Originally bright red inside and out, this highly original Chevy would have been one sharp Chevy back in the day. The 1966 Chevrolet Caprice comes to market here on craigslist. The Salinas, California classic apparently spent much of its life in the hands and garage of its second and current owner… who bought it at age 15! Caprice topped the full-size trim tiers at Chevrolet that year, and the two-doors all came in this formal roofline. If you wanted the fastback look, you bought an Impala. The Caprice features a 396 cid (6.5L) “Turbo-Jet” V8 that “starts right up.” No word on whether the big coupe drives or not, but the garage-isolated pictures suggest not. The asking price of $10,000 “firm” buys a nice starting point: a mostly-original big-block Chevy with a console, bucket seats, and more. Thanks to reader local_sherriff for spotting this never-restored beauty.
Though faded now, the red paint might come back with some elbow grease. Shiny bumpers and trim compliment the straight-looking body panels. Square tail lights replaced the previously signature round units for ’66.
More shiny bits in the interior really pop against the red. Though mileage and VIN escaped the listing, that driver’s seat looks barely used!
Caprice power options began with the 283 cid V8. This 325 HP 396 represented the top option for normal buyers. Savvy dealers and gear-heads could have dialed up the 425 HP RPO (Regular Production Order) L72 solid-lifter 427, but this 396 was the “big engine” that year for most buyers, whether you had in mind to pull a travel trailer or burn rubber for fun. Thanks to wikipedia.org for some details. Though some maintenance items and a master cylinder challenge the “all original” claim, simply retaining the original 396 would be a big win compared to most cars we see. With a few deviations returned to stock and buffed-out paint, this Caprice could become one of the sharpest never-restored rides at your local show ‘n’ shine. Do you have any good big block Chevy stories?
This is a good deal! Big Block non rusty bucket seat console Impala ✅
Only complaint it’s not an a/c car! What can I say, want creature comfort now! I don’t know if it’s the lighting, but the interior looks more bronze than red.
I perfer the roof line of the two door Impala rather than the Caprice for the ’66.
It looks to be in pretty good condition though.
It’s curious to know that the 396 Turbo Jet had three power options. 325 hp, 360 hp and 375 hp, so I consider the first one as the more rare version. Fuel and large engines were pretty common at the time, so the weakest ones might be a bit more valued today. Now, to make it even more distinct, you should find a powerglide or a 3-speed manual.
To me, this seems like the first buyer really wanted a hot car, but he didn’t wanted the frivolities of a luxurious coupe (vinyl roof, plushy seats, interior lights…). Not even air conditioning or a full gauge pack was installed. Fastbacks were just becoming popular and yet he had a chance to buy something under a different and fresh name. The owner saw this and thought “mustang already is a fastback, charger is now a fastback, there are a lot of fastbacks but only the Caprice, like the future Camaro, is a true hardtop. So, I want the largest hardtop dressed like a Camaro.”
The aftermarket bucket seat upholstery is absolutely revolting as a GM enthusiast and originality buff for 60s Motor City nostalgia.
Whomever did that deserves to be drawn and quartered IMHO.
$10K USD, man.
Do you know how much weed I could buy for $10k USD, EH?
Bob
Those buckets are factory.
Correct Anthony – we had no less than two of these new at my church in 1966….one a blue one my buddy has duplicated his dad’s and run’s a built 454 on the race circuit down here and the other a brown or copper….which Phil the son of that owner wnen he got it later took the side out on my RM21J……still hurts.
Anthony hit the nail; these are correct seats. Impala got vertical pleats without buttons while Caprice horizontal with buttons.
I agree color is a bit off but remember California is harsh on interiors. FYI repop upholstery for ’66 Caprice wasn’t on the market until only a few years ago, meaning there’s potential the interior seen here could be a copy of the OE covers made in a lesser material at some local upholstery shop
But your investment would go up in smoke! I would take the car which I would have a return on investment. You will have nothing but ashes that you will try to roll and smoke again! LOL!
The seats look to be the bronze, not the red, interior. Hard to tell from the rest of the interior, but it looks too dark for the ‘red’ one. Car has at least one re-paint (no pinstripe), so it might’ve been bronze originally and re-painted red
I can’t tell if the seats are simply faded or what but they sure are ugly.
Those taillights are original. 1965 had round tail-lights. 1966 had the rectangular taillights as shown in the photos. For Caprice in 1966 the rectangular taillights had chrome strips as shown in the photos (except for the Caprice Stationwagon) Impalas for 1966 had the same rectangular taillights but without the chrome strips.
To the knockers…..Dont forget the steering wheel looks crooked. LOL
Its a damn good deal, clowns, quit knocking it.
Sunshine does a # on vinyl.
This could be a very nice ride. Body looks good.
Probably been painted once. My thoughts.
If this car was 2 states closer it would be sold on inspection of unmolested sheetmetal. These cars were the cars that were ordered then heavy modification began.
“Big Heavy”
To see one of the BB Cars that has not been wrecked, repaint, or modifeid in any way is rare indeed. I am surprised that this car would last one day, especially in California with the higher cost of living.
This car is a steal at 10k, I will look further.
I’ve always prefered the looks of the ’65 over ’66 BUT…….for the price though, this Caprice is lookin’ pretty sweet. LOL 😇