The Impala Super Sport would continue its popularity in 1966, with more than 119,000 copies produced that year. The 427 cubic inch V8 was new mid-season, and this coupe appears to have one paired with a 4-speed manual. The car was treated to full-blown restoration about 15 years ago and still looks super clean. It can be found in Rochester, New York, and here on eBay where the Buy It Now price has been lowered to $33,900, although the seller will entertain offers. Thanks, Larry D, for bringing this looker to our attention!
Although the new upscale Caprice found 181,000 buyers in 1966, the rest of the full-size Chevy line would still account for 1.3 million automobiles. The cars had been redesigned for ‘65, so changes the following year would be minimal, receiving a new grille and headlight bezels, forward-thrusting fenders, and square horizontal taillights, replacing the round ones that Chevy had adopted in 1961. Two versions of the new 427 V8 were available: the L36 which produced 390 hp and found 3,287 buyers and the L72 which was good for 425 hp and was installed in only 1,858 cars. So, if the 427 in this SS is original, it would be one of relatively few built that year.
The seller has owned this car for 35 years and gave it a frame-off restoration in 2006. The car appears to have always been babied, spending much of its time in a climate-controlled environment. The burgundy paint (Madeira Maroon?) looks outstanding, and we’re told the only time the car ever sees water is when it’s being washed. The car has a fender-mounted spotlight that the seller says came from the factory, although it’s not currently working. A national show judge told him he’d never seen that option before on a ’66 SS.
We’re told the machine runs as good as it looks. The claimed mileage is 59,000 which I think could be accurate. The black interior certainly looks to have been used little, with the only thing amiss being the AM/FM radio. The seller has a rather stiff purchasing requirement in that he requires 50% of the total payment when the auction closes and the rest in his bank before the car leaves his property. Perhaps this is done to minimize or eliminate eBay trolls.
Nice car. Would be nice to see the original induction system and I’m not sure an aluminum intake was an option on the 427. Maybe someone can clarify. Nothing is mentioned in the ad so one has to assume it’s a factory L36 427. Think the owner would get more attention if they provided more info and pictures to help buyers with the sale.
i’m with you I don’t think in 66 there was an aluminum manifold on the 427. I believe they did come out with an aluminum manifold in the high horsepower 427 but I don’t believe it was in 66
1967 Corvette L-72 had Aluminum Intake
as a one time owner of a 427 425 hp yes it came with a aluminum manifold,red valve covers,high flow exy.manifolds, 4 speed muncie,390 gears 12 bolt posi.
dual snorkel black air cleaner, dual exy reptangle intake ports,4 blt mains 7/16 rod bolts, steel crank,fordge pistons.11″ clutch. it way very fast.
L72 427 was the solid lifter high compression ratio version, open air cleaner at least on the Corvette, aluminum Winters intake manifold, high flow exaust manifold, big Holley carb……it was the best 427 street freak engine Chevy ever came up with. The L78 396 was simply a smaller bore version of this package.
The color is spot on for a bruiser like this. Certain colors just give me the impression of a powerhouse, like this one here. Nice ride…..on high octane racing fuel.
The 427/390 came with a cast iron intake, while the 427/425 used an aluminum one, but the intake on this car is an aftermarket single plane manifold. Not much under the hood is stock, and the seller doesn’t mention if it’s the original engine. I’m guessing it’s not?
I disagree with the author’s comment that the 427 was a mid-year option. While the 396 was introduced later in the 65 production run, the 427 was available from the beginning of 1966.
The car was parked in a climate controlled garage? Seriously look at that garage
got to wonder if where they get the info on these write ups it states tail lights in 66 changed from the round ones that chevy adopted in 1961 the round ones 3 for impala 2 for all others started in 1958 took a brake with the 1959 and returned in 1960 do you homework
My favorite low ride…the Impala.
Rare it may be however, the spot light would have to go. Also, I’m sometimes a fan of raised white letter tires but, I don’t think they work on this car. Lastly, I’d have to remove all the chorme “Go-fasters” from under the hood. Otherwise, If I was still in the market…. this one would be on my short list.
Looks like a well presented Impala and the price seems reasonable for what’s powering and moving the car
My Dad had 63 and 64 Impalas that also came from factory with the spotlight option. His were ordered with the police package. Not sure if you could get the spotlights without the police package, anyone else know? Thanks.
It’s a shame that our world is such a mess that the seller feels the need to ask for 50% cash at auction end…not sure what that means though. Greed is bad and so are scammers…
The 50% down payment is a red flag, as is the seller’s single feedback rating. I would contact the seller and request permission to send someone to inspect it. My guess is that the seller has already concocted a story for that situation.
Don’t ever recall seeing body side molding on these cars – it goes 3/4 around the whole car! Nor do i ever recall seeing 427 emblem on trunk lid, or a top of dash tach, much less the fender mounted spotlight – ck out the control for it on the dash!
I had an ImpalaSS 396 I bought with 9,000 miles when I was discharged from the Marines just as the previous owner was drafted. Everything was optioned back then and mine was wired. It had single exhaust although large diameter, I had the Caprice console which swept up into the dash with a large tach in it. Those body side moldings were standard and I don’t think that trunk emblem was right. I was a sales manager and dealer through the 70’s and eighties and this car taught me to be careful when ordering, that single exhaust was ridiculous.
That’s not a tach it’s the clock, had the same thing on a 66 Impala I had
All 66 Impalas had the side molding from fender to fender. Originally, the had either a white or black insert line (depending on body color). None on a 65, so that’s probably what you’re thinking of.
There’s a lot of strangeness on this car. It could be sweet but a lot of stuff would have to come off to make it so.
Oh, and it needs a real air cleaner!
Regarding the spotlight, it apparently is a factory option. I assume the handle sticking out of the dash next to the headlight switch the control for it? I can’t believe for a moment Chevrolet would install something like that. It isn’t even centered on the trim panel. It must be a home-brew fix. Under the hood I would take it back to at least stock appearing and delete the raised white letter tires. Wheel covers and whitewalls, or blackwalls with dog dish caps. Overall a pretty cool and unique 66.
The fender mount spotlight was a dealer installed option. I think they took it out of a boat option catalogue. I started at a large metro Chevy dealership in the mid 70’s, while in college. I was a veteran junkyard scrounger by that time so I was in heaven when the dealership tasked me with cleaning out and organizing their obsolete optional equipment area. I ended up buying most of the old inventory for scrap prices. There were 3 of these remote spotlight kits, dozens of vinyl floor mats, solid mast (FM) antenna kits, a few AM/FM radio kits, 2 stereo multiplex kits and dozens of back- up light kits. I saved the stuff I thought I’d use and sold the rest at swap meets. I think I had the spot lights for a few years before wholesaleing them. I certainly wouldn’t have cut a hole in my fender for one. They were featured in the accessory brochures included with your owner’s manual in the mid ’60s.
Chevy changed their accy spotlight design for 65. Previously, they’d been the “old” style with the handle protruding through the body. Those were in the ‘normal’ position near the windshield/door opening. In 65, this style came out w/the remote knob on the dash. They are extremely rare, but in this case, that does not make them desirable! In the late 60s, I looked at a yellow 65 SS coupe that had one. Had I bought it, the first thing I would have done is have the fender hole filled & painted (and that thing trashed).
I owned 3 of them, but all three had a 396 and 4speed. One had a viny rooftop. I wish I didn’t sell them
A car you would not be unimpressed with. Torque Thrust rims with 55’s would compliment it.
The VIN indicates this was born an Impala SS. How original it remains is unknown.
A spot light was listed as a dealer installed option for 1966. A tachometer could be either an RPO or dealer installed. If ordered the tach would be mounted in the instrument panel to the right of the speedometer, not on the dashboard. The SS 427 callout on the trunk lid isn’t OEM. It should be Chevrolet in script with Impala SS underneath in block letters similar to the one on the grill.
Obviously, the original owner when ordering this car forgot to check the “spotlight delete” box . .
A nice looking car but a thorough inspection is necessary. I see a number of engine mods, straight tail Pipes (ugh!), speakers in the kick panels, missing radio, armrest repaired with electrical tape, trunk lid badging doesn’t look right, etc.
I briefly owned a ’65 Impala SS convertible, 327/4 speed. If I remember correctly, mine had a vacuum gauge in the RH pod where tach (or clock) would go, and a clock was mounted in the console forward of the shift lever? I nice looking car that needed way more work than this 18yo could afford to do (or have done).
Taking a good look at the auction, I don’t see anywhere stated that the auction is for a 66 SS427. I continually see “big block” and “SS” but no mention of it coming from the factory as a SS427. If it was a factory SS427, it would be plastered all over the auction.
Just saying…….
Do something with the exhaust… put tips off a chevelle SS on it or something. The straight pipes sticking 5″ past the bumper looks like crap. And the spotlight original or not is an eye sore.
It always amazes me the depth of readers knowledge about makes, their engine builds and dealer options. I’ve forgotten most of what I thought I knew ! As the owner has had it 35 years or whatever I’m guessing he’s played with a lot of the elements like the trunk lid emblems, the manifold etc. .
If you think back to 1966 who would have bought a new SS with a 4 speed? Had to be a younger guy or gal who wasnt ready for a then new smaller Chevelle or whatever. Maybe a drag racer :)
Sweet looking car though and the row your own makes it for me.
Reading a few comments about white letter tires I thought I was alone on this, I mean people throw white letter tires on anything but imho it looks tacky and hick. Once I actually saw a Lincoln Continental with them. Only thing worse is steering wheel covers.
spotlight was dealer install..whats a full blown resto?? nice car for 25K
Interesting reading from all of you. Thanks. I’m a little surprised this doesn’t have the 4 gauge package in the console. I really liked that option.
Wasn’t that Caprice only?
I agree Aaron. That 4 gauge was a kicker in these Cheve’s. It really set the interior off.
Before the photos are taken, a little time with a vacuum cleaner and a damp rag goes a long way.
Size of the air cleaner tells a bigger story about this car. No mention of rear axle either. Good luck to the seller.