1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 Sport Coupe 4-Speed

Description

Introduced for the 1964 model year, Chevrolet’s Chevelle quickly became one of the most successful performance platforms of the muscle‑car era. By 1966, the Chevelle SS 396 stood at the top of the lineup, offering aggressive styling cues, heavy‑duty suspension components, and Chevrolet’s potent Mark IV big‑block V8. The 396/375‑horsepower L78 V8 configuration, paired with a four‑speed manual transmission and Positraction rear axle, remains one of the most desirable combinations produced.

This '66 Chevelle SS 396 is a two‑door Sport Coupe that has been refinished in Artesian Turquoise over a black vinyl bucket‑seat interior. The car is powered by its numbers-matching 396ci 375‑hp V8 with a Holley four‑barrel carburetor, backed by a 4‑speed manual transmission and a 12‑bolt Positraction rear end.

Additional features include front disc brakes, a center console with a Hurst shifter and clock, a knee‑knocker tachometer, an AM radio, dual exhaust, and factory 14‑inch wheels with mag caps wrapped in BFGoodrich tires. Mechanical systems—including the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, exhaust, and fuel tank—are reported to have been refurbished.

This restored 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 is now offered with a clean Michigan title in the seller’s name.

Highlights

• Numbers-matching 396ci V8 engine with Holley four-barrel carburetor

• 4‑speed manual transmission and 12‑bolt rear axle with Positraction

• Finished in Artesian Turquoise exterior over black vinyl with bucket front seats

• Center console, Hurst shifter, and clock

• 14" wheels with mag caps and BFGoodrich tires

• The chassis number (138176Z147952) decodes as:

  • 1 – Division: Chevrolet

  • 38 – Series: Chevelle SS, V8

  • 17 – Body style: 2‑door Sport Coupe

  • 6 – 1966 model year

  • Z – Assembly plant: Fremont, California

  • 147952 – Sequential production number

Factory Equipment

• The trim tag decodes as:

  • Style: 66‑13817 – 1966 Chevelle SS, 2‑door Sport Coupe

  • Body: BF07985 – Fisher Body production number

  • Trim: 763 – Black bucket‑seat interior

  • Paint: K – Artesian Turquoise

• RPO L78 highlights:

  • Heavy duty rotating assembly featuring forged aluminum pistons and robust connecting rods

  • Solid lifter camshaft paired with a forged steel crankshaft

  • High Flow rectangular port cast iron heads

  • Aluminum high rise intake manifold

  • Holley 800 CFM four-barrel carburetor

• 396ci L78 V8 rated at 375 horsepower

• Four‑barrel carburetor

• Four‑speed manual transmission

• 12‑bolt Positraction rear axle

• Front disc brakes

• Bucket seats with seat belts

• Center console with Hurst shifter and clock

• Knee‑knocker tachometer

• AM radio

• Dual exhaust system

• 14" factory wheels with mag caps

Known Imperfections

• Door trim panels damaged from age (replacements included with sale)

• Oil leak at rear of engine block and transmission

• Some paint chips on hood, roof, and door edge

Ownership History

From the seller: “I purchased the car in 1999 and the mechanical components were restored in 2015. I only have handwritten notes and prices for new parts, but total cost was over $30,000 for parts and labor. It’s estimated that only 5–8% were produced in Artesian Turquoise with the L78 option—roughly 155 to 248 units. This example is fully numbers-matching and retains the correct steel rims, which is a significant detail given how difficult it is to find the proper size, style, and build dates. It also includes extra original mag rims, which are exceptionally hard to source."