Vehicle 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!
