Chevrolet’s Impala hit a sales record in 1965 that is likely to never be beaten. More than one million cars were produced, excluding the Biscayne and Bel Air. That’s a hard act to follow, and sales dipped a little in 1966 with enough cosmetic changes to set the two model years apart. The seller is an elderly gentleman who began a restoration of this ’66 Impala and almost finished it. That includes a new 350 cubic inch V8 (replacing a 283 or 327?). Located in Portland, Oregon, this Mist Blue Sport Coupe is available here on craigslist for $27,500.
The 1966 Impala had internal competition that it didn’t have before. The luxury Caprice debuted in mid-1965 as an Impala extension, then became a series of its own in ’66. It stole sales from the Super Sport because of the higher level of trim, but competition from the Chevelle Super Sport also played a factor when muscle cars came to mind. For 1966, the big Chevies had different headlights and a grille, and the triple taillights in the back went from being three circles on each side to rectangles.
We’re told this Chevy is restored, but that’s not quite accurate. The paint is rated at 8.5 on a scale of 1 to 10, so that’s not perfect or recent. The bench seat interior matches and makes for quite an attractive package, especially with Rally wheels, which the Impala didn’t receive as an option until 1967.
The new engine (not period-correct) doesn’t look quite complete (carburetor?), and we’re told the hood is detached. The listing was posted by a neighbor who says to call the seller directly, yet I find no phone number in the ad for prospective buyers to use. So, he’ll get craigslist emails that will have to be redirected to the owner.
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