Chevrolet Impala already dominated the full-size space and American car sales in 1966, so the GM brand operated changes that were supposed to help the series grow and eventually bring home more bacon.
The Caprice was promoted to a stand-alone series, and while the new model sold well, it also impacted the Impala’s performance.
Chevrolet sold 2.2 million cars in 1966, and the full-size lineup was again number one with approximately 1.5 million units. The Caprice accounted for 181K cars, while the Super Sport, still offered as a stand-alone series, reached 119K units.
The 1966 Impala in these photos is an intriguing appearance that leaves many questions without an answer, but as a reader suggested to be, it looks to be great daily driving material at a fair price.
This Impala is a Florida car that still runs and drives, but it needs brake work before returning to the road fully. However, it’s unclear if this car has ever been restored, though I’m almost certain it has. It looks too good for a 1966 Impala, and the selling price suggests it’s no longer original, and the refresh wasn’t necessarily a professional job.
Rust is not a concern in this Impala (as only the surface of the metal looks affected), but the non-working air conditioning system should be. You can drive and enjoy this Impala only on cool days, as the air conditioning system blows warm. However, eBay seller bellas*thriftstore* doesn’t reveal how easy it is to fix it, but a good mechanic should be able to decipher everything quite easily.
The odometer indicates 80K miles, but the owner admits that the mileage can’t be verified.
The engine in charge of propelling the wheels is a 283. This was the base engine in 1966, producing 195 horsepower in the standard configuration. The other base option was a six-cylinder unit with 155 horsepower, while the top choice was the L72 427 big block with 425 horsepower. It was a hefty upgrade, carrying a $312 price tag, and fitted the Super Sport like a glove.
However, most SS buyers loved the evolved version of the 396, now available as a 427 with 390 horsepower.
This Impala requires only minor TLC to return to the road in tip-top shape, and if you’re not interested in a 100% original and unrestored car, this example might be the right choice for a head-turning daily driver.
The owner is willing to let it go for $13,850, but I believe you could get it a bit cheaper, as they also enabled the Make Offer option on eBay. The auction site says 24 people have added the car to the watchlist, and if you don’t want to lose any time, you can see it in person in Freehold, New Jersey.