1966 Chevrolet Chevelle

1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Tribute Convertible — 396 V8, Teal over Black, Power Top

Why This Car Is Special

The 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle is widely considered the high point of the first-generation A-body design. Chevrolet gave the Chevelle a full restyle for 1966, smoothing out the boxy lines of the 1964-65 cars and arriving at a shape that still holds up six decades later. The result was one of the best-selling mid-size cars in America that year, with total Chevelle production surpassing 440,000 units. The convertible body style was always the low-production piece of the lineup — open Chevelles accounted for a small fraction of overall output — and when you add an SS package and a big-block engine to the equation, you have a combination that the market has never stopped wanting.

This particular 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle is an SS Tribute convertible wearing teal paint over a black interior, fitted with a 396 cubic inch V8 and backed by an automatic transmission. The VIN confirms it was built at the Kansas City assembly plant in 1966 as a convertible. The car has been thoughtfully modified for real-world driving enjoyment — not trailered show use — with a focus on mechanical reliability, updated braking, and a clean, cohesive appearance inside and out. The HARTZ black cloth power top adds a level of convenience that owners of original manual-top cars genuinely appreciate after the first summer.

For buyers who want the look and feel of a 1966 Chevelle SS 396 convertible with modern drivability improvements already done, this car represents a significant amount of completed work.


Features List

- 396 cubic inch V8 engine
- Automatic transmission
- SS Tribute configuration with SS hood, SS badging, and SS 396 rear badging
- HARTZ black cloth power convertible top
- Power front disc brakes with new calipers, new rotors, and new master cylinder
- Power steering
- Aluminum intake manifold with 4-barrel carburetor
- Chrome open element high-flow air cleaner
- Chrome valve covers
- Performance distributor
- New high-flow RPM thermostat
- New water pump
- Factory cast iron exhaust manifolds with Flowmaster mufflers
- GM 10-bolt rear end
- Billet Specialties wheels with black sidewall tires
- Covan dash with AutoMeter gauges
- Custom Auto Sound stereo system
- Aftermarket steering wheel with chrome automatic shifter
- Black twin front bucket seats with matching rear seat and console
- Matching black vinyl door panels
- Black carpets and seat belts
- Clock
- Teal exterior paint
- Chrome front and rear bumpers
- Painted and detailed engine compartment


Mechanical

The heart of this 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle is a 396 cubic inch big-block V8, the engine that defined the Chevelle SS identity beginning in 1965. Chevrolet introduced the Mark IV big-block — internally referred to as the 'Rat motor' — as a replacement for the earlier W-series engine, and it quickly became the preferred weapon in GM's mid-size performance cars. The 396 offered a displacement and torque profile that worked exceptionally well in the Chevelle's lighter A-body platform.

This car's 396 has been set up for street performance. The aluminum intake manifold reduces weight over the nose compared to a cast iron unit and improves airflow efficiency. The 4-barrel carburetor and chrome open element air cleaner allow the engine to breathe freely, and the performance distributor helps ensure the spark curve is matched to how the engine is actually being used. Chrome valve covers keep the top end looking sharp and are easy to remove for maintenance.

Cooling upgrades matter on a car that will actually be driven. The new high-flow RPM thermostat and new water pump address two of the most common failure points on a classic big-block build. These aren't cosmetic improvements — they directly affect long-term engine health, especially in Florida's heat.

Exhaust exits through the original factory cast iron manifolds, which retain the correct underhood appearance, the