the metal feels more like the real thing.

Stats: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

Maker: AutoWorld

Scale: 1/24

Stock No.: AW24006

MSRP: $55.99

Link: Autoworldstore.com