, the ‘60s was probably the best decade for them—and one of the best classics from those days is the 1968 Chevy Chevelle. Not only was it an awesome vintage muscle car, but it was also the start of a great generation for the Chevelle.

Here's a look at the 1968 Chevelle, why it's great, and why it's underrated by some folks.

The 1968 Chevelle was powerful, reliable, and relatively affordable.

The 1968 Chevelle was the start of something great

While Chevy started production of the Chevelle in 1963, the best was yet to come. And, like

HowStuffWorks

wrote, the best got its start with the 1968 Chevelle, which was the first car in the second generation of the Chevelle name. This generation would be a very impactful and iconic generation for the car.

In fact, the 1970 Chevelle even showed up in the Fast & Furious , and it had a significant impact on some of the actors, too. This wouldn't have been possible without the 1968 Chevelle paving the way for its following model years.

This is also one of the reasons why the 1968 Chevelle is a bit underrated. Its later model years, especially the 1970 Chevelle, were more popular, largely thanks to some upgrades and changes that Chevy gave to the car.

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Nonetheless, the 1968 Chevelle was a capable muscle car, too

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In any case, the Chevelle that started it all, the 1968 version, is still a great muscle car. It had three things going for it. The 1968 Chevelle was powerful, reliable, and relatively affordable.

It came with a 6.5-liter V8 engine that got 325 brake horsepower. Customers could pay extra to get 350 brake horsepower, or a 375 brake horsepower V-8 instead. The standard engine was powerful enough, but the most powerful engine option put the 1968 Chevelle on the map.

On top of that, the 1968 Chevelle started at about $24,000, adjusted for inflation. It also had features that made it reliable and comfortable, such as a heavy-duty suspension. As a result, the standard 1968 Chevelle was a muscle car that anyone could get into.

How did the 1968 Chevelle compare against others?

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Thanks to that, the 1968 Chevelle was a popular car, and it sold just under 63,000 units. That said, this sales figure was overshadowed by the later model years in the generation. Overall, the second generation of the Chevelle ultimately outsold other muscle car names at the time.

One of the reasons for the Chevelle's popularity has to do with the fact it appealed to average people and muscle car fans. The standard 1968 Chevelle was good enough for most folks, but the top-tier engine made it competitive with other muscle cars at the time, such as the Oldsmobile 442.

Although it sold well, the design changes that Chevy gave the Chevelle in its next model year means that the 1968 Chevelle is rather unique. It's no surprise, then, that folks who want to buy a 1968 Chevelle will probably have to pay about $60,000 for one.

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If you're thinking that the 1968 Chevelle was a capable competitor and that you need to drive one yourself, you should also be thinking about your insurance.

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