1966 Chevrolet Chevelle

Description

The Chevrolet Chevelle is certainly a contender for the world's most popular muscle car, and for good reason. One look at this 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle hardtop tells you all you need to know about why they're so beloved. It's got a low-key look but with a thumping 454 cubic inch big block under the hood, it's extremely potent as well as beautiful to look at.

The color is Lemonwood yellow, not quite Butternut Yellow, but equally appealing and it gives the sleek Chevelle an elegant look that would look this good even on a vehicle costing thousands more. This car probably qualifies as a sleeper with that low-key color, and the finish on this one seems to amplify its tidy proportions, stretching it visually without diminishing the clean lines that have been a favorite of Chevy fans for decades. Part of the Chevelle's subtlety is that crease that runs from front to rear, and getting that right is critical, so I'll just let the photos speak for themselves in that regard. That two-stage finish was clearly wet sanded and buffed when it was fresh, giving it a distortion-free surface that looks quite good and almost all the trim has been polished, replaced, or restored. It does wear Super Sport badges, although it's not a real SS, but I don't think anyone's going to complain once they see just how good it looks. It's menacing without being too up-front about it.

The mid-1960s were all about simplicity in design, and like the exterior, the black bucket seat interior is a study in careful restraint. Correctly restored, it wears reproduction seat covers that make the Chevelle seem upscale, which was entirely the point. In fact, almost all the soft parts were replaced when the car was restored, and has a very inviting, lovingly used look with no damage, wear, or other defects. Instead, all you want to do is slide behind the wheel, listening to the comfortable groan of the seat as you settle in, and grab that thin-rimmed steering wheel and snap the T-handle shifter into gear. The dash is original and showing some age, but it actually looks better in person than in our photos due to the flash. Upgrades include a set of auxiliary gauges under the dash and a tach strapped to the steering column, as well as an AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit. The trunk was also refinished with correct spatter paint that shows off the extremely clean floors underneath.

Performance got a big upgrade as well, thanks to a fresh 454 cubic inch big block under the hood. With components like an Edelbrock intake manifold topped by a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, electronic ignition, and plenty of Chevy Orange and chrome, it cranks out enough torque to turn the tires into pools of liquid rubber. There's a big radiator up front with a pair of electric fans, so this one stays cool under the worst conditions. Underneath, the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission feeds a 10-bolt rear with a heavy-duty cover, so don't be afraid to lean on it a bit. This car was so clean it didn't need to come off the frame, so it's not detailed and shiny, but it obviously never lived in the rust belt. Long tube headers exhale through a pair of Flowmasters that have that awesome big block rumble. And that muscle car stance looks awesome hunkering over a set of 15-inch Rallys wearing 235/60/15 Uniroyal radials.

There's just no way to make one of these cars look bad and the combination of the subtle paint and big horsepower make this one a very cool street cruiser. Call today!