One of the all-time great, popular when new and popular a half-century later, muscle cars is the Chevelle SS396. In the mid-1960s, Chevrolet was chomping at the bit to get into the big-engined, mid-sized game and they executed their strategy beautifully with cars like this 1966 SS396 Chevelle. This example is located in Independence, Kansas, and available here on eBay for a current bid of $6,100, ten bids tendered so far.

By 1966, Chevrolet was coming off of the success and interest generated in ’65 with their very limited production Z16 Chevelle. Pontiac and Oldsmobile were off to the races with their GTO and 442, respectively, and Chevrolet clearly saw marketing space for a regular production, 396 CI, powered intermediate. The SS396 Chevelle remained a Chevrolet stalwart performer through the 1970 model year but then things became a bit muddled after that.

The seller states that this Chevelle has been off the road since the early nineties and it is a bit rough around the edges. The body is basically sound and the seller mentions a non-original fender and hood that have been added but neither is in particularly good condition as the hood is bent and the fenders have Bondo in the usual places. The wheel covers are from a ’65 or ’66 Impala SS.

Surface rust abounds but that is not of serious concern. What is, however, is the frame, it is rusted through. That being the case, it is easy to assume that there is additional softness/frame rot in other places like the floors, trunk pan, and other, non-disclosed frame locations. Kudos to the seller for full disclosure.

This SS396 is a bit unusual in the way it is equipped. It has the standard, non-matching number (engine sequence and body sequence numbers don’t match), 325 HP variant of the 396 engine but it is shackled with a Powerglide, two speed, automatic transmission and A/C equipped, not typical for 1966 Super Sport Chevelle. The seller advises that this is a non-running car, no mention if the engine will turnover. Of note is the Holley carburetor, this is correct for a ’66 vintage 396 motor as they came equipped with either a Holley or a Rochester Quadrajet. While the A/C is missing its compressor, the air handler is still attached to the firewall and this is helpful as that part can be difficult to find for this vintage Chevelle. The one oddity that does stick out is the differential, it is a Chevrolet ten bolt unit where it should be the heavy-duty, twelve bolt assembly. Regardless of transmission employed (three/four-speed manual, or a Powerglide automatic – no Turbo-Hydramatic until ’67) a twelve bolt unit was mandated with the big-block engine.

Moving inside is an environment as equally as rough as the exterior. In keeping with this Chevelle’s uniqueness, it gets more so with its standard bench seat and column shift, both items that were generally replaced with optional bucket seats and a center console-mounted shift lever. Unique can be good, however. What’s not good though is the general interior condition. It appears as if it has seen a lot of open-to-the-elements exposure. There is no word as to where or how this car was stored but it looks like it was done poorly and the interior will require a complete dismantling and major reconditioning. And based on the condition of the frame, it would be safe to assume the floors are very soft, if even intact. There is photographic evidence of what appears to be a rusted through, under the back seat rear floor. The steering wheel is an aftermarket piece.

So yes, a ’66 Chevelle SS396 is still a popular, high dollar collectible car, though this example is somewhat hampered by the Powerglide transmission and considerably more hampered by its general, deleterious condition. That frame would have me very concerned. If I were in the market for one of these, I’d pass on this example and hold out for one in better shape, how about you?