The Chevelle Family Tree

The Chevelle nameplate is a series of Chevrolets within the Chevrolet Division of General Motors, just like the full size passenger cars such as Impala, Caprice, etc., the Chevy II/Nova, Camaro, Corvair, Vega, and Corvette.

The Chevelle is a bit unique in that it has several series nameplates as well such as 300, 300 Deluxe, Malibu, SS396, Malibu SS, Concours, Nomad, Greenbrier, etc. All series nameplates are therefore considered to be a Chevelle. Chevrolet threw two monkey wrenches into the works in 1970 when the base model Chevelle was designated the Chevelle Standard in place of the 1969 base model 300 Deluxe and the introduction of the Monte Carlo. Then, again in 1971, the Chevelle Standard series simply became the Chevelle series.

Often one will ask the question, "Is my Malibu a Chevelle?" Yes, Virginia, it is. The Malibu is simply a series within the Chevelle nameplate. All Malibus are Chevelles (just talking 1964-1972 here) but not all Chevelles are Malibus. From 1973 to 1977 Chevrolet played with the Chevelle/Malibu names a bit until in 1978 the Chevelle nameplate was dropped in favor of the Malibu nameplate.

Below is a breakdown of the 1964-1972 Chevelle series as per the Chevrolet VIN designations, not the Fisher Body style designations. See Chevelle Series/Model lineup here for a complete series/model breakdown by year.

5000 Series Chevelle
53-5400 ~ Chevelle 300, El Camino (1964 only)
55-5600 ~ Malibu, El Camino (1964 only)
57-5800 ~ Malibu SS (1964 only)

13000 Series Chevelle
131-13200 ~ Chevelle 300 (1965-1967)
131-13200 ~ Chevelle 300, Nomad (1968-1969)
131-13200 ~ Nomad (1970-1971)
B - Nomad (1972 only) (Fisher Body continued to use 131-13200 style designation)

133-13400 ~ 300 Deluxe, El Camino (Deluxe) (1965-1967)
133-13400 ~ 300 Deluxe, El Camino (Deluxe), Nomad (1968 only)
133-13400 ~ 300 Deluxe, El Camino (Deluxe), Greenbrier (1969 only)
133-13400 ~ Chevelle Standard, El Camino, Greenbrier (1970 only) (Canada continued with the 300 Deluxe name)
133-13400 ~ Chevelle, El Camino, Greenbrier (1971 only)
C ~ Chevelle, El Camino, Greenbrier (1972 only) (Fisher Body continued to use 133-13400 style designation)

135-13600 ~ Malibu, El Camino (Custom) (1965-1968)
135-13600 ~ Malibu SS (1966-January 1967 Canada only)
135-13600 ~ Malibu, Concours, El Camino (Custom) (1969-1971)
D ~ Malibu, Concours, El Camino (Custom) (1972 only) (Fisher Body continued to use 135-13600 style designation)

13700-13800 ~ Malibu SS (1965 only)
13817-67 ~ SS396 (1966-1967)
13837-67-80 ~ SS396 (1968 only)
137-13800 ~ Concours (1967-1970)*
13800 ~ Concours Estate (1969-1971) (Only V8 engines available)
13857 ~ Monte Carlo Coupe (1970-1971)
H ~ Concours Estate, Monte Carlo (1972 only) (Fisher Body continued to use 137-13800 style designation)

* It should be noted that in the later years, not all series that carried 13700 series designations were available with a 6-cylinder engine. For example, there were 137xx series Concours station wagons from 1967 to 1970 but 1971 and 1972 Concours wagons were only available with a V8 engine so there would not be a 137xx series for these two years. The same is true for certain years of Greenbrier station wagons and certain models (body styles) of the Malibu.

For specifics, select the particular year you wish to study then click that year's Production Numbers By Series/Model link.