When I found out Salvat was releasing an Opala Caravan SS on their 1/43 Chevrolet Collection I had to get one. But, being an adored car here in Brazil, it sold out everywhere! Luckily, not like DeAgostini, Salvat has an online store to sell their collections, and I snagged two: One for me, this one, and the other for Mr. Frosted.
Like on the US, Chevrolet used the SS badge to their more spiced up cars. Both the Opala and its wagon version, the Caravan, got the SS treatment.
The SS line was introduced in 1971, with the Opala SS, the sportier version. To bear this name, it got a three spoke steering wheel, individual front seats (not the big bench), four on the floor gearbox, sporty steelies and those big black stripes that screamed power.
But not only eyecandy, Chevrolet put their biggest engine, the 250-S unit (250 cu.in), a 4.1l inline-6 powerplant, capable of pushing the Opala up to 190 km/h, the fastest Brazilian production car at the time.
With the introduction of the Caravan in 1975, it was a matter of time for it to get the same love from GM. And 1978 was the year the god listen to our prayers and sent us a rear wheel drive two door wagon.
I mean, just look at it. Looks at the lines, the side profile, that slight curve on the rear wheel area, with the window line following. If this doesn’t suggest serious business to you, I don’t know what else can make it.
Curiously, due to the ‘73 oil crisis, Chevrolet worked on their 4-cylinder engine to increase its power, and introduced as well the Opala SS-4, with the 2.5l (151 cu.in) inline-4 engine. It didn’t sold well, so it’s pretty rare nowadays.
You wouldn’t believe, but probably understand, the crazy prices those cars can reach on good conditions these days.
I never got the opportunity to drive one, but my grandfather had a 6 cylinder non-SS version (with a little less power than the SS). My father used to travel with it, and he cruised comfortably at 140-150 km/h. This was a curious engine, because he told me the car could make 9 km per liter of gas at 140 km/h and made only 6 or 7 at 90-100 km/h!
By uncle, who also drove that car, liked to “reach km” on the speedometer. It means to make the speedo needle pass past the max speed and reach the small “km” written on the bottom:
Which meant he probably was at almost 200 km/h. No big problem for such a car, but certainly something frightening to do with late 70's tires.
From now on, enjoy those photos!
BONUS!!!
How to take photos of an hyperactive dog? Give the dog a bone!
Kill all the tires!