Vehicle Description
For some people, "muscle car" means a big car with a lot of
firepower, and this 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS hardtop would
certainly qualify. Bright Aztec Bronze paint, a wicked stance, and
flashy 'Old Style' wheels mean you won't be sneaking around much in
this beauty, and the fuel-injected 454 cubic inch V8 crate motor
under the hood, the TKO600 5-speed manual gearbox managing the
gears, and the upgraded sports suspension underneath all make sure
that this big car can deliver on its brilliant good looks. This
Impala represents a lot of style, performance, and value for the
money, and if history has taught us anything, deals like this never
last long.
Originally Code MM Aztec Bronze, this big-bodied bruiser still
wears its original shade with tremendous pride after a high-end,
professional respray completed back in 2011. This must have been a
pretty straight car to begin with, because those giant quarter
panels just don't turn out this well if they need a lot of bodywork
and the crease that runs from nose to tail is sharp enough to give
you a paper cut. There's a lot of depth and gloss to the finish,
suggesting quality materials (non-primary color paints are
particularly expensive) and careful prep were of paramount
importance to the builders. They refrained from making it something
other than it is, so no stripes, custom hood, or silly graphics
were used during the restoration, and the parts that did go back on
were carefully polished or replaced if there was a need. The result
is a dialed-in, top-end driver-quality rig with big curb appeal
that gathers more 'smiles-for-miles' than just about any big Chevy
coupe out there. The '66s are particularly appealing to hobbyists
for their redesigned taillights, which replaced the round
taillights of old and sparked a new era for the Impala. Those giant
chrome bumpers fore and aft are in great shape, as is the
glistening, ornate front grille, and the spear molding that runs
the length of the profile breaks up the paint just enough, matching
the look of the thin rocker panel molding below.
We really love the complementing black interior, with sporty bucket
seats, a factory center console, and enough room for the entire
family. The vinyl upholstery on the seats has held up very well,
with only minor comfort marks to report (hardly a demerit), while
the cloth inserts up front add a little durability to the
high-traffic areas. Black door panels at the flanks continue the
pattern, the black headliner above is stretched taut, and although
the carpets show some wear and are slightly faded in some areas,
they still do a great job insulating the cabin from the outside
world. The original dash has a couple imperfections on the steel
part down below, but it does have a newer reproduction pad up top
that looks great, and it also includes an upgraded, leather-wrapped
SS-style steering wheel and some bright aluminum accents that
really pop. Factory gauges ahead of the driver look great inside
the deeply recessed bezel, and they're augmented by a set of four
auxiliary units in the center stack - much like in a sporty Camaro.
The center console is a very desirable piece, and it's highlighted
with shiny brightwork, brushed aluminum, and a carbon-fiber style
applique that really dress it up, while it also houses a chrome
Hurst shifter topped with an 8-ball knob that controls the 5-speed
manual gearbox below. Options include an upgraded Classic Auto Air
A/C system that uses stock controls and aftermarket vents installed
under the dash, a RetroSound AM/FM/AUX stereo that powers upgraded
speakers stashed throughout the cabin, cruise control, seatbelts,
power locks, and LED interior lighting in the footwells that
brightens things up inside. The back seat looks to have been rarely
used and might even be original, while out back the massive trunk
was covered in spatter-paint, protected with a carpeted mat, and
houses a spare tire and jack set.
Under the hood, the original 327 was dumped in favor of a thumping,
GM 454 V8 crate engine that's fed through a Mass-Flow EFI with
point injection system. The big block provides a massive boost in
power and torque, and it pulls the car with great aplomb, far
better than the original small block could even imagine. It's
obvious things aren't stock under the hood and the long-tube cold
air intake system is the biggest giveaway, but with Chevy Orange
enamel on the block and valve covers, it hasn't completely
forgotten its roots. Other upgrades include a swapped-in Ford ECU,
Mallory HEI distributor, and heatshield-wrapped Hooker long-tube
headers that feed into a throaty X-pipe dual exhaust system that
sounds terrific. Upgraded power steering from Classic Industries
(including a Saginaw steering gear box), power 4-wheel disc brakes
with drilled and slotted rotors, and a giant BeCool aluminum
radiator with electric fans have prepared this Imp for the modern
road, while the Tremec TKO600 5-speed manual transmission shifts
smoothly and spins a heavy-duty 12-bolt, 3.73-geared posi-traction
rear end out back. The suspension was beefed up to handle the big
body, with a Global West tubular front clip with added coilovers,
Hotchkis swaybars fore and aft, and adjustable air-shocks,
air-bagged coil springs, and a trailing arm in the rear. 'Old
Style' alloys look great on just about any classic, but they really
shine on this Impala when paired with 215/75/15 front and 245/60/15
rear BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials.
This Impala SS represents a ton of fun for not a lot of scratch,
all wrapped in a slick, big-block package that would easily cost
thousands more to replicate. Isn't it finally time for you to get
in the game in a really BIG way? Call today!
