The Chevelle was in its third year of production in 1966 and received a noticeable restyle of sheet metal using the car’s original frame. As a result, the automobile now had smoother contours and curved side windows (something that AMC had pioneered in 1963). This car is a breath of fresh air in that it’s not an SS 396 or clone of one, just a plain old ordinary Malibu Sport Coupe. It’s going to need a lot of work after sitting for several years. Located in Hooper, Nebraska, this Chevy is available through a dealer and here on eBay for $4,050 where the reserve is still being elusive.
As part of the 1966 facelift, the Chevelle Sport Coupes gained a “flying buttress” roofline which tunneled into the “C” pillar, common among GM intermediates for 1966-67. Chrysler would soon copy that with their B-bodies as well. It was part of the new “Coke bottle” body shape that became a fad for American car builders in the mid-1960s. Between the Malibu Sport Coupe and the SS 396 with the same body style, they represented nearly half of the total Chevelle production for 1966.
This Plain Jane Malibu has a 283 cubic inch V8 engine with a 4-barrel carburetor. We’re told the engine was stuck but the seller oiled the cylinders and managed to get it to turn over. Instead of the commonly seen Powerglide automatic, this car has a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission with overdrive (will today’s teenagers know how to drive one of these?). The seller believes this setup is original to the car but doesn’t know for sure. The odometer reading is unclear. In one instance, it’s supposed to be 67,673 while in another it’s said to be 71,521,
As the story goes, the previous owner got the Chevy from his parents who had acquired the car new in 1966. He drove it during high school and passed it along to his sister who used it through 1979. After that, the car sat mostly dormant for the next 40+ years. The body is going to need a lot of attention and both rear quarter panels are candidates for replacement. For whatever reason, the rear glass is not installed, it’s just propped up in place.
The interior of this old Malibu is also going to need a makeover as the seat overs (at a minimum) have long since stopped being usable. One option on this car was power drum brakes, but we don’t see where power steering was added, a regular pairing. The car rolls freely and should be easy to load onto a trailer, ready to move to the mechanic or body shop of your choice. It would be cool if this car were to be restored to its original condition and not turned into another Super Sport tribute.
Interesting find. We’re so used to seeing SS-396s that it’s easy to forget that the base Malibu sport coupe was a very popular choice. Alas, with as much as this one needs, I would be surprised if it exits restoration as anything less than an SS clone.
One detail: curved side glass was first used by Imperial in 1957.
Neat car. In the wild, I’ve only ever seen one other this-Generation Chevy with a V-8 and a three-speed-with-over-drive. I’d love to have it, but does she need some work! Can’t believe $4K hasn’t bought it. IMO; that’s just nut-so money for what is presented.
Our family vet had this same model year and same color but in a plain jane 4-door. I think it had the same rust patterns too.
The overdrive seemed like nice option for people wanting an upgraded manual, but it seems to have been dropped from option list after 1968, at least for the Chevy intermediates. I don’t think I ever used one.
Ringer for the car I 1st learned to drive on
Rust in same locations but that was 1979 Western NY
Yea seems like a lot of rot for a nebraska car. Might be a transplant. as usual a lot of suspect bids. Good luck and happy motoring.
Cheers
GPC
I live in Omaha, NE and I can assure you the salt and chemicals this city spreads on our streets is worse than ever. It eats cars and streets. Some western parts of rural Nebraska may have some semi-rust-free classics, but definitely not in the eastern parts like Hooper where this car is located .
All the 66-67 chevelles/malibus we had back in the day had air shocks on them, they just didn’t look right back then sitting level. And of course wide tires on the back. nice find.
Will teenagers know how to drive one??? Hell, I’ll bet most 40 year olds wouldn’t know how to drive one.
I drove my 72 Ford F100 into a Jiffy-Lube and left to grab lunch. When I came back, the truck was still there. Nobody knew how to drive it out.
I said the same thing. It’s not just teenagers that wouldn’t know how to drive a three-on-the-tree but many adults wouldn’t know how to drive one as well.
Lots a rust. Either my eyes are fuzzy or the picture is on that r/r shock
Bought a 67 in this condition! By the time I got done cutting all the rust out —- ALL I HAD WAS THE FRAME!!!! Back window is sitting in place because All the back window frame is rotted out!! Be careful about buying these rusted out gems!! Too bad they get in such condition, but back than. GM. Didn’t make cars to last !
I had a 64 Impala 283 with a 3 on the tree with overdrive It had a chrome overdrive pull lever on the underside of the dash and a switch under the accelerator pedal it was a nice car and rode well 2 dr teal color
Special place in my heart for the 66. I had a blue one that I put a 70 GTO engine in. Traded later for a 69 Road Runner 383.
Light rear end and with air shocks and N50 15’s you could pull a holeshot in second and melt the tires as long as you wanted.
Quite a bit of rust in ALL the known places. the trunk is likely gone as are the floorboards. The rear window looks like it could blow out doing the double nickle/
Good base to begin a race car, you are going to cut the trunk out anyway might as well do it right. Cage it and the car has the go pedals for banging a Super T10. Now if all the glass is good maybe you can get the car for less than 4K. That 4K will make a young KID proud to have.
Even this old KID would like to have it.