For anyone who doubts the fact that the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 is a popular and desirable car, then they only need to look at this particular vehicle. It appears to be an essentially solid and complete SS 396, and since it has been offered for sale here on eBay, 145 people have chosen to watch the listing. The Chevelle is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and with bidding having reached $13,650, the reserve has been met.
According to the owner, until recently, the Chevelle has been in the possession of the same family since new. It appears as though he may have purchased the car as a project, but work on the vehicle hasn’t proceeded very far. The Regal Red paint is looking pretty sad, but the vehicle itself does show some promise. The panels themselves appear to be fairly straight, with no signs of any major dings or dents. Externally, the car also doesn’t seem to show any major rust issues, with the rear quarter panels, the rockers, and the lower fenders looking quite clean. I’ve magnified the supplied photos, and I’m undecided as to whether there is some rust visible on the lower rear edge of the rear pillar on the driver’s side, or whether this is just a flaw in the photo. It isn’t clear how solid the floors are, but I did spot some rust in the trunk pan. There are boxes of parts in the trunk, so getting a clear look at the whole thing is quite difficult. However, it does look like moisture has been able to find its way in. If that’s the case, then there is a chance that there is more hiding there. As for rust in the floors themselves, this is an unknown, so any prospective buyers might just need to ask the owner that question. Plenty of external trim pieces have been removed from the car, but it appears that all of these are in the trunk.
As the owner rightly points out, with a “138” VIN, this is definitely a genuine SS 396. That means that hiding below the skin of the Chevelle you will find a 396ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, and a 12-bolt Posi rear end. For those of you with your heart set on this being a numbers-matching car, then it is likely that you will be slightly disappointed. The 396 is of 1967 vintage, while it isn’t clear if the transmission and rear end are original. Whether or not this is an issue will be a question for any prospective owners to pose to themselves. What the owner does say is that the car runs and drives really well, so it would seem that from a mechanical standpoint, this Chevelle represents a strong starting point for a project.
Generally speaking, the interior of the SS looks to be in a reasonable state. The white upholstery would definitely benefit from a clean, but there are no obvious major rips or tears. The base of the driver’s seat is now fairly discolored, and I suspect that it may have deteriorated beyond a simple clean. If the next owner is seeking perfect presentation, then a new cover might be the only alternative. There are a few items such as some armrests that are missing, and while the original radio is also missing, the trim plate for it is amongst the pieces that are in the trunk.
On face value, this 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 would seem to represent a pretty solid basis for a project car, and I can fully understand why so many people are currently watching the listing. Once restored it would be both an attractive and very potent vehicle. I would be interested to know whether any of our readers are taken by these prospects enough to join the bidding party.
Yeah…a red 66 Chevelle big block with a 4 speed manual.Sounds like a great project to me.👍
My first car, had a small block transplant and same (kinda rare) white interior with full gauges. Drove cross country in 76 with it, gas was 49.9!
This one has a few issues with typical rust around the rear window and there’s some weird rot in the trunk to LH wheel well.
Great one to restore though.
Yea brian! Needs a good inspection, no pics of the underbelly but its over 13 large. In Iowa the rust could go either way. I’d run it as is, very cool super sport.
Good luck with the new owner!
Cheers
GPC
My first car was a blue 66 Chevelle conv in 1973. Paid $400. Never broke down. Drove it through high school. Wrecked it. Sold to a classmate for $75. Was drivable.
So its a SS with out the original motor…
This is a Chevelle in my book and whomever buys should just enjoy it and restore it but never consider a matching numbers car on value.
I do like the body style and four speed with 396 is sweet!
A big block 4 speed real SS car!! Not over 20k yet looks like a great project if the price doesn’t go wild!!! I would love to see the underside and trunk though!! Just to make sure it’s not a pig in a dress!! That would tell the real story!!!
If the front windshield channel and around the rear window isn’t rusted too bad could be a decent project car. This car would cost a lot less to restore than the rusted out chargers I see for sale.
Nice car…..owners of these also watch…..the market……….kinda what I do…..
You can buy a very nice .numbers matching.. completely done car for in the mid 40’s…. way.. way too much for this car already.. unless you want to lose a lot of money…and have something to fight the wife with for the next 3-5 years… of restoration.. just try and get a professional paint on this car for under ten grand or so.. and thats after everything is fixed…
Mike, thanks. I seem to be one of the few ever saying this !! Pro paint and body work, $20K and that is with no major rust issues.
Not to mention the “everything else” which is another $40-50K in rebuild, replate, repaint, refinish, replace, redo…..
If you are paint and body guy THIS IS YOUR PROJECT.
Love the car. If it is a REAL SS396 …BUT…not original engine, DEFINALEY WORTH getting a DATE CODE CORRECT 396 for this car.
Like you said Mike, this will be an $80K investment that will be worth about half when done. The color, SS, 396, 4 spd and being a 66 Chevelle are all great things. My favorite body for sure.
Stillrunners……I too watch the market and I hate to say it but we are at the beginning of the decline of the muscle car market and it going to decline at an increasing rate. Guys like us aren’t getting younger, MOST kids today have no interest, rich guys with the big collections who are getting older ….their kids are going to sell off the cars and then basic economics come into play…..more supply than demand means the prices go down and the nicer cars become more affordable which UNFORTUNATELY does not make the investment to restore a car like this one in the article, as viable.
IF you can do the work yourself, you have a fun project that you MIGHT make a buck on and save a great car. If you have to pay someone to do all the work, buy one that is done.
Had one similar to it but I raised it. GTO front springs with spacers and air shocks on the back. Kept it level. Never should have sold it. It was also an Iowa car.
what a shame . it looks to be original paint. someone decided to wet sand and spot putty the original factory imperfect body and paint. it should have been enjoyed the way it was from the factory. its to late for even a clear coat. go get a MACCO job and let it alone . looks ready for a 500 dollar special…and get an updated brake system to stop this rocket ship. fix the heating system and oil the hood hinges before you need to look for an original SS hood.
Bondo check is in order.. Primer hides a lot of stuff..I like how conveniently the trunk was filled w/parts so ya can’t see it…
Was reading about a regal red ’66 the other day on some other site, and ex-racer known as “Bounty Hunter”. That Chevelle got down in the 11’s, not too shaby for a 396, may have had a 427 swapped in. This SS reminds me of it a bunch. Neat 4 speed screamer.
Looks like a really good, solid, restorable car… not a collection of rust and dents to use as a template to hang entirely new parts upon. I hope it goes to a good home and gets a good restoration. Not a rotisserie nuts and bolts job but make it as nice a driver as possible and enjoy it. Bring the actual car itself back to life.