1966 Chevrolet Chevelle

Description

How do you make a car that is fast approaching its 50th birthday look sleek, modern, and totally up-to-date? You give it a makeover like this 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle received. Oh, don't worry, there's still big block horsepower underneath, but the gorgeous silver paint, the slick-shifting 6-speed gearbox, and a perfect stance make a strong argument for refusing to act your age.

You could get silver paint back in 1966, but nothing that looked like this spectacular iridescent metallic paint job on this Chevelle. It looks like the entire car was carved out of an ingot of aluminum, accentuating the Chevelle's muscular stance without over-doing it. It's beautifully done with almost no signs of use and the shine is miles deep thanks to two-stage paint that's been professionally buffed, and the unaltered factory bodywork wears it exceptionally well. They even kept the original hood, with its cool chrome inserts that somehow add to the car's low-key, high-tech look. All the stainless trim is brand new so it shines like chrome, and there's a proper blacked-out grille up front with SS badging where it belongs. You'll also find crossed-flag emblems on the front fenders advertising the 396 that lives inside, as well as the requisite "Super Sport" badges on the quarter panels. This car totally nails the look, beautifully blending vintage and modern without a misstep.

The interior has a very stock look, although you'll quickly see that it has upgrades where it matters. Black bucket seats are factory-issue, but instead of the original sticky vinyl upholstery, it's got handsome and comfortable cloth seating surfaces which have been beautifully stitched in factory patterns. New door panels, a fresh set of black carpets, a center console all dress things up, and the three-spoke steering wheel is a familiar GM performance item that we've admired for years. The gauges are beautifully rendered and fully functional, with a set of auxiliary dials under the dash monitoring oil pressure, temperature, and voltage. There's also an AM/FM/cassette stereo in the original radio's location, so nothing was cut or modified, and sharp eyes will note that there are six gears carved into the face of that Hurst cue ball, not just four. Embroidered SS floor mats protect the carpets and you get a truly massive trunk finished with black carpets that match the interior.

The engine is a rebuilt and fully detailed 396 cubic inch V8 topped by a pair of Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetors on a progressive linkage. Inside there's a full roller valvetrain and an MSD ignition system lights it all up. Plenty of polished aluminum and chrome pieces give it a sparkling look, and even the radiator is a fresh aluminum piece that looks right and keeps the big block nice and cool. A Tremec T56 6-speed manual transmission offers two overdrive gears, so this is an effortless highway cruiser even with 3.55 posi gears inside the 12-bolt rear end. Long-tube headers from Sanderson feed a trick Flowmaster exhaust system that's been painted black to stay out of sight under the car. New brakes, fresh shocks, and just the right rake give this car a ton of attitude. And you get modern handling with this Chevelle, as it's wearing big 17-inch Billet Specialties wheels with staggered 245/40/17 front and 265/40/17 rear Toyo performance radials.

Very well built, tastefully upgraded, and just a blast to drive, this Chevelle gets everything exactly right. It's one of those cars that you can show easily but it works so well, you'll be too busy driving it to worry about trophies. Call today!