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Frequently Asked Questions & Dispelling Myths

1966 Chevelle

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Each year of Chevelles from 1964 through 1972 had unique oddities associated with them.

1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972

→ 1966 

* First year for the SS 396 series available in sport coupe and convertible body styles. Any 396cid engine could be ordered with the 13480 or 13680 sedan pickup (El Camino) but these sedan pickups were not SS 396 series.

* It is possible some very early SS 396 Chevelles had the rear tail panel painted black, the practice was soon stopped. See here for more details.

* Bucket seats were now optional under RPO A51 in any Malibu or SS 396 sport coupe, convertible, or sedan pickup (95,482 reported). All 1966 Chevelles came standard with a bench front seat.

* The RPO L79 327cid/350hp V8 was dropped from the Chevelle lineup. The popular opinion is it was dropped so it would not compete with the new SS 396 series and their 325hp/350hp/375hp engines.

* Several bench and bucket seat colors were two-tone; the only year this was done in Chevelles.

* A new 'strut back' roofline was introduced for the sport coupe with a new body designation number, "17" as opposed to "37" for 1964 and 1965 sport coupes.

* Gauges (oil pressure, ammeter, water temperature, and tachometer) were now optional. The "Instrument Panel Gauges" option under RPO U14 and available on any L6 or V8 Malibu sport coupe, convertible, or sedan pickup as well as the SS 396 sport coupe and SS 396 convertible (32,436 reported). When ordered with a V8 engine, a tachometer was included.

* The tachometer could be ordered WITHOUT the other gauges under RPO U16 with ANY V8 in any series (8,025 reported).

* Front and rear seat belts were now standard with no option to delete them.

* The 4-door hardtop sport sedan saw its introduction into the Chevelle lineup.

* Full wheel covers were now optional on all Chevelles with hub caps (often called "dog dish" or "poverty caps") standard equipment.

* While the blacked-out grill and grille extensions continued with the SS 396 series a blacked-out area between the tail lamps is controversial. Initially it was supposed to be done (and several early SS 396 Chevelles support this), production was in such demand it's reported this was stopped due to time constraints. Often dealers would paint the area because either (1) customers wanted it, (2) dealers saw they sold faster, or (3) many current owners just like them that way.

* 283 and 327 V8 equipped Chevelles have "crossed flags" emblem on the front fenders with the engine size noted above the emblem for the 327 engine only. The base L6 engine had no emblems while the optional L6 had an engine size designation emblem. The SS 396 series has its own crossed flags emblem with "396 TURBO-JET" verbiage.

* There were no special paint colors reserved for the SS 396 series.

* No sport stripes were an option.

** If you have some to add or question anything listed, contact me here.


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