Affliction Chevelle Aims to Create a New Muscle Car Trend

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The Affliction Chevelle combines the rat rod, NASCAR, drag racing and muscle car attributes into one package.

Matt Hunt of Matt Hunt Muscle cars built the Affliction Chevelle by hand and had the idea to combine the most popular trends in one vehicle.

Engine: A 383 CID Chevy features a Weiand 8:71 supercharger and a Holley HP EFI fuel injection system.

The Holley HP fuel injection system adds a modern touch to the Chevelle.

The racing-inspired dash features Autometer gauges and a Sparco racing steering wheel.

Hand-made aluminum seats with customized leather inserts and racing restraints offer a nostalgic race car look.

What's a vintage race car without an aluminum rear wing?

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Part muscle car, part rat rod, and with a hint of vintage drag and NASCAR features, Matt Hunt’s Affliction Chevelle is setting new trends in the muscle car arena. When this customized 1966 Chevelle made its appearance at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, the premiere show for the automotive aftermarket and racing industry, the car had automotive enthusiasts raving about how it was able to incorporate the most popular trends in one package.

Hunt is the owner and operator of Matt Hunt Muscle Cars in Westminster, CA. His idea for the Chevelle came from his many years of experience building everything from European imports, race cars, and American muscle cars. His selection of components for the Chevelle mostly had to do with his vision of being the first to combine the most popular trends and see how they would look all wrapped together in a typical muscle car.

The Weiand 8-71 supercharger is one of the first items to grab your attention and sits on top of a 383-cubic-inch small block Chevy engine. The huge “bug catcher” air scoop is hand made out of aluminum and sits on top of two Holley 900 cfm throttle-body units that make up the Holley HP Electronic Fuel Injection system. The engine is also equipped with a NOS dual plate nitrous oxide system that can add lots of extra horsepower at the flick of a switch.

Hunt sandblasted the Chevelle’s sheetmetal and left all the dents and areas in bondo alone. The sheetmetal sat and cured for a while to create a rusty patina finish that is sealed in with a coat of wax. To add to the nostalgic race car and rat rod appearance, Hunt added rivets along the car’s sheetmetal, which were each painstakingly made by hand.

The interior features an aluminum dash and aluminum seats that Hunt created. He also added hand-stitched upholstery that gives a well-worn appearance. The roll cage and racing harness add to the style of the Chevelle, while a nostalgic racing fuel cap on the rear driver’s side feeds a custom aluminum tank in the trunk. The B&M shifter operates a GM TH-350 automatic transmission that channels the power to a GM 12-bolt rear axle.

The chassis incorporates a custom front suspension with tubular upper and lower control arms and adjustable coil-over shocks, while the rear suspension is a four-link setup with dual adjustable coil-over shocks. The custom exhaust system uses three-inch diameter tubing and features cut-outs that allow the exhaust to exit in front of the wide Mickey Thompson ET Street race tires. A set of performance mufflers with turn-down pipes complete the exhaust system.

Up front, a set of skinny 215/50R17 street tires make the Chevelle look like it’s ready to hit the dragstrip. A set of Wilwood front and rear disc brakes provide ample stopping power to get it stopped safely—even with the Weiand blower and NOS nitrous system churning out the power.

Besides being easy to take care of–no polishing or worries about scratches—the car enjoys its attitude-provoking style as an attraction for the Affliction apparel brand. Hunt also hopes the ’66 Chevelle provides inspiration for a whole new style of muscle car.

All images/Dan Sanchez