This 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 is a classic car that comes with equal helpings of good and bad news. It is a numbers-matching vehicle that runs and drives, but it will need a lot of work if it is to be returned to its former glory. However, with values constantly increasing for good examples, it could be a project that proves worthwhile. Located in Wooster, Ohio, you will find the SS listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has sailed past the reserve and currently sits at $15,600.

Okay, let’s get stuck into it because there’s a lot to unpack with this Chevelle. The seller has listed the vehicle on behalf of its owner, and he provides a lot of valuable information for potential buyers to consider. He admits that the car has received a repaint in its original Aztec Bronze but that another repaint will be required at some point in this car’s future. There are a few dings and dents for the buyer to address, but these are all pretty minor. However, the biggest issue to be faced is the all too common saga about rust. This is a classic with plenty of it, and the buyer will need to be a dab hand with a grinder and welder if this Chevelle is to be returned to a good physical state. It has impacted all of the usual areas like the rockers, lower front fenders, and the lower rear quarter panels. You can add the underside of the hood, the bottoms of the doors, and the trunk opening to that list. As you will see shortly, that is merely scratching the surface. On the plus side, all of the chrome is present and in a restorable state, while there are no significant problems with the glass.

This photo should provide some clue as to what the buyer will be facing when they delve below the surface with the Chevelle. The owner includes a new set of floors with the car, which will come in handy. The buyer will also need to source a trunk pan, drop-offs, and inner and outer wheel wells. However, all of this is the mere tip of the corrosion iceberg. The seller admits that a previous owner has repaired the frame, but it is now severely rotted in places. An in-person inspection might tell a different story, but the seller says that any prospective buyers need to be prepared to undertake a complete frame replacement. That might mean scouring the country for a good secondhand frame, although several companies produce shiny new ones to the original specifications. It will all depend on how much the buyer is willing to spend on the restoration.

The Chevelle’s interior provides some relief from the gloom and doom that we’ve experienced so far because it doesn’t look too bad. Someone has replaced the seat covers and headliner, while the console is in good order. The faux chrome trim on the dash has worn, and the trim is missing around the radio. A few other pieces will need to be restored or replaced, but there’s nothing that will cost a king’s ransom. When you consider the rust issues that we’ve already discussed, whipping the interior into shape is going to be a walk in the park.

Lifting the Chevelle’s hood reveals a 396ci V8, an M20 4-speed manual transmission, a 12-bolt rear end, and power steering. This 396 is the L35 version that would be producing 325hp. That might have made it the least powerful of the big-block options for 1966, but it didn’t make the SS a wimp. Any car that can demolish the ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds deserves to be treated with respect. The seller indicates that the engine block, transmission, and rear-end are numbers-matching. It isn’t clear what the story is with the cylinder heads, but the intake and carburetor have been changed. The original carb is included with the car, but the intake is MIA. The Chevelle runs and drives, but there are a few mechanical maladies for the buyer to tackle. These include a noisy power steering pump and a similar issue with the clutch throw-out bearing. Otherwise, the SS runs and drives, which is a slice of good news in a project car that is set to consume equal quantities of time and money.

Restoring this 1966 Chevelle SS 396 is not a project for the faint-hearted. It is also not something that the average buyer will complete in their home workshop over a few weeks. What potential buyers are looking at with this car is a project that will require a dedicated owner with a healthy wallet. It doesn’t matter how you look at it, this is going to require a rotisserie restoration if the Chevelle is ever to grace our roads again. Any work will need to be completed to a high standard because much of it will determine the structural integrity and safety of the vehicle once it is complete. The biggest drama will almost certainly be the frame rust. It will take a thorough inspection to determine whether that has deteriorated beyond the point of no return. There’s no arguing the ongoing desirability of these cars, but is that enough to motivate you to pursue this one further?