Chevy 409

Before the Camaro, the Chevelle or the Sting Ray, Chevrolet was well-planted in the performance field with its big-block 409, a powerplant so notable that the cars it went in became known less for their model names than for the engine. So well-known was this motor, that The Beach Boys sang an ode to it that became one of their biggest hits.

"She's real fine, my 409..."

Following its introduction in 1961, the 409 improved in performance each of the next two years and made the Impala Super Sport one of the top full-sized performance cars of the decade. The progression culminated in 1963, when the 409 topped out at 425 horsepower.

But like many other muscle cars of the sixties, you could find 409 Impalas that were given a few factory improvements that made them real performance monsters. The best of these was the 1963 Z11, which received a special 409 stroked to 427 cubic inches and rated officially at 430 hp, although that was laughable - the actual output being over 500 horsepower!

The 1963 Z11 was easily spotted by its NASCAR-style cowl plenum air cleaner and its many aluminum parts, including the fenders, hood and bumpers. The classic smooth lines and clean styling made this car as attractive as it was powerful.

But unquestionably, this car's best feature was its performance. One of the hottest cars of its time - and an early entry in the muscle car race - the 409's legacy was established quickly and lives on today. We took a real close-up look at a Chevy 409 in Episode 976105 of My Classic Car!