1966 Chevrolet Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala and Caprice
 In 1966, the Chevrolet Impala SS V-8 convertible was the best-selling SS model. |
A 427-cubic-inch V-8 debuted -- an enlargement of the 396-cubic-inch Mark IV engine -- developing 390 or 425 horsepower. Also available: a 396-cubic-inch V-8 rated at 325 horses, and a 327. Hardtop models got new perimeter frames and body mounts as Chevrolet promised a "Jet-smoother ride." Each series -- Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala, and Caprice -- included a station wagon. Three-speed column gearshifts were fully synchronized in all forward gears.
"Bucketed, bountiful and bent on sport," the Super Sports had new slim-profile Strato-bucket seats. Impala remained the family favorite, but the posher Caprice became a separate series as a result of the nameplate's 1965 success -- when marketed as an option. Aiming at Ford's upscale LTD and billed as the "most luxurious Chevrolet yet," the four-model Caprice series was strictly V-8-powered.
Caprices could have optional reclining Strato-back front seating. The Caprice Custom Coupe got a more formal, "one-of-a-kind" roofline with decorative exhaust ports under the rear window. Like its four-door counterpart, the coupe featured wide rocker sill moldings, dual color-keyed striping, and fleur de lis emblems on roof quarters.
 The 1966 Chevrolet Caprice Custom Coupe had its own distinct roofline. |
| Model | Weight range (lbs.) | Price range (new) | Number built |
| Biscayne | 3,310-3,895 | $2,379-$2,877 | 122,400 (approx.) |
| Bel Air | 3,315-3,940 | $2,479-$3,053 | 236,600 (approx.) |
| Impala | 3,430-4,005 | $2,678-$3,189 | 654,900 (approx.) |
| Impala SS | 3,460-3,630 | $2,842-$3,199 | 119,314 |
| Caprice | 3,600-4,020 | $3,000-$3,347 | 181,000 |
For more picture-packed articles about Chevys and other great cars, see:
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- Consumer Guide Used Car Search: In the market for a used Chevy or virtually any other pre-owned vehicle? Check out these reports, which include safety recalls and trouble spots.
- All Chevrolet Impalas: For even more information about the Chevy Impala, see these up-to-the-minute ratings, prices, specs, and more.
- How Chevrolet Works: Get the inside story of one of America’s greatest automotive marques in this lavishly illustrated history of Chevrolet, beginning with its founding in 1911.
