Chevrolet Impalas turn up more often than Caprices but that’s just the result of sheer volume production. And many of the Impalas that I know I have covered here on Barn Finds as of late are, how would you say it, troubled souls. Yes, they have a lot going on and need major help. So here’s a nice switch-up, it’s the high-zoot suit Impala, known as the Caprice, and it’s in magnificent shape! This ’66 Chevrolet Caprice Coupe is located in Somers, New York, and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $11,000. Thanks to Dennis H. for this tip!
Caprice first saw the light of day in mid ’65. It was offered as a four-door hardtop, or sports sedan in Chevrolet terminology, only. Its introduction was timed to showcase the new 396 CI Turbo-Jet engine and Chevrolet’s ascension to the adult dinner table with its A-OK to use the relatively new Turbo Hydramatic 400 transmission. Perhaps, more importantly, the timing was also planned to counter Ford’s new LTD which was Ford’s one-up on the Galaxie. The year 1966 saw the Caprice offer to a two-door hardtop that utilized a completely different roofline than that of the swept-back, sloped Impala two-door design. The squared-off roofline proved so popular that it spawned the Impala Custom Coupe in ’67.
The seller tells us that this Caprice was his father’s car and has only experienced 31K miles while residing in Nevada. The Sandlewood Tan, a very popular color for Chevy in ’66, still looks good. It’s a bit flat but has depth and is completely passable as is. There are no signs of rust or crash damage though one image of the passenger-side fender reveals a slight ripple. I owned a ’66, southern-domiciled-for-life, convertible and it had rust in lots of places, that’s what this vintage Chevrolet does, but being a Nevada car has helped preserve this example nicely. A garage hasn’t hurt either. It’s hard to get a close image of the vinyl top covering nut it appears as it should, no sign of it coming unglued or being cracked/split. It’s a subjective matter of taste but I always thought this new roofline was enhanced and better looking in naked steel. Same with the fender skirts, they would get 86’d the first day in my book, but again, a matter of preference. Chevrolet’s of this vintage all came with 14″ wheels though 15’s were a rarely selected option. Not only do the 14’s look hopelessly lost in the Caprice’s large wheel well, the front ones anyway, but the handling and braking of these models were compromised as a result. They worked OK but could have worked a lot better. Disc brakes weren’t an option until ’67 and 15″ wheels didn’t become the standard until ’70.
Under the hood is one of Chevrolet’s greatest hits, the L30 code, 327 CI, 275 HP V8. The seller does not state how this Impala runs but I know from experience, the performance of this version of the 327 is lively and at 31K miles, it’s barely broken in. Unfortunately, the aforementioned Turbo 400 transmission was not offered in ’66 on small block motor equipped cars, so examples like this Caprice had to make do with the two-speed Powerglide automatic.
Perhaps it’s the photography but the images of the interior cast some shadows that appear as dark spots on the seat upholstery. Yes, it’s a nitpick as the interior, with its split-bench front seat, is in great shape. It’s good to see that this Caprice has A/C, definitely helpful in a place like Nevada and helps enhance the sale quality of this very nice coupe.
This Caprice doesn’t look like it needs a thing; virtually any mechanical part that is required can be sourced from a standard auto parts store or on-line and mechanical work on a ’66 is a snap. It always amazes me how much more challenging that aspect of old Chevies got by ’68, only two years later. It won’t stay pristine forever; parked in a garage for eternity is no life for such a nice old car so I’d suggest buy it, drive it and enjoy it, right?
What a great body style, and the color combo is really great. So, 11K for this sharp cruiser, or 10K for that Super Bee sitting in the grass?
Someone please buy it and remove the fender skirts.
I usually love fender skirts but not on this car. The chrome strip around the top makes it look like they are just stuck on, and they also look to be a slightly different colour. If I were the buyer I would lose the chrome and keep the skirts.
GM deleted wheel arch trim when skirts were ordered. These skirts have been added. Also, because the arch trim is deleted, GM installed longer (about 1/2″) rocker trim to fill the gap left by the arch trim delete. I only know this because I own a ’70 Caprice Custom Coupe and deleted the skirts in favor of arch trim (and a better look in my opinion).
@ bry593 My trifecta of 1967 Buick Skylarks could also have been ordered with or without skirts. If you deleted them, the added arch trim flowed over and around to attach to a line of trim just above the rocker panel. Gran Sports came with the wheel arch trim, but no lower rocker strip. I had one Skylark with skirt/no arch reveal, one with no skirt/arch reveal and a Special with arch reveal and no ability to order skirts!
I agree the fender skirts do no purpose but distracts from the nice body lines. Also add ralleys or Cragars and enjoy the ride!
I spot a relatively rare option, the optional tilt and telescope steering column.
Nice car.
As a huge fan of Impalas / Caprices of this era, I’d say it’s more like Oliver Hardy in a Sears suit with that 327, but still, Oliver had his charm, and so does this porridge mobile. Gotta lose those skirts though. Start there.
Rare, but – 131 000 – painted & 3 types of mismatched interior trim.
Good eye. I knew it wasn’t 31K miles original either. This one’s been cleaned up, but it’s not the cream puff the seller wants us to believe. Also, look at the seat inserts. Should be the nylon fabric, but this one’s been re-done with cloth.
Also, Chevy never offered skirts on ANY 1966 model. And those look hideous. I’d chuck those first thing.
JC Whitney evidently DID sell a lot of skirts out of their catalog for old-timers who thought every car should have them. Take a look at that trunk mat. Sure looks like a lot of rusty juice has flowed on either side from the corners of the trunk lid or maybe the rear window? The trim on vinyl topped cars in this period could hold in moisture like nobody’s business.
Yes, I too, would really like to know why there are 3 different cloths on the seats. The only correct one is the backrest of the the back seat.
Look at all the pictures and you can tell the back seat has seen its share of spills/moisture damage. The backrest is the LEAST stained of all the areas but it’s still hideous. Could be a leaky rear window? One phone shows this car parked with its nose resting on the garage door….not exactly gentle care being exhibited by the owner nowadays.
Personally not the biggest fan of the ’66 Chev and it amazes me just how many of this exact year have been featured on BF compared to the ’65 and ’67. If one is into the ’66 I’d say this one seems like an extremely good buy in decent price range regardless of milage claims.
Only real setback is its upholstery – front seat is the optional ‘Strato Back’ bench with non-OE inserts. For ’66 Caprice could be ordered with all vinyl or a vinyl/cloth combination. The back of the rear seat shows the accentuated side-to-side ribs that is correct for ’66 Caprice upholstery.
I’d say drive it as it sits, then replace the PG with a TH350/700 and redo the seats when finances allow. And of course drop those HORRIBLE skirts…!
Agree that the skirts have to go. The pin stripe is not in the right location. The factory hand painted the pin stripe at the body crease and went the full length of the car. Nice car here.
Always liked the Caprice coupes. My dad had a 1967.
Buy it and enjoy, take the fender skirts off and mount 15′ wheels on it and have the speedo calibrated. You’ll love the experience.
It’s tough to beat a Caprice of this era for comfort & ride quality. This is an Impala with class. With prices going to the moon these days, this doesn’t seem like a bad deal. BUT, as always, it would have to be seen in person to be sure. Oh, and I agree about losing the skirts… I like them on a lot of cars, but not this one.
I learned the power of power brakes learning in one of those. My other vehicle to learn on was a 57 chevy tow truck that for a Skinny 14yo was a little hard (learned to downshift in that)
Correction The L30 is a 300 HP 327
Correction: Look at the attached, it’s from the ’66 Chevrolet Vehicle Information kit.
The 327 300 HP was RPOL75
I’m close to somers, so if anyone would like me to take a look, call me, Charlie, 845-635-3662. Would need to look at the underside and frame also. Presents nicely. Comes from a Nevada climate but is in NY, but anyone serious would want to see it anyway. Def need to pick up the trunk mat also! Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
A true 31K mile car would not need a re-paint or have the seat cloth replaced. A good restoration “project” perhaps (and don’t forget to donate those hideous skirts to the recycle bin!).
There is no connection between miles and paint condition.
Have you eve lived in a hot sunny location?
Nice Caprice the 396 would make for a great cruiser but to compare this Caprice to a Super Bee in the grass it would be Mopar all the way for me. A Caprice and a Super Bee are not even in the same class.
People on this site seem to be very good at spotting flaws when a seller says a car has only 31K original miles. I don’t think the sellers realize what a true car with 31K would look like. Those people try to detail and restore a lot of the car rather than leaving it alone. Very good originals would show up with a few minor imperfections if driven only 20-30K miles.
The trunk mat shows its age. Also the radiator is missing some paint on the left side for some reason which you wouldn’t see on a 31K car. Many very low mileage originals still have some or most of their exhaust systems and paint.