When you sell more than one million copies of the same car in a single year, what do you do for an encore? That was the challenge for the 1966 Chevrolet Impala after the same auto found more than a million buyers the year before (a feat that wouldn’t be repeated). Sales dropped by more than 20% in 1966 for the little-changed big Chevies, which still produced a lot of traffic in the Chevy showroom. This ’66 is a one-owner estate sale car that has a bit of rust and hasn’t run in a couple of years, so the seller has listed it as a project. Located near Walnut Creek, California, this family sedan is available here on craigslist for $6,499 or something close.
The seller’s uncle bought this car new 60 years ago, and the mileage might be as high as 173,000. So, Uncle liked this Chevy enough to drive it around – a lot. It’s mostly a family car with four doors, a 283 cubic inch V8 (the seller’s estimate), and a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission which was falling out of favor on big cars by the mid-1960s. The photos portray a vehicle that doesn’t look like so much of a project, but if it doesn’t run and has corrosion, it would seem to fit.
We’re told the burgundy paint is original, as is most of the interior (perhaps the seat covers were redone). The engine last ran in 2024, with no action seen since. Though the machine is in California now, it was purchased new in Washington, DC, and may have stayed there for a while, hence the rust the seller mentions. There is no interest in parting the car out, nor does the seller want to be bothered with crazy low offers.
All of this adds up to a car that you have to believe is worth $6,000 or more in its current condition. And one that will have to be towed to its next domicile. If this were an Impala Sport Coupe, the odds would increase, but is a 4-door sedan going to find a buyer willing to spend many thousands of dollars to restore it? Thanks for the tip, Tony Primo.
Depending on the amount and location of the rust, the asking price probably isn’t too far out of line.
Steve R
One size up from a core memory, my parents had a Chevelle 4 door in these colors which I can barely remember as an old rust bucket.
Interestingly equipped car. Base V8 and base manual transmission, but an FM radio and headrests!! Would love to see the trim tag on this car to see if the headrests are coded there.
And you would think it would be a hardtop instead of a post sedan, being an Impala model.
Wow. It looks original!
Really nice car for what you get so what if it’s got too many doors,
it looks really top notch for what it is. And that 3-speed? That 3-speed is what makes it different
from any other ’66 Chevy sedan
you might see. I once saw one
that was an Army staff car 15 years ago on a website called Junkyard Life. Seems that Chevy
had won a contract to build staff
cars for the Army in the mid ’60s
and unlike this car, they were bare
bones models with few if any options on them. As for this car,
a non running 283 is NOT that big
a deal. I’ve seen ’em sit as long as 5 years and they’ll still fire right up provided you use common sense and know what
you’re doing. A backyard mechanic like me could have it up and running in one weekend or
less. But stopping, not so much.
Update the brakes to front disc and àdd a 2-pot master cylinder
while you’re at it. Clean the fuel tank, purge the gas lines, and call
it a day. Too bad I don’t have the
cash or a shop to work in. If I did,
this car would be on its way to
Florida.
I agree with all Ken has to say!! This will make some driver a happy camper. Four doors and a manual transmission will start a lot of conversations at show events..
You don’t have to convert to disc brakes – I converted my 1966 283 Impala coupe, my 1966 396 Impala 4dr sedan, and my 1966 283 Caprice 4dr hardtop to power drum brakes. Inexpensive and easy, they
feel and stop just like power disc brakes. At a fraction of the cost!
The only issue is brake fade. Had it happen on my ’63 Catalina, coming back to Vacaville, Ca. from Corte Madera on Hiway 37. Ran a red light near the speedway- scared the cr@p out of me. Installed front discs and never had another problem with brakes. That was over 30 years ago. My son owns the car now…
Our family car when I was learning to drive was a ’66 Chevy Biscayne wagon. It had a 283 V8 with a 3-on-the-tree and no options whatsoever, not even headrests. When 2nd gear gave up at 127k miles, my dad traded it in and brought home a ’69 Chevelle Greenbrier wagon with a 350 V8 and a THM 350, as well as PS, PB , and an AM radio. Needless to say, the driving experience was markedly different!
Had a 65 with a 396 / 4 speed this same color that I purchased in 1983 for $1200 and sold three years later for $1800. Another of the “If I’d known then what I know now” casualties of my life. Had this, two 66 models, one a Super Sport and one convertible, and a 69 Impala Custom with 327. And wanting another one really bad. Waiting for prices to continue dropping.
looks pretty good considering. at least the gas tanks not falling out of it which means the trunk floor may still be good. i would say 4500.00 it would be a good buy. it will need money put onto it after sitting as long as it has.
I agree 4500 seems like a good price since it has been sitting but a 4 door manual v8 is cool too
Let’s review, 4 door , 173000 miles non running for 6400? Ummm what!? Fits right in with the mentality of the world now! Peace!
Paint it green and you have a Dirty Mary Crazy Larry getaway car
Such a regular car. What most cars were actually like! And as many as there were, few survive and even fewer so intact. Good looking. Hope it finds a good home.
Check the B body cars for frame rust. My mom’s ’65 Bel Air rusted in half right at the rear axle. It was scrapped in ’75
Decent price here for an mostly all original Chevy. The 4 door with manual trans was probably special ordered back then with v8 power. This would make a nice weekend cruiser!
I see a low rider in the making
Rust you can see means there’s rust you can’t see. Check the frame where it arches over the rear axle. A 3-speed is a survivor today as most were probably a Powerglide. Might make a good weekend and get around car after you address the immediate needs.
Jeffschevelle is right. I didn’t notice the FM radio on my phone. Add the right outside mirror, too.
It’s a miracle all 4 wheel covers are still with the car.
Underside looks pretty solid from what I could tell, so…not a bad price and 1st year for fully synchronized transmission.
Script: Selling a 1966 Chevrolet Impala 4-door sedan. Original paint and interior (mostly). I believe it has a 283cu small block V8 engine. Engine fired up a couple years ago but has been sitting since. It has a “three on the tree” manual transmission on the steering column. Odometer shows 73K miles but has probably turned over. This is an east coast car (Washington DC) so there is some rust, hence a project car. Clean title out of my uncle’s estate—original owner since 1966.
Sorry, but I don’t see $6500 of value here.
Especially if the 173k miles figure is accurate.
This thing is a Pandora’s Box.
$2000-$3500 all day long and that’s being generous!
the sign on front fender is a 327 it has flags on it 283 was just the no flags