1966 Chevelle

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Don't all Super Sports come with gauges?
A: Commonly held mistake, gauges were NOT standard equipment on the SS 396 series. There were two gauge options, RPO U14 Special Instrumentation and RPO U16 Tachometer. The tachometer (RPO U16) could be ordered by itself with ANY V8 engine and ANY series and body style. The Special Instrumentation which included a water temperature gauge, an ammeter, oil pressure gauge, the tachometer, and parking brake warning lamp could be ordered on ANY L6 or V8 Malibu or SS 396 sport coupe, convertible, or pickup.

Q: Didn't all Super Sports come with bucket seats?
A: No, a bench seat was standard. Bucket seats (RPO A51) were optional on ANY Malibu sport coupe, convertible, or pickup. The console (RPO D55) was also optional and was NOT part of the bucket seat option. One could order bucket seats with or without a console but one COULD NOT order a console without bucket seats.

Q: Wasn't a 4-speed standard on the SS?
A: No, the standard transmission on the SS 396 series was the Borg Warner T16 heavy duty 3-speed manual and was floor shifted. Optional transmissions included the 2-speed Powerglide automatic and a 4-speed manual transmission. A 3-speed manual Saginaw transmission was also standard on all other Chevelles, a manual 3-speed with overdrive, the 2-speed Powerglide and 4-speed manual were options.

Early in the model year, all 4-speed transmissions were Muncie units. Around March of 1966, a Saginaw 4-speed transmission was introduced to be used for the 283 and 327 engines while the 396 engines continued to be equipped with the Muncie unit. RPO code M20 was identical for any 4-speed transmission; the specific engine determined which 4-speed (Saginaw vs. Muncie) the car would be equipped with.

Q: Was there an SS 396 El Camino?
A: No, the SS 396 El Camino was not available until 1968. One could order any optional V8 engine including any of the three 396 engines in either V8 El Camino series, 13480 or 13680. However this did not include the SS 396 hood nor any SS 396 badging although these were popular add-ons by many owners.