Brazil’s Chevrolet centennial celebration continues with updated Opala SS coupes and race-winning off-road truck
20 minutes ago
- Chevrolet Brazil auctioned three classics to mark the brand’s centenary.
- The Opala SS gains fuel injection plus a five-speed manual gearbox.
- Bilstein shocks give the restored coupe a sharper, more planted feel.
Chevrolet’s heritage push in Brazil isn’t slowing down. After kicking things off with a restored Omega sedan last year, the brand is now rolling out its second batch of Vintage projects, and this time it’s bringing muscle car vibes and rally history along for the ride.
The latest trio includes two restomod versions of the classic Chevrolet Opala and a competition-bred Chevrolet S10 that once tackled one of South America’s toughest off-road events. All three went to auction at the Carde Museum in Campos do Jordão, with part of the proceeds going to charity.
Related: The US Got A New Chevy Colorado, Brazil Got The Old One With A Lift Kit Instead
Let’s start with the Opalas, since they’re arguably the stars of the show. Chevrolet picked one 1976 model and another from 1979, both in the SS trim reserved for the most performance-focused Opalas of the time. Painted yellow and green respectively in homage to Brazil’s national flag, they look mostly stock, but don’t be fooled.
The factory 4.1 liter inline six in each car has been modified with modern electronic fuel injection and paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. Suspension and braking have also been upgraded with Bilstein shocks and performance rotors, making these cars far more usable today while still feeling like proper vintage machines.
Inside, it’s a similar story. You’ll find leather trim, improved safety with three-point belts, and subtle tech like Bluetooth audio and modern air conditioning. Unfortunately, no interior pics have been released yet, but it sounds like it’s all been done carefully so the original character isn’t lost, just refined.
S10 Truck With Racing Pedigree
But with the 2004 S10 Rally, Chevy’s engineers stuck closer to the original blueprints, even going so far as to retain some of the wear and tear. That patina was earned while the truck won one of South America’s toughest races in the early 2000s, Rally dos Sertões, and competed in multiple other similar events.
The truck still features the original FIA-mandated roll cage, bucket seats and five-point harnesses, but the paint was refreshed and there was one important modification made to the powertrain. In competition-spec the 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine cranked out more than 300 hp (304 PS), but it was too highly strung for road use, so engineers detuned it slightly to make it friendlier for the street.
No power figure is given, but with 362 lb-ft (491 Nm) on hand at just 2,000 rpm, it should move along reasonably briskly. GM says just finding the truck was a challenge, but when they finally unearthed it, it was in the same condition as when it last turned a wheel in anger.
GM’s Brazilian arm sent the trio under the hammer at the Carde Museum in Campos do Jordão, and the prices delivered. The green 1979 Opala pulled more than 25 bids and the yellow 1976 car drew at least 30, with each coupe hammering at R$500,000 (US$102,000) for a combined R$1 million (US$204,000). The S10 Rally added R$450,000 (US$92,000), all topping the R$437,000 (US$89,000) the restored Omega managed last December.
The new Opala owners get a fitting perk too: delivery at the original São Caetano do Sul plant where the coupes first rolled off the line. Proceeds go to GM Institute social projects.With more cars in the pipeline from Brazil’s Chevrolet Vintage program, we’re looking forward to seeing what the team turns its wrenches to next.
