Sometime after seeing 20 or perhaps 60 (or more) perfectly restored classic Chevelles, it may occur to an automobile enthusiast that, perhaps, not every SS needs a one-way ticket to perfection. This 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 in Council Bluffs, Iowa captures a slice of automotive history and tells a story no factory specimen ever could. If the Tri-Power 427 doesn’t get your attention, check out the custom graphics, twin spotlights, and the metallic blue vinyl upholstery. The listing here on eBay comes with a $16,500 Buy It Now option.
Whoa, Nelly! The Barefoot Gas Pedal and shag carpet might have come from anywhere, but that glittery vinyl upholstery is full-on ’70s Freak Machine! Unlike some crazy rides, this one comes with a known history going back to its original purchase, the demise of the original 396, and more. That’s right, folks; this car retains its (rebuilt) four-speed manual transmission.
After some presumably tire-smoking early years, the original owner blew the factory 325 HP 396, revisited the dealer, and ordered up a 427 short block and Corvette Tri-Power set-up. This true SS runs but hasn’t been road-worthy in over a decade. Sadly it’s attracted its share of rust as well.
Some metal-work will be necessary before transporting anything smaller than a hay bale. You can almost see the original 12-bolt rear end! One day, cars like this will be gone and folks might think “Gee, maybe we should have saved a few.” I hope the new owner replaces the necessary safety items and take some steps to guard against further deterioration, but little else. Sell the shiny wheels and fit a swap-meet set. Hopefully, anyone with eyes for a factory restoration won’t have the stomach for extensive rust repair. Move along, Mr. Only Stock For Me.
Shame about the rust-through. Even though the blue vinyl interior gives me a headache this Chevelle would be a blast to drive IMO
Hey Rex Kahrs, check out the 8 track in the player, at least the driver had good taste in music!
I would go “all the way” with the “street freak” theme, like this one…
Nice!
Reminds me of a model I built as a kid…
Hey Steve, I wonder where Keith is at on price of this one. If he was at $20K tops on the Red Chevelle the other day I bet he is probably at about $100 cash on this one!
Sorry, couldn’t help myself !!!
A rusted hulk but decoding the trim tag is interesting.
66-13817 1966 396 SS sport coupe
750-B medium red imitation leather
C-C ermine white exterior color top and bottom
E tinted glass all around
2LG 2nd option grouping:
L=4 speed M-20 wide ratio
G=center console
5Y 5th option grouping:
Y=deluxe seat belts
IMHO this would have been a very sharp car.
Thanks to http://chevellestuff.net/1966/chevelle/tags/66-kan.htm for the decoding.
I wanna poke my eyes out after seeing those seats and door cards……..damn shame.
I had a L-68 427 in my 67 Chevelle SS. I’ll tell you what, that sucker would run. No tri-power but a simple 780 Holley and aluminum heads. This will definitely be a whole lot of fun !
Nice looking car. Is that a copper color or a shade of gold? Looks nice on it whatever it is. Bet that sounded great every time you stomped on the skinny pedal and held it down for a few seconds.
Sorry, but if this were mine I would do everything possible to get back to the original white/red color combination. While I agree that “not every SS needs a one-way ticket to perfection”, none of these visual modifications would be worth keeping for me.
The 427 can stay, however!
My theoretical build: restore the exterior and interior to the original combination. Keep the installed drivetrain. Do some subtle upgrades to the brakes and suspension, for drivability. It would be a really nice car, without the whiff of Billy Beer and “Disco Sucks” stickers.
This car would look awesome after complete restoration
Me personally
It reminds me of the first car I ever bought
A year older mind you.
I would leave it as is
Get it running well, update some rubber
And just laugh at the purists crying as I laid the biggest patch they’ve ever seen
He says that the quarters and body need work but there;s no pics of the body other than the few that are there. This is one firebreathin’ Chevelle. Would do it up and def leave the 427. I can here this baby rippin’ up the 1320. U guys think its overpriced?? Good luck to the new owner??
Cheers
GPC
Here’s my old rust bucket small block 427 627hp
That is a beautiful Car Bill perfect stance, nice wheels, and tires you can actually see a sidewall on, and perfect drivetrain love the whole car good job on the build
Bill I would of left it carbureted you can get just as much power as you can with the fuel injection with less work and without having to mess with a stupid computer
I remember that car. It sat in a building
in north omaha.for years.l knew the
owner .he owned a auto repair shop
in north omaha its a true time capsule.
Looks similar to the 2dr post 67 i rescued from a field 10yrs ago
I am reminded of the scene in the Wind in the Willows in which Mr. Toad sees a car for the first time. My God the high dollar tires you could destroy with this car.
My cousin while in Viet Nam ordered a 1966 Chevelle SS convertible with a 427,an export only option. He picked it up at Beyrel Chevrolet in Monroeville Pa. It had for Export tags on it. Aztec Bronze,no radio. His nickname was the Wizard. I think it was the only 427 Chevelle factory made.
this is just so cool. well worth the money. I was just talking yesterday with a upholstery guy about doing button tuck, but much better in metalflake back In the 70’S. He said they are coming back out with the material.
I would have to get rid of them spot lights and the foot gas pedal and shag carpet and get all the repairs done and have fun then put a 12 inch tire under the rear end and add a supercharger with a thumper cam when I can afford it and drop the front an inch or 2 where it still looks good
$100k of Rust to Patch back together…
yes the price is high but how many are left … im building a 64 chevy california van right now no rust i cant imagine how much shop time this would take ….good luck to the new owner
Acid dipped for lighten??? Only the 427,trans,12 bolt are worth anything, maybe 4-5 grand total. Scrap the rest.
Have owned this beauty since High School, #1car bought 2nd owner of car originally bought from local dealership I am now 66 years of age a time capsule of yesterday’s Chevrolet
Pull the motor and 4 gear,…and then start looking for the handle…..when you find the handle,….flush it.
Ex-girl friend in HS’s father had a 427 Chevelle SS. (1967) Wide ratio 4 speed, Hone-O-Drive overdrive and 4.10 posi. He even let me drive it a few times. (on a date without him in the car) Wow, what a car! The car was stored in his garage from approx. 1975 until his death about 20 years ago. I don’t know who ended up with the car. (maroon color) It would have come with a 494 with aluminum heads. That was on the engine stand and never installed.
Some need to stay customized like this, to show what many of these really looked like after a few years. Stock is fine but just how many of these screamers actually stayed that way? It was all about fun an thrills, with a 427 this Chevelle definitely had the thrills covered.
Too bad Chevy wasn’t allowed to use the 427 in the intermediates, absolute street/strip terror.
Not sure that fuel tank is DOT legal