Are automakers really moving away from the retrofad embarked upon at the turn of the millenium? That depends on whom you ask. While GM has managed to design some gorgeous cars with nary a nod to nostalgia, there is still a lot of car history ripe for the picking, including a pile of unused-but-fondly-remembered names of old performance cars.

GM Authority discovered that General Motors had filed a trademark application for the “Chevelle” name, and that has significance greater than the merely historical. What does it all mean?

It means that, at the very least, GM is seriously considering applying the Chevelle name either to a current or future model. With the trademark application comes a “Statement of Use”, which requires the applicant to state how the trademark will be used. The applicant must demonstrate that the trademark will be used soon, rather than for a future or planned product.

That means GM likely has a use for the Chevelle name already lined up. What could it be? Maybe the Chevy SS sedan will become a Chevelle? Or perhaps GM will actually bring one of its concept cars, possibly the Camaro-esque Code 130R, to production. It has been rumored that GM is looking to field a Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S fighter as a lightweight-but-powerful sports car for the masses. But would the Chevelle name really suit such a car?

For that answer, you’ll have to ask Dodge how the new Dart is doing.