VOLO, Ill. It's been called "an amazing street beast," "built for speed" and "one gorgeous muscle car."
Unfortunately, swimming is one thing for which the Chevelle was never meant.
This award-winning 1970 Chevelle SS 454 recently was spied by Volo Auto Museum owners as they visited a nearby resort on the Chain O' Lakes. The car had rolled down a boat ramp into about 3 feet of water.
"I said 'Hey, that was our car,'" said Brian Grams, sales vice president.
The car had been among Volo Auto Museum's renowned collection until it was sold about a year ago. Grams said he recalled it as being among the most pristine Chevelles the 47-year-old museum has bought and sold.
"It took first place at every World of Wheels show this side of the Mississippi," Grams said. "Its previous owner spent $100,000 on a frame-off restoration."
Grams' father, Greg Grams, said he, too, remembered the pearl white car with the purple stripes.
"It was a real nice car," he said. "I can't believe it wound up in the lake."
