Big-Block Survivor: 1966 Chevrolet Caprice
While this 1966 Chevrolet Caprice is a stunning car, there will be a small group of readers who should find it particularly attractive. If you are seeking a classic car capable of seating six people in comfort but can still offer startling performance, this car has to tick a lot of the right boxes. It is the second 396-equipped ’66 Caprice that I’ve had the pleasure of writing about in recent times, but this one is far more affordable than the last. If I have managed to whet your appetite, you will find this Caprice located in Sherman, Texas, and listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set the BIN at $19,500, and with an incredible 234 people currently watching the listing, it appears that this is a big Chevy that has attracted plenty of attention.
I’ve always liked the styling of the ’66 Caprice, and this one is an attractive one that is finished in Aztec Bronze. The paint holds a winning shine, with no visible flaws or problems beyond a few stone chips. The panels are impressively straight for a classic of this vintage, and there’s no evidence of any previous accident damage or repairs. That inevitably leads us to the question of potential rust problems, and things appear to be pretty positive. The owner doesn’t mention any issues in his listing, and the photos of the vehicle’s underside indicate that there are no problems that could cause lost sleep. The panels look particularly clean, and if the Caprice has spent most of its life in Texas, it is possible that it has completely avoided the rust that can plague so many cars from this era. The chrome is in good order, the tinted glass appears flawless, and the Rally wheels show no signs of stains or physical damage. However, the badges on the front fenders tell us that this Chevy might be more than just a pretty face.
Finding a numbers-matching classic is never a bad thing, especially when what occupies the engine bay happens to be a Chevrolet big-block V8. In this case, the Caprice comes equipped with a 396ci V8, a 3-speed Hydramatic transmission, a 12-bolt rear end, and power steering. This mighty motor offers the driver 325hp under their right foot, which is enough to send the Caprice down the ¼ mile in a neat 16 seconds. The engine bay presents well for a survivor of this age, and it is a case of looks not being deceptive. The owner says that the Caprice runs and drives very well, and you would have to think that the big-block would sound pretty sweet breathing through a dual exhaust.
If this Caprice is to be considered as a survivor, its interior presents pretty well. It is upholstered in Black, and its faults appear to be of a minor nature. There are a couple of slight seam separations on the driver’s seat, but the rest of the upholstered surfaces show no real problems. The flaws on the driver’s seat haven’t progressed too far, so a competent upholsterer might be able to rectify them without the need to replace the cover. There is wear in a few spots on the carpet, with the worst of these being around the driver’s right foot area. Maybe someone has been hitting the gas pedal to get the most out of the 396 under the hood. The damage isn’t horrendous, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the buyer decided to hand over $160 for a new set that would boost the interior. The dash and pad are in good order, and it looks like someone may have installed an aftermarket radio/8-track player. The faux woodgrain and the plated items show no issues or problems, and I can’t see why this interior couldn’t be enjoyed immediately by the new owner.
This 1966 Caprice has a lot to offer its next owner. It presents well for a vehicle of this age, and it appears that the buyer won’t be digging into their wallet to address rust problems. It is a tidy and practical survivor that should offer winning performance for a vehicle of this size and weight. With the automotive world beginning to show signs of turning its back on the internal combustion engine, preserving and enjoying classics like this will become more critical with each passing year. I hope that someone does that with this classic, and I would love to think that the new owner will be one of our passionate readers. I know that you would treat the Caprice with respect, which is something that it deserves.
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Comments
Impressive to say the least. If you want a cruiser that will sit 6 comfortably, by all means check something like this one out.
Nice looking car, for sure. But down here in Texas, we need A/C!
Humm, I don’t put on the A/C lessun it hits a hundred (or if in town). I grew up without A/C and somehow manage now with busted A/C in my car. This car surely has floor vents and along with the wing vents; fresh air cools just fine.
Great write-up on a nice example Adam, with its needs identified very well.
I’d imagine that this one won’t last very long.
This color was a big deal for me as a 13 year old. It still is a favorite. I always remember this top with black vinyl .
Great car, great color! Here’s one with a black vinyl top -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MYqqu5Dkpc&t=15s
Nice looking car. I would be looking for air cleaner/valve cover sticker repops and an original radio….
Wow, may watchers, that’s the most I have known about, I had an 83 Toyota pickup with 121 watchers the most for my sales, anyone have more than this car?
I would doubt few if any ’65-’70 CAPRICES were made with a manual trans, much less later ones.
Remember that 396 Nova a while back? These, and wagons, were the “donor cars”, that you swore to Auntie Gladys, you’d take care of it ( oh, we took care of it alright) long before anyone thought a ’66 Chevy 2 door was worth anything, ( even tho, Auntie kept it spotless after Uncle Harold died). So many nice cars like this filled the junkyards, to be shredded and sold to Japan to be made into Toyotas,,,and such. Oh yes they did buy our scrap in the 70’s. Anyway, this is a great find because of those reasons. Again, they got P/S and optional 3 speed( most were Powerglides) but no power brakes and certainly no A/C. Very nice find.
1966 Caprice in this color was the first car I learned about the ‘touchy pedal’ of Power Brakes.
My Mom’s bronze ’66 396 Caprice had the black vinyl top/air conditioning/bucket seats/console gauges etc. It wasn’t ‘fast’, but it was comfortable! I took my drivers test in it and got demerits for driving with only 1 hand on the wheel!
When I was a senior in high school my parents bought the same car but with cream interior and cream vinyl top plus AC.
It was a stunner.
Always loved the notchback Caprice compared to the swept window Impala. Beautiful color too on this one…and of course, that 396
Nice car,but after having a full size car back in the day with manual drum brakes, I would be upgrading right away,just the front brakes, drums out back are perfectly fine,and actually I would not mind 4 wheel drums with power assist, ive owned a few,and they were just fine, otherwise I would not really change a thing, really classy old Chevy!