Yikes! What happened here? There’s no doubt about it, ’66 full-size Chevies are among my favorites, thanks to a ’66 Impala SS convertible I owned years ago; it was one of my favorites! But this Caprice two-door hardtop? Well, it has its visual problems, but let’s check it out and see what’s really here. Kewanee, Illinois, is where you’ll find this first-year Caprice coupe, and it’s available here on eBay for a current no-reserve bid of $1,025, with two bids tendered so far.
To compete with Ford’s top-drawer LTD, Chevrolet introduced its range-topping Caprice midway through the ’65 model year. It started as strictly a four-door hardtop, but by ’66, a two-door hardtop, with its own formal roofline, and a station wagon were part of the Caprice’s line-up. Sales were good in ’66 with 181K Caprices finding new homes. As for our subject, where does one start? The elephant in the room is that silly, oversized, tacked-on cowl induction hood scoop. Beyond that are issues with body seam degradation, missing trim, and surface rust, though the body’s integrity seems OK. Fortunately, there’s no indication of serious rot. As for the wheels, I’d say eighties vintage Camaro.
Don’t believe the “427 Turbo-Jet” fender badges; this Caprice’s engine room is occupied by what appears to be a 275 gross HP 327 CI V8 engine outfitted with an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor and topped with an open-element air cleaner. And of course, the old saw of “Car ran and drove when parked” is claimed by the listing. The rear wheel connection is made via a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission. Of note is the master cylinder; it’s a dual-circuit unit and a welcome upgrade over the original single-circuit piece.
The interior is, well, it’s all inside. No idea where those seats originated, the dash cluster is from a ’67 Impala, there’s an aftermarket steering wheel on the job, and an oversized tachometer to keep track of the Powerglide’s single shift from low to high. The backseat area is completely blown up, and the door panels look like they’re missing. As for A/C, this Chevy was originally so equipped, but the compressor has been yanked, so there will be no cold for you.
In stock or restored form, these are fabulous-looking cars. Yes, it’s a subjective judgement, but I think Chevrolet really got their styling nailed in ’66 – even that much more so with the lines of the Caprice coupe. As for this example, I think I’d keep looking if a ’66 Chevrolet Caprice coupe was on my gotta-have-it list; how about you?
You’re buying this for all the usable parts on the car and in the garage. The car has a lot of body filler. The factory applied vinyl from the factory to the top, so it probably had ‘roof acne’ underneath and filler was the quick solution.
Truck and trailer is the likely the preferred mode of pick up, but I would access all the parts and see about renting the appropriate sized U-Haul and trailer. Did a simular scenario with an ’69 Impala; car on the trailer and filled that orange & white 26 ft. GMC 8.1L with all the extra parts. A big block pulling a big block. Good times!
Oh, and I think those are Ford E-Series seats. Club Wagon.
I agree with the Ford supplied seats.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS. What does that hose coming off the aircleaner stack do/go? At first I thought crankcase ventilation. But traveling down in front of the engine doesn’t make any sense. Anything that I can come up with just doesn’t figure. So was the hood scoop installed to clear the airfilter? OR was the aircleaner stack used to get the air filter close to the miniscule amount of fresh air coming into the engine compartment before getting mixed with the warm engine compartment air? I still want to know the purpose of that hose!
That’s the fuel line. Edelbrock carburetor fuel inlet is on the back left side.
The scoop was installed after to many beers and a poor upbringing in general. How are you supposed to see around that? Dangerous for everyone on the road.
Although a vinyl top was standard, you could order one of these without it and knock off a few bux. Also standard was bucket seats, center console, & floor shift, but you could order it with bench seat and column shift for the same price. Mine had the bench seat and no vinyl top. It’s the one car I wish I had back.
This poor car has suffered every indignity known to man.
If Frankenstein’s monster had had a car, this would have been it! Yikes!
Wouldn’t the appropriate car for Frankenstein’s monster be the car from the song “One Piece at a Time?”
This is not the car your looking for
It could be nice car when finished….But think will take alot of work & money to get right. Seems like not many details. Does ( ops can) it actually run? Is engine the original? Why that big hood scoop? Why upgrade master cylinder? Was front brakes upgraded to disc? It probably needs alot more body work then it appears in the pics. I had ’70 Impala that had lower quarter panels behind tires rust issues. Those issues were caused from windshield frame and under vinyl top rust.
Looks like a 327😂😂😂 or any other small block….
Tow it to the nearest salvage yard and let folks who need them pick parts off from it. All of last autumn’s leaves parked under it make a nice touch: someone told the owner, “Get it OUT of here!” By the way, the 1967 was far nicer-looking, than the ’66, in my humble opinion.
But my favorite if this time frame is the ’65 Impala.
Four letter word….MESS. Or JUNK. I’m not able to use the one that applies. Like you Jim, my 1st car was a 66 Impala 396 SS tho not a ragtop in 1972.
judging by the birthday cake on the hood and the piss poor workmanship on the inside i can’t imagine how there was a fire. i would have let burn to the ground i hate to say but this thing is a butch wagon. pull the motor sell off whatever is good and scrap it.
It is a crime what some people do to a car.
What a POS. Mark is right, its a crime. From the stupid hood to the ridiculous seats, not worth what you could get to crush it, and that is what needs to be done. Let this poor girl meet her maker and rest in peace, she has suffered enough at the hand of Earthly demons.
Junk, people do wierd things to nice original classics, expecting to make something Great, that people will want, NO!!!! it costs money to fix another person’s mess ups, now you’re expecting to get money for your invention? YOU got hooked on BACK TO THE FUTURE, movies and lost touch with reality
Find a stock hood and swap in a 4spd. Get it running and have at it. That roof line on this thing works for me. It’s going to go cheap.
Keep it simple.
Old Beach Guy, thanks! I didn’t see that originally. (It looked like it was attached to the air filter extension to me.)
It still looks like a hack job to me.
A sad car, and a sad story from the seller, who is selling it to help his mother.
The comments here are comical! Have any of you ever restored a car? Yes, this one needs a LOT of work, but this may be a good start for a young guy who wants a cool car but can’t lay out big money up front. Will it take a lot of work and money? Sure, but it’s doable. As for the cowl hood, “to tall and DANGEROUS!” Seriously? LOL!
Yup, a younger person without deep pockets might get it running and upgrade it as they go, learning along the way. It looks like there is a collection of parts the come with it from the ebay pics.
Strip the garbage and see what you have to work with. Keep it simple.
Could be a real nice starter project. But not necessarily what the generally aged barn finder might appreciate?
SOMEone needs help, here! This is what happens to a used-up “classic” when it lands in an urban slum, and someone with no money and less talent attempts to build a “show-off” vehicle on the street. Stick a fork in it — it’s DONE. Please put it out of its misery.
I hear banjo music…
Of all the cries committed here, the seats have to be the worst.
The hood scoop a close second.