In the 1960s, if you wanted a full-size car that wore Chevrolet badging, you bought yourself a Biscayne. As an entry-level model, it was accompanied by the Bel Air, Impala, Caprice, and station wagons of differing trim levels. They weren’t fancy but just as capable as their cousins. This ’66 Biscayne is a basic 2-door sedan that was ordered with factory air conditioning and power steering. Located in Glendale, Arizona, it may have been in the Southwest all its life and presents well with some recent updates. The Bow-Tie survivor is available here on craigslist for $19,500 OBO. Thanks for another Great tip, T.J.!
After setting a sales record for full-size cars in 1965 (that would never be repeated), 1966 sales were off. But that didn’t keep Chevrolet from selling 83,200 Biscayne’s with six-cylinder power and another 39,200 with V8 engines. The seller’s car falls into the latter category, with a 283 that would have been the basic eight-cylinder offered in ‘66. Paired with a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission, this 63,000-mile car has recently had its 2-barrel carburetor rebuilt, new shocks and dual exhaust installed, and the front end refurbished.
The body looks solid, and the paint is original with the only blemish being a scrape on the nose. The interior has been treated to new seat covers and possibly door panels and looks quite nice, although rather stark. It’s unusual to see factory A/C ductwork in the dash on a budget car and we assume it will keep the occupants quite comfortable in summer weather.
No mention has been made regarding ownership, so we assume the seller is not the party that purchased the Chevy when it was new. However, some documentation has stayed the course. Someone has taken diligent care of the automobile after 56 years and it looks like it’s ready to take on another 56!
Lots of photos on the CL ad; one pic shows the car with aftermarket Cragar-type wheels -? Tinted glass all around is a nice touch, I wonder if that was a required option with the A/C. That ugly WalMart steering wheel cover is the only disappointment other than the nose scrape.
No, tinted glass was not required w/fact AC, altho’ some makers did suggest it. Normally, the car would’ve at least had a tinted w/shield (for makes where that was available as a stand-alone option), or full-tint, but clear glass AC cars do exist.
I like to know just what the seller is smoking. $19,500 for a plane jane cheap model Chevrolet is insane to say the least. As they say, a fool and his money soon part company. Probably worth about $4,000 at best.
Except for the bump on the front. This would make a great sleeper build, big block, 5 speed and PS with A/C. I know that’s not right, it’s a Biscayne why not?
No way that’s original paint – passenger side view shows lumpy, bubbling bodywork along the bottom from the rear quarter through the door.
The whole bottom half of the passenger side looks like bondo city.
Yet another B-body Chev…? I’ve said it before here on BF; that it seems that ’66 fullsize has an extremely high survival rate. Doesn’t seem to be near as many ’67 or ’65 in the market?
Now while there’s nothing really wrong about the ’66 fullsize I still find it to be a rather boring design. Soul-less face and gone are the circular tail lights. However I somehow like this one, probably mostly due to its basic setup. While it’s always cosy with carpeted floors, but weren’t Biscaynes supposed to come with rubber flooring…?
Right? I think that set is new. There are 56 years and 63,000 miles on that carpet.
I love rubber mats, basic purpose built vehicles…
Originally bought in Tucson. That explains the AC. Perhaps it was a choice between Biscayne with V8, AC and PS or more expensive Bel Air with AC but now PS or V8. Or any combination of deletions .
Living in Tucson, I know which I’d choose.
Thanks Russ. Nice piece.
What can we call this, a Bis-not-so-quick?
Oh, I like this.
Paint a full-tilt boogie 400-plus sized small block Chevy Red, back it up with a stout 4-speed (I’d use the tree-shifter to hit gears 1-4, and rig the parking brake release to engage reverse, just like the old street-racin’ days) stuff some sticky blackwall meats on the back and cruise the Steak ‘n’ Shake.
This’d be way fun …
Never heard of the three to four speed deal, saw a 4 spd on the column import pickup once.
Ford in 61 had this set up
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BjkRB1Ibjj0
My cousin had a 66 Biscayne with a 427 / 4 speed…. that car was the ultimate sleeper. Spent many a Sunday’s “fishing” with it. Good times!
That cars about as much survivor as Tammy Faye Baker. The lower doors and quarters are so loaded with “makeup” that if it rained on it would probably leak and streak. Especially the right side. Not only that the work was done poorly, probably DIY. That car would be high at half the price. Doesn’t mean some uninformed nitwit won’t pay it.
I’m new responding on this site.I thought that the badge/emblens on both front fenders indicated either a 283 ci used(v)-without flags & (V)-327-with the flags?
In 1969, I bought a similar are when I was a Senior in HS. It was a ‘65 Biscayne 2-door post, red, with a 327 and factory 4-speed. It was a great car.
I would think Chevy made only a handful of the poorer man’s big car BISCAYNE with A/C – & 3 speed yet! I would think most big chevies with a/c were caprices & less so, impalas back then.
Good luck finding correct BLUE floor mats these days(even aftermkt), except online – for a ton of money, of course.
Rt side looks more like it’s body damage along the lower body line starting in the front door going all the way back to the rear bumper. You can really see the creases in front & behind the rear wheel arch. When panels get creased it can definitely make ‘em look lumpy as hell, I’ve seen too many in the body shop that way over the last 20+ yrs.
A 56 year old enamel paint looking that good not real
Not so! Got a ‘66 Impala S/W survivor with original paint and interior! 49,565 when I got it! Big block, a/c with tinted windows.
I’d say that car left the factory with lawyer.
“Lacquer”
Wow, two 1960’s Biscayne’s on the same page. One mild & one wild. I know they are out of favor now, but back in the day when family demands called for a “full size” car and you wanted to go to the strip on Sunday’s, these were the weapon of choice.