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SOLD
SORRY FOLKS.
1966 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE SUPER SPORT COUPE
In the World of Collector Cars some Muscle Cars stand out above the rest. The SS Chevelle's popularity rests on the fact that they were not only One Of The Most Popular, Most Affordable ($2276+ options) 'new' Midsize Muscle Cars but, fitted with the 396 cubic Inch Big Block motor you could literally tailor make a car to suit your individual needs. They were so popular that the other G.M. Intermediates scrambled to produce "a like-kind" model*...only Pontiac outsold them. In 1963, you could order a "Super Sport" Nova with a120hp six cylinder as Chevrolet shot for volume sales not the enthusiasts market. But, by 1965, Chevrolet mounted 201 396 V8's in Chevelle Super Sports. The reaction was so enthusiastic that by 1966 Chevelle Super Sports automatically came with 396's and 325h.p. as Standard Equipment. The 'Super Sport' option (Series 138) gave you a Performance Package that included not only the Big Block but: Twin Simulated Hood Air Intakes, Ribbed Color-Accented Rocker Panel Moldings, SS396 Grille / Sail Panel Badging, Specific Wheel Covers and 5 Red Stripe Tires. Interiors were all vinyl with the Bucket Seats Optional. Ordering the optional 396 "L34 " Option gave you 360 horse, a hot Cam , 4 Bolt Main bearings and a larger Holley Carb. Year end production stated 2,215,979 Chevrolets sold with 72,272 of those Super Sport sales, but, only 34% of production carried the One Year Offered: 396 / L34 360h.p. motors (source: Chevelles.com). Ordering a high performance 1966 Super Sport "loaded" would pretty much be exactly like our car : "maxed out" with options, it carries the Matching # 396/360hp hi-po motor, Muncie 4-Speed, original (rare) Cowl Plenum Air Cleaner Assembly, 12 Bolt 3:73 Rear, Factory Gauge Package, "Knee Knocker" Tachometer, Center Console w/ Clock, Tilt Steering Column w/ Wood Grain Steering Wheel, AM/FM Radio w/ Rear Seat Speaker, Tinted Safety-Flo Glass, F-40 Performance Suspension, Windshield Washer, Floor Mats, Deluxe Seatbelts, Back-Up Lights, Rear Seat Courtesy Light, Seatbelt Retractors, Factory SS "Mag Wheel" Wheel Covers, Redline Tires and Buckets Seats (yes, they were OPTIONAL, not Standard in SS's~ till 1972, when it came with a package). To boot, it is finished in seldom seen 'Chateau Slate' "WW" Code (Silver) with Black Interior. What really adds to the value in today's marketplace is this car is not your typical Bondo-Bucket Chevelle but, a 30,177 mile original Oregon car with, a frame-off-powder-coated undercarriage and unique equipment . The bonus: it has "provenance".:
We've been told this car won 990 pts. out of 1,000 at the Classic Chevy Nationals ( trailered since '07). Judging sheets in house.
One can pretty much conclude by the pictures;
this car is
better than factory new. $75,000.
THE STORY:
"By 1966 the Nation was ratcheting UP demonstrations against
the Vietnam War. At this point on the calendar 5,008 US Soldiers had been killed
with 39,093 wounded. By year end the U.S. would have 400,000 troops in Southeast
Asia. Most American's tried to stay positive and turned their thoughts to
Happy Times. Dr. Timothy Leary would encourage
students to 'leave this planet' by experimenting with LSD, The Monkee's would
ask Radio listeners to "Take The Last Train To Clarksville", and "Star Trek"
would debut asking TV viewers to go "where no man has gone before". Racquel
Welch would wow movie goers
with her ample assets in "One Million Years B.C." leaving the floors of Movie
Theatres across America covered in drool, while Nancy Sinatra projected a 'tough
cookie' image belting out "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'". Silliness was 'in'
as William Shatner released his first LP album titled "Transformed Man" in which
he recited , with drama, the lyrics from songs like
"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and "Mr. Tambourine Man"
(seriously, I mean- really) . But, Most Popular
Silly Bomb was the big TV sensation "Batman & Robin" which featured the
questionable 'acting' talents of Adam West and Bud Ward.... campy humor at
it's... worst. . You might remember Top 45 Hit Singles
"Winchester Cathedral" by The New Vaudeville Band, "Cherish" by the Association,
or maybe, "The Ballad of the Green Beret" by Sgt. Barry Sadler. James Bond
didn't release a movie that year but, James Coburn did...with "Our Man Flint".
Leave it Hollywood to also make Dean Martin a Spy Spoof in "The Silencers".
SEX came further out of the closet with a new home party game called "Twister". 3
million sets quickly sold after Johnny Carson and Eva Gabor played it LIVE on
'The Tonight Show'. * Reverberations
from the 1966 Ford Mustang continued as other car makers released their version
of Sporty Intermediates. Mercury the Cougar, Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Camaro ,
Buick the Gran Sport and
even Cadillac debuted the front-wheel drive Eldorado- aiming for a younger 'hep'
audience. Only 'The Goat' would beat Chevelle SS sales with 96,946 sold.
Oldsmobile's 4-4-2 would close the year selling 21,997, Dodge's Charger would sell 37,300, Buick
GS's 13,816 and Ford Fairlane 500XL GT 33,015.