Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Original 396! 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

Chevrolet’s mid-sized Chevelle made a popular and practical performance platform for 1966. The Chevelle offered enthusiasts the convenience of transporting adult passengers in the rear without the added weight of a full-sized car. The SS package initially offered two 396 cid V8 engines that year, and this 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS in Crossville, Tennessee left the factory with the hotter 360 HP L34. This car retains the original numbers-matching mill, according to the seller, and the listing here on Facebook Marketplace asks $32,500. Originality and documentation dating to the original sale should help bring real money.

Modern engine compartments look like the guts of a spacecraft compared to this simple layout. Drop a wrench and, low and behold, you’ll probably find it on the ground. That single-pot manual brake setup looks like it came from the ’40s. Some air conditioning components not currently installed come with the sale. Though not as potent as the 375 HP solid-lifter L78 Chevy released in the Spring of ’66, this L34 will get up and go. Thanks to HowStuffWorks for some details.

Garaged without being driven for the last 20 years, the SS stayed dry and looks quite solid. A budget-conscious new owner might be able to ease that primer off and get by with the existing paint. An aftermarket hood graces the front.

Everything inside this 64,000 mile classic looks correct down to the factory radio! The bucket seats with console add a sporty touch to this SS. A two-speed Powerglide automatic handles the shifting. Here’s a muscle car you could use to take Grandma to church on Sunday after a night of street racing shenanigans. Can you see yourself driving this big block Chevelle?

Comments

  1. Avatar Rustytech Member

    I had a 67 in the same colors. Mine was a 4sp. car with p/s and p/b’s. I had to get rid of it when I got married as the bride couldn’t drive a stick and after two lessons it was a different car or a divorce, after 47 years I guess I chose wisely. Still I’d love to have another. Great car.

    Like 15
  2. Avatar Steve Clinton

    For $32,500, this Chevelle should be in much better condition, IMHO.

    Like 20
    • Avatar george

      way to high priced atuo trans worn out seats no adds stock car I like car (no power brakes tells me eastern car RUST ?????)

      Like 2
    • Avatar Charlie

      Plus it’s not the stock hood, pfft.

      Like 1
  3. Avatar Bill W.

    I’d be interested in seeing the serial number.
    I thought SS Chevelle’s in 66 had a blacked out tail panel?
    I have a 66 Malibu small block 4 speed car myself, in the same Marina Blue.

    Like 3
    • Avatar L Davis

      all 67’s were blacked out but not many 66’s

      Like 4
    • Avatar T

      You are right about the tail panel.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Dmytro

      No not 66 the black back tail panel from the factory was in 67. I had a 66 and when l seen the 67, l sprat painted mine

      Like 1
    • Avatar JoeBob

      It depended on which factory produced the 66. Some had black, some didn’t.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Jeff Helms

        Wrong. None were black. Period.

        Like 0
  4. Avatar Jeff

    No 66 SS left the factory with a black tail panel (except black cars, of course). Don’t believe it if anyone tries to tell you different! Early pre-production prototypes and artists’ renderings had blacked out panels, but that was changed BEFORE production started — as evidenced by pics included in the model year announcement / press package sent to all the dealers before the first car was ever delivered (of which I have a complete original set).

    Either way though, this car has been repainted at least once, and the CHEVELLE emblem is missing from the rear panel, so this car would not be any indicator of originality anyway.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Jeff Helms

    I posted this earlier but it disappeared???

    No 66 SS came from the factory with a black tail panel (except black cars).

    That was a pre-production feature that was dropped BEFORE 66 model year production started. This is proven by the photos that were included in the initial dealer announcement press release package that came out right BEFORE the first cars were shipped. Those photos show no black tail panel. I have that complete package.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Dennis Chiarky

    I had a 66 ss 396 back tail panel was silver like the rest of car. I also had a 67 ss 396 convertible back tail panel was black.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Richard Van Dyke Sr

    A friend back when I was in high school, he wasn’t, had a car just like this, same color. We used to go to the drag strip with his car that 396 would haul.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Paul S

    With the car in this condition it’s too many paseo’s and what’s with the aftermarket hood??

    Like 0
  9. Avatar martin elking

    the cars color was called marina blue

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Greg Williams

    I owned 4 or 5 1966 Chevelle Supersports that had the base 396 325 HP motor. I owned ones 396 360 H.p car that was factory black and 20,000 original miles and finaly one Red 66 S.S. 396 375 Horsepower. Not much difference between the 325 and the 360 HP cars but a tremendous difference when you went to the L-78 375 H.P. Mostly in the big rectangular ported heads, 4 bolt main and the solid cam. Very similar to a 427.

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to Charlie Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.