GM executives must have anticipated they had a winner on their hands almost immediately with the Chevrolet Caprice nametag, as the moniker went from being just a trim option for the Impala in 1965 to its own stand-alone model for the second year in ’66, and with the full-size market red hot in the mid-sixties the car went on to be one of the best selling vehicles during the counterculture decade. But there really wasn’t a whole lot rebellious about the Caprice, unless you considered stuffing a 396 in a woodie station wagon outside of societal norms, so if you’re into protesting small blocks this 1966 Chevrolet Caprice Custom Estate here on eBay might be right up your alley. This one’s in Modesto, California, with bidding up to $8,600 at the moment, but that’s not enough as the reserve has yet to be reached.
The seller says this is an original California wagon, and if the stated mileage of 62,000 is accurate perhaps the Chevy has spent its entire life living in The Golden State, with the black plates offering a ray of hope that the vehicle has been in a friendly climate most of the time. The owner says it’s original and very solid, but doesn’t mention whether or not that’s still all of the factory paint outside, though with the thin areas underneath the side windows, it’s definitely not had a recent respray. While there are a few deformities in the finish and some faux-wood peeling, the body still looks quite decent overall and I’m not seeing any areas near the rockers or quarters that are a cause for alarm.
Red was a popular interior color back in the sixties, and I’m sure upholstery shop owners frowned that you could walk into your local K-Mart and buy a roll of duct tape in the color of your choice during this era and make the vinyl repairs yourself. Maybe the previous caretaker here purchased a couple of spools, as the makeshift fixes are extensive, so the next driver will probably want to splurge and get the seats professionally recovered, or at minimum invest in a set of inexpensive covers. The instrument panel itself appears to be in pretty good shape, although the dash is displaying at least one rippled crack, but if it’s just a driver-quality fun wagon you’re seeking perhaps a cleverly cut piece of red or black material of your choice on top might be sufficient to hide it.
For me, the most eye-appealing part of the wagon can be seen when you lift the hood, a 396 that got you 325 horsepower in bone stock form. This one’s still the factory powerplant, and although there’s no word on if it’s ever had a rebuild the seller does say the big block starts right up, plus it’s stated to run and sound amazing. We get a couple of good shots from down below as well, which seem to show a solid and well-preserved undercarriage. The seller also includes his phone number in the listing and says he’s willing to discuss offers, so I’m curious how much some of our readers think would be a fair price to pay for what we’re seeing here. What are your thoughts?
$8600??!?
Maybe closer to $6800 and that’s if everything else is good…
Would be a fun project tho! Frumpy as it is, there’s not a bunch of these left from what I’ve seen even in central California where ICEs are being outlawed more quickly than most folks know.
Nice tow vehicle for my Willys
396ci moves the family 👪 around 🙌🏁
Great bandwagon. Get your guitar there fast lol
Neat car, with a big block and factory A/C in great shape, what’s not to love? I’d try to find a factory A/C compressor, though. I hope it finds a good home.
Factory compressor is obsolete,r-12 is no longer available.would have to convert to 134a or 1234yf.I am sitting on about 20lbs of r-12,leftover from the early 2000s.
R12 is still around, from guys like you hoarding it. Last year put 2 cans into my 69 that my neighbor had. Still ice cold, although I have to get my vents working, hopefully simple vacuum issue.
It has the factory AC compressor. I think you’re mistaking the AIR pump(which was an early California pollution control) for the compressor
A definite 100 here, an untouched original that is optioned nicely, and one that few copies still exist as the Chevelle,Camaro club, and the tin worm sent most of these to the big parking lot in the sky. If I were stupid rich and owned an abandoned warehouse that wasn’t in a war zone, items like this would be in it in a heart beat.
Dog dish hubcaps, again. Those were not offered on the Caprice in 1966.
Rarer is the 4 speed 396. Which would be my wagon to have.
This had a first generation turbo 400 for a transmixer
Cool car. I’d leave it as is except I’d do the front seat and a dual master with disc brakes and double check everything. My driver long ago for fifteen years was a 67 396 Impala wagon had Hooker headers and flow masters .I’d love to put this one in the garage. 10 -15 k car imo.Good luck trying to find trim parts though but I’d just leave it faded maybe use some Pledge and register the black plates.The dang sway bar bushings are unavailable and if you find em nos they’re getting 300 and up a pair.The ac compressor looks original a6 to me with the original frigidaire sticker still on it.If I remember they hold 4.25 lbs. Of r12.Gotta love those original dealer metal plate frames.glwts.
Ditto on the brakes. Single-point failure modes when dealing with critical systems like brakes is never a good idea. Fortunately, kits to convert the system to a dual-circuit master cylinder with front disc brakes are widely available and relatively inexpensive.
I have 30 lbs of R12 and my late uncle’s 1970 Catalina sw 455-400-323 factory ordered with 20 upgraded for speed and towing. Must sell. Stored since 1987 in Maine. Like new. YH block.
Funny you say that, I have been protesting small blocks lately! Don’t be fooled by crankshaft wizardly numbers! Anyone else notice they just stroke the heck out of a LS & pass it off as say a 427? While this 396 is not the king of Rats there is no denying he’s a Rat!
Another wagon with a stupid surfboard.
I don’t recall there being any place to surf
anywhere near there.
Ever heard of a “Surfin Safari”? That’s were you load up your boards and gear and take a trip to the coast. A bunch of people, gear and boards. Boards go on top so there is room in the back. Back in that time boards were long and the back glass had to be rolled down. Ever take a long trip with the back glass down? Fumes will roll in the car. Why are so many wagons in Ca.? Explanation above! Don’t call something stupid till you research it, then it will not make you look the same.
I drove my 67 396 Impala wagon all over for 15 years with the back glass down and never had a problem. Thats why the tail pipe exits are on the sides and not out back on station wagons.
Wagons ho! Or, something like that. Love a long roof with some bark on the sides. Would have been the “me and all of my friends” car in HS. Later a scout hauler like the Electra in the 80s and 90s. She may deserve better wheel trim but either way you still have the only one.
Sweet. A 396, patina and factory air! I’d love to daily this sled.
wjtinfwb, Me too!
I did not know that 66’s could be had w/woodgrain. I’ve never seen one in my almost 67 yrs. If the miles are correct, I’d put a couple grand in it & use it for my sleeping spot at campgrounds while trout fishing in mtns, Nascar races, dragstrip races, & my other interests. Mom had a 66 Belair wagon, solid dark blue w/283. It only had 62,000 on it when she traded for a 72 Impala. My 1st car was a light green 66 Impala two door.
Wood applique was offered in the ’66 brochure. Thumbing thru that and the ’66 show how much Chevy was promoting the Mark-IV motor.
When I was much younger, we had two like this across the street. One was a company car. The neighbor was service manager for one of the Chevy dealerships. He used to bring home all sort of neat stuff, including the bosses, Corvette.
Cool wagon, really nice with ac power windows 396. I’d fix the rust around the rear quarter glass and redo the wood grain, and definitely have the seats reupholstered. Those few things would make a world of difference on this car other than the upholstery the repairs are do it yourself.
A friend’s mother had one of these with the 396 when he was in high school. His dad, a Michigan State cop, was royally pissed when the wagon came home one night with the motor mounts broken. Friend got in a boatload of trouble. Found out a few years later that this was not that uncommon a problem with the big blocks (which were probably underrated even then).
Nice cars, though. My Mom’s ’67 Caprice had the 275hp 327 which was a sweet motor in its own right. Big, fast, and stylish – there isn’t an SUV built that compares to these classic longroofs.
Why make a big deal about r12?? Convert it to 134?? Blows 1 1/2-2 degrees less than r12!! Done hundreds of conversions and they work great!!! If you can tell the difference in 1 1/2-2 degrees you’re a better man than me!!!!
R12 systems blow ice cold the second you turn them on, rather than hot, hot, hot for a virtual eternity before cooling.
But, we’re ‘saving the planet’ one degree at a time.
The dinosaur, fax, vhs, minivan , commodore tandy, answering macine , el camino, rotary telephone , flip phone , wether its fashion or gone out of fashion , times change and not too many people want new station wagons , wich is why they aren’t produced anymore,i will stick to my suv , thank you …
A Ford Flex is (was) as close as you can get to a modern station wagon. Low entry/exit height, super smooth ride, plenty of room for passengers and cargo, eats up the highway miles in comfort. And by the comments we get, pretty damn stylish.
But, even with all that going for it, Ford’s ineptitude (preferring to spend all marketing $ on the Explorer) killed it off.
Isn’t it great when someone is so down on what many many other people find interesting? Thanks for nothing bud.
Our local drag racer hero had one of these for his tow car, 396, wood trim and all. We lusted after it!