The popularity of the Chevelle SS 396 led Chevrolet to promote it to series status in 1966.  More than 72,000 deliveries were tabulated in ’66 and another 64,000 in ’67 before GM redesigned its intermediates in 1968. This drop-top project has been in storage for more than two decades and no longer has its engine, though a period correct block and heads will come with the car. Located in Payson, Utah, this fairly rare automobile is available here on eBay where $5,800 hasn’t yet reached the seller’s reserve.

So how rare is the 1966 SS 396 convertible? Well, only 5,429 were assembled by Chevy that year and if you assume 10% have managed to survive, that leads to maybe 500 or 600 at best. When it was purchased new, the convertible served time in Hawaii before it was shipped back to the States after about 25 years. From there it ended up (partially?) disassembled and put into storage in Utah. And that’s where the seller found it. A couple of other projects have become time-consuming, and the current title holder has decided that he/she will not get around to rebuilding it, making it available for sale.

This Chevy was once Marina Blue and comes with extra fenders and doors that seem to be in the same color. They may have been acquired to help with rust issues that the seller mentions this auto has. More corrosion can be found in the trunk and floor pans (the latter is not confirmed). The machine comes with matching power-assisted bucket seats that may not be original to the car. But they will need recovering as will the back seat.

While the original engine is MIA, we assume the transmission is still there (but not in the car) and it’s an automatic (Powerglide?). The Chevelle has a 12-bolt rear end that the seller thinks is Day One. If you buy this project, you’re looking at a lot of time and money expended, but you would have one of the coolest of the early SS 396, one with a retractable roof!