1966 Chevelle
The 1966 Chevelle is a special Chevelle for me as it was the very first Chevelle I ever owned. It was purchased as a shell, no engine or transmission. No interior except for the dash. I remember my friend Brian sat on a milk crate holding the wheel steady as I towed it home with my father’s Cutlass, the ride was over an hour long!
The 66 Chevelle was lock, stock and barrel redesigned with forward thrusting front fender edges, a smoother body contour and a more curved appearance on the whole. Four Chevelle models were to be had in 1966. The base model was still the Chevelle 300, offered as a 2 or 4 door sedan. The Chevelle 300 Deluxe was available as a 2 or 4 door sedans and 4 door wagons. The 1966 Malibu was available as a 2 door sport coupe, a new 4 door sport sedan, 2 door convertible, 4 door sedan and a 4 door station wagon. Fifteen exterior colors were again offered, six of them new for the 66. The Chevelle (SS) Super Sport 396 became a separate model and was offered in only a 2 door sport coupe and convertible versions.
In 1966 the Chevelle SS Super Sport became truly SUPER. No More sixes and small blocks! In their place was just one engine, the powerful 396 cubic inch Mk IV V-8. Also with it came many style changes. These changes included a redesigned grille, taillights, fenders and new roofline with a sporty dug in window. Proper “SS 396” emblems in the blacked out grille and on the rear cove panel, “Super Sport” rear quarter script and those renowned “396 Turbo Jet” front fender cross flags added to the lure. 1966 also marked the first appearance of the forceful looking twin non functional hood scoops with chrome side facing grilles which were typical on the SS 396.
In standard form, all Chevelle SS’ for 1966 were equipped with a 325 horse power 396 cubic inch engine. A floor shifted heavy duty three speed manual transmissions and a non posi-traction12 bolt rear end fitted with 3.31:1 gears. The six and eight cylinder engines would not be available again in the Super Sport until 1971.
Buyers wanting to up the horsepower of their new Chevelle Super Sports could also choose between two optional 396 Mk IV big blocks. The L34 rated at 360 horse power and the L78 rated at a monstrous 375 horse power! The L78 396 featured large rectangular port heads, a solid lifter cam, 11:1 compression ratio and a Holley four barrel carburetor sat on top of an aluminum intake manifold. The optional transmission list included the M20 wide ratio four-speed. M21 close ratio four-speed, and the new M22 Muncie “Rock Crusher” four-speed, as well as the Powerglide two speed-automatic.
