While many people believe that the Pontiac GTO is the original and definitive muscle car, the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 does nothing but cement General Motors within that genre. Good examples today can fetch amazing prices, and values seem to be doing nothing but spiral upwards. The owner of this 1966 SS 396 verifies that it is the real deal, and it has many positive attributes that would make it desirable to the right person. If you’re potentially that person, you will find the SS located in Bloomfield, New York, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has rocketed to $29,200 off the back of some spirited bidding, but that figure remains shy of the reserve. However, with the auction heading into its final days, you might need to act fairly soon if you want to stake your claim on this beast.

The SS presents nicely in Aztec Bronze, and the owner believes that about 60% of it is original. A previous owner replaced the rear quarter panel many years ago, which would account for part of the repainting work. It seems that the work was completed to a high standard because there’s no evidence of deterioration. The paint shines beautifully, while the standard steel wheels and hubcaps impart a sleeper appearance to this classic. The panels are as straight as you could hope to find on a Chevelle of this vintage, but the rust situation is a long way from what we’ve seen on some examples in the past here at Barn Finds. There is some surface corrosion in the trunk that the new owner could address in a home workshop with no stress, and a few bubbles appear around the back window. I suspect that the buyer will need to remove the glass to address this properly, but the cost and effort should be worth it in the long run. The trim is in good order and is well above what I would term driver-grade, while the glass appears flawless.

Since this is an SS 396, I’m sure that none of you will be surprised to find a 396ci big-block V8 occupying the engine bay. An M20 four-speed manual transmission backs this motor. The first piece of news that you need to know is that this is not a numbers-matching classic. The big-block is period correct, but the transmission is dated for 1964. That will impact its potential value and may help explain why the bidding hasn’t reached the reserve. The owner believes that this is a 360hp car, but he hasn’t confirmed this. He doesn’t provide much information about the existing engine specifications, but if this has 360hp on tap, it should be capable of demolishing the ¼ mile in 14.1 seconds. While there might be holes in the description, the owner confirms that it starts, runs, and drives perfectly. It seems that this is ready to go as soon as the buyer hands over the cash.

When I first started looking at American performance cars, I found one aspect fascinating. Growing up in Australia, I expected that every performance car with a floor shift would also be equipped with bucket seats. I can’t remember an Australian muscle car with a bench seat, but some of our Aussie readers might think of something that I’ve forgotten. Anyway, this Chevelle features an interior with a bench, and almost everything is upholstered in red vinyl. Its condition is impressive, with no flaws worth noting beyond some wear on some of the piping on the driver’s seat. The dash pad has also discolored, but there are no signs of splits or other issues. The dash itself looks good, as does the carpet. There have been no aftermarket additions, and the factory AM radio remains intact and in its rightful place.

It may not be numbers-matching, but this 1966 Chevelle is a genuine SS 396. It is a tidy survivor that needs very little to lift its condition and presentation to a higher level. However, its needs are not urgent and could be addressed as time and circumstances allow. The person who eventually buys it may look at these issues and decide that fixing them would be the ideal way to occupy some spare time during the upcoming winter months. Are you going to be busy, or have you just cleared your diary so that you can tackle this challenge?