Hot Rod Bio: Ryan’s Supercharged LS 1971 Chevelle Built to Be Driven

Ryan Miller’s 1971 Chevelle was built to be used, shared, and enjoyed with family in the passenger seat.

This Chevelle has history, personality, and a modern drivetrain that completely changes how it drives. It’s not a trailer queen. It’s a driver in the best sense of the word.

The Car

The Chevelle is an original 1971 California car that later made its way to Indianapolis, where it received a full restoration in 2009. Documentation, photos, and receipts back up its history, including original ownership records.

Ryan acquired the car about 12 years ago in a trade for a Harley Street Glide. At the time, it was already clean, straight, and well cared for, making it the perfect foundation for what would come next.

Original Roots, Modern Direction

From the factory, the car was a 305 with a Turbo 350 automatic. After Ryan got it, the drivetrain evolved into a big block 454, and eventually into what it is today.

That evolution led him to LS power, not because the big block wasn’t cool, but because modern drivability, reliability, and aftermarket support made too much sense to ignore.

Supercharged LS Power

Under the hood now sits an aluminum LS based engine topped with a ported LSA supercharger. The combination was assembled with help from St Paul Speed and Performance and features quality internal components, upgraded heads, and supporting hardware to handle serious power.

While it hasn’t been fully dialed in yet, the setup is conservatively estimated around 800 horsepower. Power is backed by a Turbo 400 transmission, chosen for its simplicity, strength, and ease of replacement if something ever lets go.

Clean, Functional Engine Bay

The engine bay is stripped down and purposeful. Cooling, intercooling, and plumbing were all carefully thought out and executed with help from local shops. Hydro Boost brakes were added for improved stopping power, and the power steering system was creatively repurposed using CVF billet components.

Everything under the hood serves a purpose, and nothing feels overcomplicated.

Suspension, Brakes, and Stance

The Chevelle rides on coilovers front and rear, paired with upgraded control arms and steering components. Corvette based disc brakes provide modern stopping power, and staggered wheels give the car an aggressive stance without sacrificing drivability.

It all comes together to make the car feel far more modern than its 1971 roots would suggest.

A Car Meant to Be Shared

Inside, the Chevelle is comfortable, familiar, and still evolving. While some interior pieces were lost in a storage unit fire, Ryan continues to refine the car as time allows.

More importantly, the car is part of family life. School drop offs, car shows, church, and weekend cruises all include the Chevelle, and Ryan’s kids are just as excited about it as he is.

Why We Love This Build

This Chevelle represents what Hot Rod Bio is all about. It blends history with modern performance, and it proves that you don’t need a perfect show car to build something special.

It’s a reminder that the best builds are the ones that get driven, shared, and passed down through experiences, not just photos.

Watch the full episode to hear Ryan tell the full story and see the Chevelle in action.