For Sale: 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle in Bradenton, Florida

1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 Convertible �€" Show-Quality Total Restoration Why This Car Is Special The 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 is widely regarded as one of the most complete muscle car packages Chevrolet ever put together. In its second year of production, the SS 396 had already found its stride �€" offering buyers a purpose-built performance package with real factory credentials rather than a parts-bin special. This particular 1966 Chevelle SS 396 is a convertible, which adds a layer of desirability that hardtop coupes simply cannot match. Convertibles represented a small fraction of total Chevelle SS production in 1966, and those built with the L34 396 are rarer still. What makes this car particularly significant is the engine under the hood. The L34 was the middle-ground big block in the 1966 SS 396 lineup �€" rated at 360 horsepower from the factory and sitting between the base 325-hp L35 and the top-of-the-line 375-hp L78. The L34 used a hydraulic-lifter camshaft and a Holley four-barrel carburetor on an aluminum intake manifold. It was a strong, streetable combination that gave buyers most of the L78's performance with more daily drivability. This is not a small-block car that someone stuffed a 396 into �€" the VIN confirms it was built from the factory as an SS 396, assembled at the Kansas City plant in 1966. That matters to serious collectors. The restoration on this car was no weekend project. The total investment pushed into six-figure territory, and it shows in every panel, every seam, and every component underneath. This is a show winner, and the quality of the work backs that up. Features List - 396 cubic inch L34 Big Block V8, 360 horsepower - Turbo-Hydramatic TH400 3-speed automatic transmission - GM 12-bolt positraction rear axle - Power front disc brakes - Power steering - Power convertible top - Factory air conditioning - SS dash with full gauges including tachometer - Custom Auto Sound stereo system - US Mags 20-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels - PPG base coat/clear coat finish - Bumper guards, front and rear - Show award winner Mechanical The L34 396 was one of the more capable engines available in a production American car in 1966. Displacing 396 cubic inches, the engine produced 360 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque through a hydraulic flat-tappet camshaft, 10.25:1 compression, and a 625-cfm Holley four-barrel. The chrome 'Turbo-Jet 396' air cleaner badge is period-correct and visible in the engine bay photos. The engine bay has been restored to show standards with correct orange block paint, chrome dress pieces, and a detailed underside. Backing the L34 is a Turbo-Hydramatic TH400 automatic transmission, which was the strongest automatic gearbox GM offered in this era. The TH400 was used across GM's performance and heavy-duty lineup through the late 1960s and well into the 1970s. It is a robust, well-understood unit that holds up well behind big-block power. You can see the TH400 pan clearly in the undercarriage photos �€" it is clean and freshly detailed. Out back, the car runs a GM 12-bolt rear axle, the strongest passenger-car rear end GM produced in the 1960s. The 12-bolt has a wider ring gear than the 10-bolt and a stronger pinion support, which is why it remained the preferred axle for big-block SS cars. The axle housing and pumpkin have been refinished and are clearly visible in the undercarriage shots. Power front disc brakes were a factory option on the 1966 Chevelle SS and represent a meaningful upgrade over the standard drum setup. Combined with power steering, this car drives more like a modern vehicle than most period muscle cars. The undercarriage photos show clean, freshly coated framing with no rust, no patch panels, and no shortcuts. An Alloyworks aluminum radiator has been fitted for improved cooling capacity �€" a smart upgrade on a big-block convertible that may see extended driving in warm Florida weather. Interior The 1966 Chevelle SS 396 Convertible i