SWEEEEEEET BUILD - That will be one "Heavy Chevy" when it is done
and I mean HEAVY is a good way!
The 1971 Chevelles got fresh front-end styling that included large Power-Beam single-unit headlights, a reworked grille and bumper, and integral park/signal/marker lights. New dual round taillights were integral with the back bumper. Because SS models suffered heavy insurance surcharges, Chevrolet introduced the "Heavy Chevy" at midyear available with any V8 engine except the 454, which was exclusive to SS models. The Heavy Chevy (RPO YF3) was ONLY available with the base Chevelle sport coupe (13437) and was primarily a dress up option and even it was limited to options available on the standard Chevelle sport coupe; no carpeting, no bucket seats, etc.
Along with those 19,293 Super Sports, Chevrolet sold another 6,727 "Heavy Chevy" Chevelles in 1971. Introduced midyear, the Heavy Chevy package, RPO YF3, was an obvious response to changing attitudes, as well as an attempt to sell performance imagery to those who probably couldn't afford to operate or insure one of Chevrolet's few surviving super cars. RPO YF3 was nothing more than window dressing, although buyers could equip a Heavy Chevy with any V-8, from the standard Chevelle's Turbo Fire 307 to the LS3 Turbo Jet 400 (the LS5 was not available). YF3 features included the Super Sport's domed hood with tie down pins; special body stripes; Heavy Chevy decals on the hood, fenders, and deck lid; black accente grille and headlight bezels; and 14x6 Rally wheets without trim rings. Instead of $1000, the approximate askig price for the stillborn 1971 LS6, RPO YF3 added slightly more than a hundered bucks to a 1971 Chevelle sticker. Whether that represented an attractive offer or not is your call.
I was reading your comments and just had to add some information about the 71 Heavy Chevy that I owned. I bought it new off the lot in 1971. I lived in Victoria, Texas and was one of four in the surrounding counties to have one. Of course the other three were guys. These were the only ones I every saw anywhere I went. I know there was one yellow with white stripes, one was red with black stripes, a silver one with black stripes and mine was the color of a brand new penny with white stripes. It was a 350 with three speed on the floor. All the basics that you mentioned, but I was told when I bought it that it had a heavy duty rear end suspension. I paid $3,200. right off the lot. I sure wish I had that car now. God I loved it, had a close friend of mine taught me how to speed shift it and I though I was in the Indy 500 everywhere I went. We lived in a small town and we did a lot of street racing. Great times were had in that car.
Mine was a 1972 Heavy Chevy, orange with black vinyl top, stripes were black. Had hood wires/pins. I paid $3400. Made 11 mpg!! Of course gas was 25cents a gallon. Was absolutely worthless in snow, rear-wheel drive and all. Supposedly had "posi-traction" but really didn't notice. I wish I had that car back too. But at 7 years of age (the car, I mean) at the time I sold it, it was worn out. It had about 105,000 miles on it.
