Original 396: 1966 Chevrolet Caprice
Simply stunning. Those two words probably describe this 1966 Chevrolet Caprice better than most. It presents beautifully and is loaded with factory options that help it stand out in a crowd. The minor mechanical upgrades probably prevent it from being described as a survivor in the strictest sense of the term. However, reversing the changes to return the car to its original form would be viable. It is a classic that offers more than good looks, with its engine bay housing its numbers-matching big-block V8. The Caprice is listed here on eBay in San Diego, California. The seller set their BIN at $45,000 but provides the option for interested parties to make an offer.
The Caprice graduated from an Impala options package to a standalone model in 1966. Chevrolet offered buyers three body styles, with this car’s original owner selecting the highly desirable Two-Door Hardtop derivative. They chose to cloak its panels in Marina Blue, adding a Black vinyl top for contrast. Its presentation is impressive, but it becomes more so with the seller’s revelation that the paint and vinyl are original. They claim the vehicle has never undergone repairs or restoration, and potential buyers won’t find a spot of Bondo. The paint doesn’t hold a mirror shine, but its overall condition suggests it has never been neglected or subjected to long-term UV exposure. There is no checking or fading, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. Rust isn’t going to cause the new owner sleepless nights because this Caprice is as solid as the day its original owner took delivery. The trim and glass are spotless, but purists probably won’t approve of the aftermarket wheels. However, when the subject turns to this car’s drivetrain, they may prove a necessary evil.
The original owner appears to have wanted to combine luxury and performance with this Caprice, and most readers will agree they achieved that goal. They equipped this classic with a 396ci V8, a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission, a 12-bolt rear end, and power assistance for the steering and brakes. The big-block produces 325hp and 410 ft/lbs of torque. That leads us to the inevitable question of performance, and considering this Caprice tips the scales at 4,041 lbs, the ¼-mile ET of 16 seconds, and a top speed of 126mph are both impressive. The seller claims this is a two-owner classic and that the odometer reading of 57,800 miles is genuine. They include a raft of documentation with this classic, and the suggestions are that verifying evidence is in there somewhere. The car runs and drives perfectly, with no issues or vices. Okay, now we need to return to the subject of the wheels and why fitting them may have been unavoidable. The seller aimed to preserve this classic’s originality as much as possible but decided to compromise to improve comfort and safety. The suspension received a few unspecified tweaks, while the braking system now features front discs. Depending on their size, it is possible that the original wheels couldn’t accommodate the upgrade. It is a question worth asking, and purists may reverse the changes to make this Caprice a genuine survivor.
Unsurprisingly, the seller includes numerous interior shots in their listing because there is much to like. The condition is almost impossible to fault, with no evidence of wear, abuse, or deterioration. The lack of UV damage confirms the car has been garage-kept when not prowling the streets, and there are no aftermarket additions. The seats are trimmed in Blue cloth and vinyl, with the remaining upholstered surfaces receiving the same treatment. The painted surfaces match the trim shade, with the darker carpet offering a welcome contrast. The faux woodgrain and plated components are perfect, but the list of factory options sets this classic apart from mere mortals. The buyer receives Comfortron air conditioning, a new feature for the 1966 model year. The original owner also ticked the boxes beside the tilt wheel, cruise control, full floor mats, AM/FM radio with the optional rear speaker, and the under-dash tissue holder. These features are intact, and all work as they should.
Okay, I will stick my neck on the line and say I find this 1966 Chevrolet Caprice Hardtop disappointing. I hear shocked gasps from some readers, but my disappointment isn’t deep-seated. It has nothing to do with its condition, presentation, or history. I am disappointed by the seller’s decision to modify the suspension, brakes, and bolt on different wheels. I understand the logic behind that choice, but it isn’t one I would have made. This classic is an extraordinary survivor, and preservation would have been my focus. Do you agree with that sentiment? Would you return this gem to its original specifications if it found its way into your garage? Or would you leave it untouched? It will be fascinating to gauge your opinion.
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Comments
you can have your opinion, but I think safety mods have nothing to do with making an older car safe for the streets. I’d have gone farther, and installed a double chamber brake master cylinder.
Tissue holder. My favorite feature.
I own a 1966 Caprice 4dr hardtop, and a 1966 Impala 4dr sedan with the original 396 4bbl big block. Standard drum brakes. Scary fast, scary to stop! I put in a dual master power brake system. Works well with the drum brakes. To answer the author’s question about the wheels, the owner of this car, in opting for disc brakes, probably had no choice but to upgrade the wheels, as the Caprice and Impala came with 14 inch wheels, which would not be suitable or usuable for most popular disc brake upgrades.
Disc brakes were a factory option at least in 67?
I had a 1970 caprice 427 car this
Car I bought from a gentleman
For $300 and it ran great look
Awesome. 427 turbo 400
.12 bolt position 251 gears
Bucket seat. Center console floor
Shifter am/fm with eight track
Powder windows power brakes
A/C and yes it was a two door.
Not that it makes much of a difference but the 2 “economy” rear ends offered that year were 2.73 and 2.56. Just sayin’.
Wow, what a great find! A 66 Caprice coupe with all those rare options in such beautiful, original condition. As a stickler for originality, I wish they’d have left it alone, but what’s done is done. Maybe 15″ rims closer to original could be found, although the hub caps certainly won’t. I’d preserve and enjoy it just the way it is, waxing the original paint until it shines, like I did with my first car, a 66 Impala coupe in faded gold.
Super nice car.I’d probably put Chevy rallyes on it with 67 disc brake caps and trim rings. It has the pretty hard to find big $ tele tilt steering column not just a tilt. That horn button is 3-500 and the collars are big $ especially if they are console shift.I’d definetly put a dual master setup on it with a prop. valve.Only thing I don’t like is the Comfortron.Very finicky set up with a couple of now hard to find sensors.4 seasons was the way to go. I had one I bought from CA about 25 years ago.Was Aztec bronze.I painted it black and got rid of the fawn vinyl top.Had fawn vinyl buckets and a console with gauges 396 th 400. Got married ,had a kid and sold the car.glwts.
I forgot a tuned GM HEI too. SOOOO much better than points. Also a tuned mid 70’s service carb for this application and no it is not a emmision carb. Rochester finally figured out in late 69 the float hinge pin was in the wrong spot and re engineered it on the q-jet as well as other improvements.
Had one nearly identical just tilt wheel and no vinyl top. Same color,interior and drivetrain, no limited slip it would burn the right rear to no end. I put 69 ss Chevelle wheels on it looked pretty good. Loved everything about it except the brakes. Ten years ago one like this could have been bought for 16-20 K.
This is my 1st comment even though I’m a regular BF browser. I couldn’t pass this one. What an automobile! My 1st car was a Caprice with the 396 Marina blue, black vinyl top, same interior only buckets with the floor shift turbo 400. I had the 12 bolt limited slip. I got 17mph on that car with 3:73 gearing. These cars are a real pleasure to drive, what a ride, you don’t feel bumps over the road you just float over the inconsistencies on the road. This car brings back the fondest of memories. I’m 1974 I drove it to my girlfriend’s (now my wife of 46yrs) and drunk driver plowed into it and totaled it, I felt like I lost a family member, I was crushed. You hear it all the time but they just don’t make automobiles like that anymore. Definitely one of the best vehicles I ever owned. This one is a real beauty imo. Someone will wearing a big grin when they climb in this every time they take her out for spin.
Finding good 14″ tires at reasonable price is pretty hard to do. Even good 15″ tires are becoming problematic.
You can buy a set of four 16″ or 17″ tires AND wheels for less than what four decent 14″ tires cost. Have you priced Coker tires lately?
If someone doesn’t like the brake upgrade, tough, and ditto on going to a dual master cylinder, its a safety feature.
Granted, people don’t usually drive these cars in bumper to bumper traffic traveling at 80 MPH, but if you found yourself in that situation, dual master and discs would save your bacon.
BF t/a’s…traction advantage since 1976.
69 was last year for 427. In 70, it was changed to a 454.
Good point! I remember back in late 69 finding out they were transitioning to the 454 and thought even though it had more cubic inches it just didn’t have the same ring to it that a mighty 427 had. Of course the 454 didn’t take long to prove its creds!
427 shorter stroke but same bore as a 454 . I personally prefer the 427 as it rev’s higher faster.454s are externally balanced too like a 400 sbc. They are both great engines though.
Good comments on this car. I wouldn’t change anything on it but would surly upgrade the suspension if it hasn’t already been done. I’ve driven a couple of these and stock they handle like a wheelbarrow full of rocks. Wouldn’t take much and it wouldn’t take anything away from a really great car.
Another sweet first year Caprice Coupe. One of the few years you could get a telescoping steering column in a big Chevy. Only thing missing is the girl on the roof in the print ad.
It was a white one with a black vinyl , optional spoked tri spinner hubcaps and a 283. Cloth buckets with a console and gauges automatic car crank windows standard non deluxe seatbelts maybe a tilt hard to tell. Ya think they would have at least used a 396 car.
Yes, that’s the one. You know it well. lol. Maybe a sb to remind people that is was within reach of every man/woman. The brochure sure did show off the BB.
Purists leave me cold and shaking my head. Once a car is purchased and driven off the dealer lot for the first time it becomes a unique artifact with it’s own stories and history. While never a fan of The Cheap Three I actually love this Caprice. Originality is an utter farce as a concept. An automobile is original when it rolls out of the factory and NEVER again. The first mile driven ends originality and frankly nobody should care. Those wheels look marvelous and the brakes and suspension upgrades improve both performance and safety. Give it a rest!
Here’s a blanket . . .
Agreed – brakes, steering, and suspension left a lot to be desired back when this car was new. Upgrading those systems is kind of a no-brainer unless you’re not planning on driving it. My first car was one of these, same colors inside and out, but it had the 327/Powerglide drivetrain.. plenty of power even with that setup but handling, braking, etc. weren’t up to par with today’s driving needs
My first car said it all.
I would have put 17″ rally wheels and trim rings on it which would allow the functional enhancements while retaining a more original look. The mag wheels look out of place on this car.
Checked all those option boxes and didn’t check power windows or locks? Tsk, tsk!
Or buckets and console with gauge package.
As my dad would have said, “More sh#t to go wrong.” Which was not an uncommon sentiment.
As for the upgrades, I wasn’t born until 1971 so by the time I saw these cars they were usually showing their age roughly, and often bought by the cool long-haired dope-smokers, who always slapped on some Cragar wheels, so although I never grew my hair long (but did eventually smoke my fair share of the Devil’s Lettuce) I dig the wheels as appropriate to my period.
What a beauty! I’m fine with the front disc upgrade and you have to have at least 15″ tires for that to work. Even though it’s out of my price range, this one is a much better 66 Caprice than the one featured last week in the same Marina Blue, although it wasn’t factory air car and had drum brakes front and back. And that seller was asking about what this one is asking. This one has all the options there, but a manual trans would be asking too much I guess. Great find.
Disc brakes were a factory option at least in 67?
Certain hidden upgrades like HEI Petronix modules to replace points and more serviceable carbs besides the Quadra junk Rochester, and front disc brakes are just fine IMO. I do agree that 15″ or 17″ Rally wheels would have looked better but it is what it is, and I would love to have this car just as is and enjoy it.
Quadra junk? The only folks who say that are the ones who do not understand them or how to tune them with the correct primary jets secondary metering rods and hangers depending on the CR , displacement and cam profile. I ‘ll take a q jet any day over a Holley 4100 series or a Carter afb.
Or who don’t like working on them. I prefer Edelbrock over Holley carbs and drive my 65 Mercury and 85 C10 and never have any problems with them. To each their own.
First year without the X frame underneath the 66 Impala. Best looking year Impala in my opinion ever. And I am a Ford guy, but I would own this over almost, and I say almost any Ford. Bring back the American styling genius’s of yesteryear and make America proud.
1964 was the last year for the X frame. 65 was a brand new design.
Friend of mine has a 66 GTO, 389 4 speed, and he upgraded the brakes for safety reasons, and aquired a set of 15 inch Pontiac 1 wheels, I forget what company produced them, with red walls, car looks beautiful, stops great and doesn’t resemble a ghetto cruiser, it maintains its original look without sacrificing safety