If you’re like me, you will find package deals pretty hard to resist. That is potentially what is on offer with this 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air. It is a project that is nearing completion, and it will be left to the buyer to apply the finishing touches. It features a healthy V8 under the hood which should satisfy many performance enthusiasts. However, there is an alternative engine available that some buyers will find too tempting to resist. If I have managed to whet your appetite, you will find the Bel Air located in Spencer, Oklahoma, and listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. The owner is looking for $5,000 for the Bel Air, but the price will rise to a very competitive $8,000 if the buyer chooses to include the potent extra V8.

For potential buyers, most of the heavy lifting on this project has been completed by the seller. The panels are rust-free and straight and currently wear a coat of primer. The door jambs and the hood and trunk lid underside have received a test coat in Royal Burgundy, and the result is pretty impressive. It seems that the buyer will be left with little more than some basic surface preparation before the rest of the exterior will be ready to receive the same treatment. The car doesn’t see wet weather, which has undoubtedly helped its cause. The exterior trim looks to be in good order, as does the glass. The Bel Air rolls on a shiny new set of 15″ x 8″ Cragar wheels and Mickey Thompson tires that have a mere 10 miles under their belt. With the Royal Burgundy paint applied, they will help make this a striking car that will undoubtedly turn heads wherever it goes.

For many buyers, what we find under this Bel Air’s hood would sound pretty nice. The owner has installed a 331ci V8 that features power pack cylinder heads, an Edelbrock intake, a 650 cfm carburetor, and Hedman headers. Twin fans help keep things cool, while the Bel Air also features a later 3.20 rear end and a conversion to power front disc brakes. The engine has clocked 30,000 miles since the owner built it, and it is in good health. There are no odd noises, no smoke, and it runs without any temperature issues. The owner says that the car runs straight and true, with no shimmies or other problems. The package looks pretty complete and ready for some relaxed cruising. However, the owner offers a tempting alternative worth considering for those seeking more power (and who doesn’t?).

Sitting on this stand is a freshly-built 383ci V8 full of desirable components guaranteed to make this motor a firebreathing beast. Starting at the bottom, we find an Eagle steel crank. The H-beam rods feature Clevite bearings and floating pins. From there, we find KB pistons, power-gapped rings, and a set of aluminum Pro Comp cylinder heads. The owner sourced the build information and specifications from NastyZ28.com, and while it should be making some pretty healthy power figures, it has been designed to do so while drinking pump fuel. Bolting this motor under the hood should give the Bel Air some serious performance credentials, and when you consider that it only adds $3,000 to the buy price, it looks like a genuine bargain.

The Bel Air’s interior is another aspect of this project that will need very little work before it presents well. The seat upholstery is in good order, as are the carpet and headliner. The dash looks nice, while the same appears true of the wheel. The driver’s door trim has seen better days, but the interior will present nicely with a new trim and an armrest. Adding to the driving pleasure, the car comes equipped with aftermarket air conditioning that blows ice-cold. The owner has tested it on a 90° day, and it pumped the air out at 45°. That sounds pretty effective to me.

This 1966 Bel Air has to be a strong contender for enthusiasts searching for a straightforward project build. Most of the hard work is complete, and the buyer will simply need to add those finishing touches. The end result will be a classic that should turn heads wherever it goes. Opting to include the built 383 in the deal would endow the Chevy with the performance credentials to match its good looks. When you look at the components that the owner has used in that motor, you would struggle to build it for anything close to the $3,000 that he is asking for it as part of this package. At $5,000 for the car alone, this looks like a competitive deal. Throw in that monster motor, and it may be impossible to resist.