I did some research to see how many 1966 Chevrolets, of all stripes, that we have covered on BF and I lost count. The list went on and on and it’s just endemic of the banner year blowout that the Bowtie experienced in ’66. Beyond that, today’s 1966 Chevrolet BelAir is one body style that is often not featured – a four-door sedan. About two weeks ago, I covered this 1966 Ford Fairlane four-door sedan and it was better appreciated than I anticipated, so today, let’s go crosstown and try it again with a Chevy version. This four-door full-sizer is located in Los Angeles, California and is available, here on craigslist for $14,000. Thanks to Pat L. for this tip!
Parsing the numbers, Chevy knocked out 2.2M total automobiles in ’66 (number one Ford just edged them out slightly) and 1.4M of that total were B-body full-size cars. Excluding station wagons, the total BelAir count (two and four-door sedans) tipped in at 233K copies. Yes, it was a HUGE year!
Our 86K mile subject car is claimed to be wearing its original paint job and is rust-free – some of that condition is the result of its garage lounge lifestyle. Unfortunately, the trunk lid has some significant detracting finish issues and the driver’s door doesn’t blend well but all-in-all, it makes for a decent presentation. The front bumper is bent upward just ever so lightly but that’s par for the course – I know from experience that these have a really lightweight piece that bends easily. Beyond that, no real complaints. The chrome slots work well on a car of this era and help defrump this four-door sedan’s existential vibe.
Old reliable is under the hood in the form of a 195 gross HP 283 CI V8 engine, and this one is connected to a three-on-the-tree manual transmission – a nice surprise over the uninspired Powerglide two-speed automatic that has usually weaseled its way in. The seller states, “This car is turnkey, runs and drives. Perfect, needs nothing, start it up and drive it anywhere you desire“.
We’re told that no tush has ever made a touchdown in the rear seat – how that’s known, I can’t be sure but I guess some police tape will be in order to make certain that it stays cordoned off and the 57-year-old record isn’t broken. The interior is claimed to be all original and it certainly looks good – almost too good, especially that carpet. It’s all stock except for the optional under-dash engine gauges. Oh, and one other thing, this is an original air-conditioned car which the seller suggests was a very big option back then. I’d agree, especially on a BelAir – it would be nice to know if it still works.
Chevrolet had their styling down pat in ’66, actually, they all did, Ford, Plymouth, Dodge, even AMC – you name it. We were nearing the end of the no-government-regulation era and everything started to change shortly after i.e. safety, design, mechanical, air quality, fuel mileage, etc. And while the two-door Impala hardtop cuts a more stylish swath, this BelAir four-door does alright for itself. Last thoughts? What do you think about the price, just right or not quite?
3 on the tree 🌳 makes it. 🙌 😎
Beautiful lines.
Nice family mover. Low frills but A/C to cope with LA traffic. I would install dual circuit master with disc brakes and add power steering and a floor shift. Probably would install a 4-speed down the road. I believe first gear isn’t synchronized on the early 3 speed units. Someone can chime in to correct me on that. I agree by the mid 60’s GM had hit full stride. My friend has a 66 Pontiac Catalina coupe that I would choose over this Belair. I think it’s the lucite steering wheel that does it for me😊
700r4
Alphasud you are correct. The Saginaw 3 speed was not 1st gear synchronized.My first car at 15 was 66 belair wagon 3 speed column shift no options and radio delete 283 195 hp.Bought it for 100 from my cousin who used blow up 69 z28’s regularly. First thing I ‘d do is ditch those awful wheels or at least flip the tires to blackwall.Poverty caps and painted steelies is what it needs imo.This one has the fan shroud as an ac car.Non ac just had a little metal tab soldered to the top middle of the radiator.Can’t tell if has ps shroud in the way.I’d do the dual master conversion with disc brakes and a prop.valve as well as dual exhaust and glass packs.Sounds. cool shifting thru the gears. Lf door has been repainted and probably faded differently due to it being most likely a different kind of paint or they painted it a shade off .Nice car.It’s priced about right imo.glwts.
Radios were on option on 1966 Chevrolets. If your car didn’t have a radio, it was never ordered with one. You don’t delete something that is an extra cost option. I don’t know how this delete nonsense keeps getting circulated around the internet.
Mine was black plastic and ribbed.I know radios were an option but the covers are still called radio delete covers.Look it up in a vintage GM parts counter book and see what the part is called.That’s why I said the car had NO options. Same thing with dash clocks.
Tony, I agree 100%. You don’t delete something that is an extra cost option.
Regardless of what verbiage a vintage GM parts counter book may use.
One of my neighbors had a new ’66 Caprice 2 door ht. It was tan with a brown vinyl top. I thought it was a beautiful car. He didn’t keep it long as his wife hated it for some reason.
This from website on classic car transmissions:
“Synchronized first gears came to GM cars in 1966, and apparently completely across the board. Everything from the Corvair to Buick to Corvette. But GM light trucks had to wait until 1968, at least some of them. Like the Falcon and Mustang, the base Corvair with its non-synchro three-speed was far from genuinely sporty. But there was an optional fully-synchronized four speed available starting in late 1960. Very recommendable; I had one in my ’63 Monza.”
It also depends on whether it was a borg warner or saginaw transmission. My dads 65 Bel Air which I drove had a synchronized first gear. Borg ward 3 speeds were synchro first gear since ’65. Saginaw since’66. This is from various classic car specialists. The owners manual from my current ’65 Impala does not specify if it is synchronized in first gear or not and I assume that is because some were and some were not depending on manufacturer of 3 speed trans in ’65.
That was supposed to say “Borg Warner 3 speeds were synchro first gear since 65” not Borg Ward!
Brings back memories, a buddy of mine was given one just like it from his grandparents. We ran the wheels off it for years. Good running car.
* Note you can put a big trash can between the seats full of ice and beer
Beautiful car. Great price. If I wanted one, I’d get it. The 3 on the tree makes it perfect. A buddy had one when we were kids but not as nice and got t boned.
Baretta Bomb!
My first car was a 1966 Cutlass F-85 2 door hardtop. A 235ci straight 6 cylinder with a standard 3 on the tree. First gear was synchronized. Only problem I would run into is that the shifting linkage under the hood was slightly wore out enough that if you didn’t do a perfect H pattern shift from first up ,over, and up into 2nd gear, the linkage would lock up and you would be stuck in two gears at once and it would stall the car out if you let the clutch out. I changed it to a 3 speed on the floor and got rid of all that worn out linkage coming through the firewall from the column. One mistake I made was not converting the single brake master cylinder to a dual head master cylinder. Cause, one nice morning on my way to school, I went to stop at an upcoming T intersection, no brakes. A brake line that ran to the rear brakes, was a bit rusty, busted a leak and lost all brakes. I downshifted into 2nd gear to slow down but ran outta road. Tried to make turn because if I went straight, there was nothing but telephone poles, I was still moving pretty fast when I attempted to take the turn( which was dirt country back road), car went into a power slide and hit the ditch on the drivers side and rolled her over. Stopped upside down hanging by my lap belt. Real fun car while it lasted. But since then I had 2 ‘67 Cutlass 4dr, 2 more ‘66 Cutlass 2dr, I was a 442 with the 400ci engine and Rochester Quadajet 4 barrel carb, A Hurst 4 speed on the floor and Holley Headers. w/dual exhaust. The other 2dr was pretty plain with the 330ci engine with a Holley 650 dual pumper carburetor. 2 speed power glide automatic. I do like the classic Oldsmobiles.
Our father had use of a 1965 white Biscayne 4 door, with a turquoise interior. It had a six, three on the column, a standard radio/no pushbuttons, and factory in dash air conditioning. He was bookkeeping at a septic tank company two towns up from here. The owner had the car painted in the orangey red the equipment was painted. That was the only bad thing the man ever did, he was really good to daddy. Daddy got sick in 1975 and had to quit. By then there was a dark green ’73 Impala 4 door sedan, picked up cheap from the gas crisis that was going on. Mom phoned the owner and asked when we could send it back, owner said, it was Daddy’s car, and he’d sign it over. He was an exception man to every one he dealt with.
Very nice! My parents had a ’65 Impala very similar to this, even in the same color.
It had a 283 2bbl, with PG, PS and factory AC. The AC was an expensive luxury at the time.
The 1965-’70 GM B/C body is the fourth best selling car of all time.
I’d repaint the car to code, and see to its minor flaws. It’s too nice to not leave it stock.