Performance Review: Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS 327 V8 Turbo Fire 350hp - [1966]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Chevrolet Chevy II Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS 327 V8 Turbo Fire 350hp is the 3 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1966. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1966 AC Cobra 427 and the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray 427 425hp.This particular Chevrolet Chevy II has a 5327cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Chevy II shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Chevy II's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1378 kgs (3037 lbs) this makes the Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS 327 V8 Turbo Fire 350hp in the same weight category as the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 or the give or take 50kg.

The Chevrolet Chevy II shares the same bhp with the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp)

In terms of power the 5327cc 16V V8 engine produces 355 bhp (264 kW) @ 5800 rpm similar to the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp) or the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V8 throws out 360 lb-ft (488.0 Nm) @ 3600 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (369 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe 3.0 V6 Turbo (369 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Chevrolet Chevy II you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2015 Lotus Evora 400 3.5 V6 Supercharged (282.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Chevrolet Chevy II.

The Chevrolet Chevy II has a Power to weight ratio of 257.6 bhp per ton and 261.2 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1966 Chevy II competing with the 2015 Lotus Evora 400 3.5 V6 Supercharged (282.6 bhp per ton) or the 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello (282.6 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Chevrolet Chevy II generating around 261.2 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette 6.2 V8 2d (286.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2012 Mercedes G Class 65 AMG (286.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.7 secs, this made the Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS 327 V8 Turbo Fire 350hp as fast as the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost (5.50 secs) the 2017 Honda Civic Type R 2.0i 16v Turbo - FK8 (5.50 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon SC Cupra 300 (5.50 secs) the or the 2017 Seat Leon Cupra 300 DSG (5.50 secs). This Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS 327 V8 Turbo Fire 350hp is also faster than the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T AWD (5.60 secs) the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T (5.60 secs) the 2020 Maserati Ghibli GranSport Petrol Hybrid (5.60 secs) the and the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range (5.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Chevy II and the 1993 Mercedes E Class 60 AMG 6.0 V8 W124

When talking about the performance of the Chevrolet Chevy II on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.86 secs @ 106.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1993 Mercedes E Class 60 AMG 6.0 V8 W124 (12.80 secs), the 2019 Toyota Supra GR RZ 3.0 Turbo (12.81 secs), and the 2017 BMW X6 xDrive50i 4.4 V8 F16 (12.81 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1966 version of the Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS 327 V8 Turbo Fire 350hp has a maximum speed of 139mph.

Top Speed of the 1966 Chevy II equals the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (150 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II Nova SS 327 V8 Turbo Fire 350hp then how about the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (150 mph), the 2020 Lotus Exige Sport 410 Roadster 3.5 V6 (150 mph), or the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 SDV6 300 (150 mph).

Related Links:

1966 Chevy II Rivals List.

A Brief History of Chevrolet

Car Comparison