Parked 49 Years: 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS
The best-selling car of 1965 wasn’t the new Ford Mustang as you might think. It was the Chevrolet Impala (at more than one million copies). But that demand wasn’t sustainable, and sales dropped by more than 20% the following year. The popular Impala SS was even more adversely affected at minus 50%. So that means a 1966 Impala SS is scarcer today than one from the prior model year. It would include this ’66 SS Sport Coupe, which is in decent condition overall, though the motor has been partially disassembled. Located in Evansville, Indiana, this nice Chevy is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $8,988.
So, why were Impala SS sales off more than the rest of the line? Likely, that’s because the Caprice was in its first full year of production. The Caprice had been introduced as a luxury competitor of the Ford LTD and would end up cutting into Impala SS demand, too. On top of that, the Super Sport was also offered in the Chevelle should buyers want a smaller package. Chevrolet built 119,000 Impala SS models in ’66 compared to 243,000 the year before. Does that impact resale value today? Not likely, as condition and equipment always seem to drive the market and a ton of them were still being built.
This 1966 Impala SS is numbers-matching, at least what’s left under the hood. It was built with the 275 hp version of the 327 cubic inch V8, but the heads are gone, although the seller says everything else is there. We’re assuming something went wrong with the motor, a teardown was begun, and then work stopped for one reason or another. The V8 is paired with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. The last time the car was on the road was 1975, and it had been in a dry barn with a concrete floor for nearly 50 years.
We’re told this is an original owner’s automobile, but we don’t know if that refers to the seller or someone he or she may have gotten the Impala from. The burgundy paint looks fair, and rust may not be an issue, although the lower rear quarter panels could be suspect. It sports a black vinyl tip, and the matching black bucket seat interior looks nice and factory. The seller says this should be an easy restoration. If you can get the motor back together and running, assess whether to do any cosmetic work.
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Comments
What a find. My first car was a 66 Impala, gold with a black brocade interior, 283 2 bbl with a powerglide. Power steering and an AM radio the only options. I hope it finds a good home.
My Grandpa was getting his white with blue interior 327 powerglide equiped 64 Impala 2 door hardtop serviced at his local Chevy dealer. He was walking the lot when he spotted a whitte with blue Interior 66 Impala SS 396 325 hp Turbohydramatic. ( grandpa always bought white with a blue interior.) He stopped. Paused, and said to himself……,” I just gotta have one of those……”. Into the showroom he went. By thebtime they came out with the keys to his 64, he was at the desk, paperwork signed, they said his car was ready, he said its all your now, I have that one.
That was one of my favorite stories he used to tell me. I miss him. Every time I see A ’66 Impala Super Sport I just picture him and my Grandma, going down the road at a brisk pace, warm summer sun in the background, windows down, vent windows open, enjoying the scenery.
One day….. One day…. If I ever come into a boatload of money, that car is most certainly at the top of my bucket list.
Potential is there. But even if ya got that 327 back together & running what problems are ya gonna run into? Tranny, fuel system (gas tank for sure), brakes etc. Almost 50 years of sitting, even on concrete, is not a good thing. My 1st car at 16 was a green 66 Impala. Nice write-up Russ.
Someone’s mother owned this to drive to the piggy wiggle. Ater years she forgot to have the oil checked an locked the engine up. The husband took the heads off an gave up. Sitting ever since.
Most likely dropped the heads off to get machined and never got them back.
Prime candidate for a Restomod.
My Dad bought a ‘65 Impala SS in 1970 for $200. A spinster in the military only drove Cadillacs, but she was transferred to Okinawa, and was told that she would need a “small car”. Her choice was a fully loaded ‘65 Impala SS. 300 horse 327, power windows, AC, vinyl top, even a swing-out tissue dispenser. When she returned stateside she had no use for the lowly Chevy, with 19K miles. She gave it to her friend when it was shipped home- who was also a spinster/retired Major- who called Dad and asked if the battery from a Chevy would work in her Cadillac. He pulled the battery for her, and asked what she was going to do with the car. She asked if he wanted it- as she had no use for a Chevy either. She asked if he would give her $200 for it-sans battery. He went home to get $200 and a battery. When he returned she said that she should have asked for $250. Dad said, if you want $250, I’ll give you $250. Naw. She just wanted it gone. Mom drove that beautiful car for several years. Kind of a light metallic turquoise with white interior and black vinyl top. I still have the Okinawa license plate…
These Impalas from the north usually have a lot of rust on the floor and trunk pans. If the truck pans are bad then the bracing underneath more than likely is rusted out also. These all look good on this car from what I can see in the pics. Another place to look is frame rust, specifically the area above the rear axle housing. These were pretty notorious for holding snow containing salt in this area. In the pics provided of the frame it looks pretty good although we can’t see above the rear axle housing. Overall the car looks decent. I wonder if the owner would pull the rear wheels and try to get pics of that particular frame area.
I loved my ’65 Impala SS.
I always thought the 65s and 67s were much better-looking than the 66s
There really isn’t that much difference between all three of those years you mentioned.
From what you can see of the underside it looks pretty solid. This would be so much better with a four speed on the floor. And AC. If it were up to me I would put it together mechanically and worry about the body work later. Mostly rear quarter panels. Missing heads? Edelbrock makes some fine replacements I’m sure. It’s up to ten grand now.