This Chevelle SS was originally assembled in Baltimore in 1970, but it only stayed in the United States for 6 years until it was transported to Sweden in 1976.
Tomas, hailing from a relatively small town in Sweden located along the Baltic Sea with a population of about 100,000, had owned several American muscle cars including a Camaro, a Firebird, and a Corvette in the past, but his dream car had always been the Chevelle.
Finally, in 2008, he came across this beauty. The Chevelle was newly painted in its original Cranberry Red color but there were several things that were incorrect according to the build sheet. According to the build sheet, the Chevelle was originally Cranberry Red with white stripes, a white vinyl top, and a white interior. Tomas decided to bring it back to original over the past year and added the correct white stripes and white vinyl top. New chrome bumpers and moldings were also installed. The black interior stays for now, but he plans on swapping it back to the original white interior in the future.
The Chevelle also featured bucket seats and a center console with horseshoe shifter from the factory. Currently, the Chevelle has a Grant steering wheel, 18 inch Coys, and 70 vintage 454 bored to 460 cubic inches. Tomas has the original motor, TH400, SS wheels, steering wheel, Delco radio, and speakers tucked away in storage. This exported Chevelle has managed to stay intact with all matching numbers parts to go along with it.
Tomas says, “Sweden is one of the leading countries when it comes to the number of American cars per person. There are a LOT of them here. And I do mean a lot”.
In Sweden, the Power Meet is the largest annual event for American classic cars with over 10,000 visiting cars from over 26 countries (America, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Israel, etc.). They also have one of the biggest swap meets in the world spanning 3 miles.
Tomas adds, “…rods, customs, 60’s and 70’s muscle cars, vettes, mustangs, you name it… We have a lot of talented restorers and builders here”.
That must be true because we haven’t seen a restored Chevy car from Sweden that we haven’t liked yet!
