1965 Chevy Chevelle 300
Dominick Damato, Gurnee, IL
Best E.T.: 11.92/115.7
One sunny day in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dominick Damato was walking the pits prior to one of the big Barrett-Jackson bidding bonanzas when he came across what appeared to be a perfect example of an unmolested, big-block A-body. Infatuated at first sight, Dominick struck up a conversation with the owner, Don Breen. Breen told him the low-mileage, original-paint cream puff was purchased in a small suburb of Detroit by a lady named Mable, whose name and address adorned the original Protect-O-Plate. As Breen pulled out the new car pamphlets, warranty info/Protect-O-Plate booklet, and a punch sheet that was under the driver-side seats, Dominick knew he'd found the Chevelle he'd always wanted.
It's actually as mild as it...
It's actually as mild as it looks; the '69 block uses a stock rotating assembly with TRW forged pistons to deliver 10.0:1 compression under the cast-iron oval-port heads. A COMP solid-lifter cam, Edelbrock 454-0 intake, and Holley HP750 round out the package, proving once again 396s can pull 11s with little work.
This particular car brought back a flood of memories of the Chevelle that got away. Growing up working on muscle cars with his dad, the one that really got his attention was a '65 Malibu. Unfortunately, that car was a low 11-second screamer, which Dominick's father knew was unfit for a 16-year-old's first car, so it was sold to pay for a more reasonable high school commuter. A couple 13-second cars, and even a 12-second '04 GTO followed but, of course, Dominick always felt a little gypped, and swore he'd have a '65 of his own someday.
Standing next to this Artesian Turquoise '65, Dominick knew that day had come. It didn't take long for a deal to be struck that kept the Chevelle off the auction block. Now at home in his garage, Dominick has decided to keep the mods minimal to preserve the Chevelle's unrestored feel.
That doesn't mean that it's not enjoyed, however; besides joy rides through the streets of Gurnee, Dominick occasionally runs it in the NMCA Nostalgia Muscle Car class, where the mildly built 396 has returned a best of 11.92 at 115 mph. We like that poetic justice; Dominick got his 11-second Chevelle after all.
Oh, how we love (and envy)...
Oh, how we love (and envy) this all-original stripper interior. Note the wash down-style rubber mat and radio-delete package. An impressively optioned package for a little old lady named Mable. Plus, there are extra cool points for running 11s on a stock bench seat with a column shifter.
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| '65 CHEVY CHEVELLE 300 |
| Dominick Damato, 26 • Gurnee, IL |
| Total cost to build: $25,632 |
| ENGINE |
| Type: |
Chevy 396ci big-block |
| Block: |
'69 GM |
| Oiling: |
Melling HV pump, Stock GM pan |
| Rotating assembly: |
GM crank and rods with ARP bolts, |
|
forged TRW 10.0:1 pistons |
| Cylinder heads: |
GM cast-iron oval-port (049s) with 2.19/1.88-inch valves |
| Camshaft: |
COMP Cams flat-tappet mechanical, 110 LSA |
| Valvetrain: |
aluminum roller rockers and double-roller timing set |
| Induction: |
Edelbrock 454-0 intake manifold, |
|
Holley 750-cfm mechanical-secondary carb |
| Ignition: |
MSD 6AL box, distributor, coil, timing controller, and plug wires |
| Fuel system: |
sumped stock tank with Weldon pump |
| Exhaust: |
Hedman headers, custom H-pipe, dual 3-inch turbo mufflers |
| Cooling: |
stock water pump, Be Cool radiator |
| Output: |
untested |
| Built by: |
Bob Murdoch, Chicago, IL |
| DRIVETRAIN |
| Transmission: |
APT Turbo 400 with ATI 10-inch 3,300-3,500 stall converter, |
|
GM column shift, 4-inch aluminum driveshaft with 1350 U-joints |
| Rear axle: |
Moser rearend, 3.73:1 gears, |
|
Eaton limited-slip differential |
| CHASSIS |
| Front suspension: |
stock control arms with poly bushings, |
|
Moroso Trick springs, |
|
Competition Engineering three-way adjustable shocks |
| Rear suspension: |
Edelbrock adjustable upper control arms, |
|
Hotchkis lowers, Moroso springs, |
|
Competition Engineering three-way adjustable shocks |
| Brakes: |
Wilwood discs front; 11-inch GM drums rear |
| ROLLING STOCK |
| Wheels: |
15x6 GM steelies front and rear |
| Tires: |
225/60R15 Primewell, front; |
|
255/60R15 M/T ET Street Radials, rear |
| WHERE THE MONEY WENT |
|
| '65 Chevy Chevelle 300 |
$24,417 |
| Valve covers |
$89 |
| Tires |
$235 |
| Ring-and-pinion and install kit |
$341 |
| Rearend assembly labor |
$150 |
| Carb work |
$100 |
| Misc. parts |
$300 |
| Total: |
$25,632 |