Rare Three-Speed! 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible

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I’m a sucker for green and ’66 Chevy Impala convertibles (I owned one for years) so you can imagine that I was double suckered when I first saw this green 1966 Impala SS on our tip line. It’s a beauty, located in Ballwin, Missouri and available, here on craigslist for $26,900. Thanks to Pat L. for getting me really stirred up with this fine find!

We’ve covered ’66 Chevrolet Impalas and production numbers, etc. dozens of times before on Barn Finds so I won’t cover that ground again. But I will state that the ’66 Impala SS was a big bit for the Bowtie. An SS model could be equipped to the hilt with performance options but most were more mundane, a six-cylinder engine was actually standard. What the SS model (it was a separate model designated as a “6867” in the VIN) got a prospective buyer was bucket seats, a center console, badging and unique SS-styled wheel covers – and that’s about it.

This Impala has an interesting assortment of options. Under the hood is a 275 gross HP 327 CI V8 engine connected to a three-speed manual transmission. The seller doesn’t state how well this  Chevy runs, but this L30 version of Chevy’s venerable 327 is a stout performer, especially with a manual transmission. BTW, the air cleaner is not original, a large, black, single snorkel affair is what came with this engine.

OK, so the exterior is Tropic Turquoise which is a blue-green but in my green obsessed eyes, it’s green. And it’s a magnificent paint job which is probably recent, the seller doesn’t elaborate. Anyway, the finish, trim, chrome, black convertible top, all of it, couldn’t present itself any better. Like most Chevy’s of this generation, and convertibles, in particular, they are subject to rust in the floors, panel under the rear seat, and the lower quarters. That doesn’t appear to be the case here, and if it ever were, it has been properly fixed. Note the American Racing Torque-Thrust wheels – they make any wheeled vehicle stand out.

Inside is where things get interesting. Chevrolet offered four different transmissions in ’66,  two automatics, a three-speed manual, and a four-speed manual. The automatics and the four-speed included a floor shifter/selector that protruded through the center console. The three-speed, however, was steering wheel column-mounted, also known as three-on-the-tree – and that’s exactly what we have here. There’s a center console but no shifter or selector. Out of the 119K ’66 Impala SS models built, this is only the third shiftless console SS that I have encountered. Obviously, I haven’t seen everyone ever produced but I am a former member of the National Impala Association and I’ve seen tons and tons of ’66s. Oh, and while we’re at it, the interior in this Impala is like new. It has two cool options, one is the two spoke wooden steering wheel and the other is the instrument panel mounted tachometer.

The tach, however, may not be original to this car as its redline shows 6,000 RPM which is beyond the range of this low-performance 327 CI engine.

A proper tachometer for this powertrain would indicate a redline of 5,000 or 5,500 RPM such as the above image. A 6,000 RPM unit would be more fitting for the L72, 425 HP 427 CI engine which was not that rare in ’66.

This car is incredibly tempting to me, at least at the moment, but it will pass, I’m beyond this stage of car collecting. But I’m sure there will be somebody who’s not beyond it, might that individual be you?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. Mark

    Nice write-up. Right there with you regarding green. The 61 and 66 are my favorite year Impalas and this one, especially with the 3/tree is spot on.
    Beautiful car. GLWTS

    Like 12
  2. wuzjeepnowsaab

    Beautiful. I agree that the color is spot on for this. And that shifterless console is super rare.

    Like 11
  3. rextremeMember

    …if only it had AC…

    Like 14
    • Ike Onick

      It’s a convertible. It has natural air-conditioning.

      Like 23
    • Glenn C. SchwassMember

      Perfect. A friend had one this color but an old man pulled in front of him in the rain. Beautiful and the 3 on tree is awesome…

      Like 1
  4. Tony Primo

    Beyond this stage of car collecting Jim. Only when l’m underneath the turf would I ever say those words.

    Like 12
  5. 86_Vette_Convertible

    If the car is as good as the pictures indicate, it’s incredible. Wish there were some photos of the frame and bottom as rust could turn a fantastic car into swiss cheese in short order.
    If it checks out, someone will get a great car IMO.

    Like 10
  6. Miguelito Loveless

    Another Impala!
    Convertible Low rider!

    Like 26
    • Juan Wayne

      Yeah !

      Like 25
    • Jack

      Another stupid comment. Can you not say anything more constructive??

      Like 14
      • Pugsy

        Comment Police?

        Like 18
  7. Billyray

    This car does not look like it would be fun to drive. Manual steering, probably manual brakes, 3 on the tree, puny engine. gorgeous though.

    Like 4
    • 86_Vette_Convertible

      I think it all depends on what you grew up with or drove. One of the family cars was a 65 BelAir 4 dr, 283 with 3 on the tree. No PS, no PB and no AC. To a 16 yr old that’s well beyond fun, it was freedom as long as you didn’t exceed Dad’s expectations on how I drove the car.
      I for one would drive that Impala any day without hesitation. I admit I’d consider adding disc brakes to it just for stopping power. I’ve never had an issue with non-power steering.

      Like 11
      • RexFoxMember

        I did not have, nor did my parents have, a car with power steering until 1983, 16 years after I started driving. No automatics either. Back then, when parallel parking, you put your beer between your legs and used two hands. It worked out just fine. While I didn’t really drink and drive, my point is that while power steering and brakes make driving easier, they are not really necessary. However, I do believe disc brakes are essential if you’re going to drive in public today.

        Like 4
      • BrianT BrianMember

        I had a ’65 442 with no power steering and no power brakes. I drove it without complaining. Oh, it did have plenty of power to the rear wheels.

        Like 3
      • Jon.in.Chico

        My “college car” was a ’65 Chevy C10, 230 I6, three-on-the-tree … no PS, no PB, no AC, AM radio … I remember working up a sweat trying to fit into a parking space before class .. didn’t need any PE classes …

        Like 0
    • LarryS

      I think it would be great fun to drive. Nothing wrong with three-on-the-tree – works just as well as three on the floor. And I woudn’t call the 327 puny. Not a torque monster certainly, but the 327 could spin quite nicely and produce some decent power. Remember, until the ’65 396, the SBC in 265, 283 and 327 displacements was the Corvette powerplant from 1955 on. And there were some very potent ones at that.

      Steering by armstrong is not ideal but something that can be lived with pretty easily. A brake upgrade would be my first modification choice since modern dual circuit disc braking systems are so much more effective and safer.

      Like 8
      • Jost

        I agree with Larry. 327 is not puny, it’s what made sbc so legendary. It is a great hot rod motor. As far as this car, it’s fantastic, rare and I thin desirable. And fun to drive. Back when this car was originally ordered there were still old timers who did not want automatics and power anything, I guess not much different then the old timers today like myself who lament e cars and hybrids

        Like 8
    • rob

      327 puny ? New 5.3 LS is 326 ci New 6.2 LS is 376ci pretty close to a built 383 stroker SB. both SB’s are still popular. New LS’s are even better but gm sure took note of those bore and stroke #s and all their success !

      Like 2
  8. Bigbird

    I bet when he/she ordered the car new, the salesman barked “come’on man a 3 speed?” May have been a person who had 3 on the column all their lives. Very nice car, great color, keep it as it is, and enjoy.

    Like 14
    • Ike Onick

      May have also been end of the month sales quota time.A sale is a sale. It might have unfolded this way- “A three-speed?” Excellent choice sir! The clutch will last 33% longer, and much easier on the left foot and knee. Your bicep muscle will scare Popeye in a few months”. “Please sign here and here and we will get this little beauty into the Prep Area pronto!”

      Like 15
  9. Will Irby

    We had a ’66 Impala 9-passenger station wagon in this color, and I thought it was the perfect color for that car. Ours had the green interior, which in my opinion would look better than the black in this one. It is still a nice car, although a convertible with black interior and no A/C is pretty much useless in my area except for a few weeks in January and February.

    Like 4
  10. Kevin Fear

    Rare does not always equal valuable or desireable……………….

    Like 1
  11. Craigo

    My first car was a 1963 Pontiac Catalina convertible without power steering terrible car to park so I Couldn’t wait to order my new 1965 GTO convertible

    Like 2
  12. Angel_Cadillac_Diva Angel_Cadillac_DivaMember

    My sister and her husband ordered one in October 1965. Yellow. Black interior, black convertible top
    4 on the floor with a bench seat. Said the “SS” option wasn’t worth the money they charged.
    She had it 3 weeks before she almost totaled it rear ending a Volkswagon bug.

    Like 1
  13. chuck dickinson

    There were a lot of strange combos built back when you could order a car exactly as you wanted by picking and choosing from the option lists. This would’ve had to be a customer order as a dealer would never have ordered a car like this for stock. This car is a bit too basic, lacking even PS. If you only drove across the plains of Nebraska in it, you might have been fine, but it would be a real bitch to drive in today’s modern traffic, and parallel parking….forget it.

    Like 2
  14. JB

    Okay, I had a beautiful 1967 4 speed Olds 442 with no power anything, except to the rear wheels which was all I thought I needed. I was following my friend who was accelerating his TR6 up an onramp and I was closely behind him also accelerating and the traffic came to an abrupt halt. The TR6 had no problem briskly coming to a halt but the 442, well you know the rest of that story.

    Like 1
  15. Scott L.

    The comments here make me wish I could click on thumbs-down, and that thumbs-down comments would be sorted below thumbs-up comments.

    Like 1
  16. Paul

    You know what’s nuts every car that comes through here there’s a memory. White over light blue 65’ Impala SS. I still could smell that interior

    Like 2
    • Jeffrow Bodine

      Not certain of the ’65’s, but all 66 Chevy’s had a very unique aroma. Must have been the jute pads. 55 years later, that scent takes me back! Two 66 SS396 Chevelles, one ’66 Impala wagon (396), and a ’66 Nova. (Still have THAT one.)

      Like 1
  17. Paul

    You know what’s nuts every car that comes through here there’s a memory. White over light blue 65’ Impala SS.

    Like 0
  18. Rob

    I own a bone stock marina blue with tutone blue interior 1966 impala ss 327 3 on the tree and blank top center console with no options all original except for the spark plug wires and 14 inch radial tires survivor. Easy to drive. when people see my interior they laugh and cant believe its an ss they all say No Way ! Will never update the brakes Man up guys

    Like 2
  19. Jimmy Detsis

    I have a white ss convertable 283 3 on the tree black top and interior 1966

    Like 2

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