Barn Find: 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396

In the world of muscle cars, the Chevelle SS 396 is highly sought-after, maybe even more legendary than the original Pontiac GTO. The SS 396 (Super Sport), which was a member of the mid-size Chevelle lineup, went on to sell over 66,000 units when it became its own series in 1966. It was the first year the large block engine was offered in the vehicle, with the exception of 1965’s restricted manufacturing run of 201 vehicles (Special Order Z16). The original engine of the 1966 Chevelle SS 396 is still present, but the 4-speed gearbox was abandoned long ago. This once-fast Chevy may be found at Five Points, Tennessee, in an open section of a barn. It is listed on Craigslist for $18,000 OBO. We appreciate Adam Clarke, one of our own contributors, for

In 1964, Chevrolet debuted the intermediate Chevelle, a family vehicle that was bigger than the tiny Chevy II/Nova but smaller than the full-size Impala/Bel Air/Biscayne. Ford had already done that with the Fairlane against the Galaxie and Falcon two years prior. It was a huge sales hit and would spend a very long time in the Chevy lineup. Super Sport was an option, but in 1964 and 1965, your options were mostly restricted to a 327 V8. Then 1966 arrived, and the 400 cubic inch V8-powered SS 396 would be the Bow Tie version of the GTO.

The motor in the majority of 1966 SS 396s was the L35 version, which generated 325 horsepower. However, there were other options, including the 360-hp L34 and the 375-hp L78 (the Z16 engine). The vendor did not provide us with any information about the configuration of this vehicle or any pictures showing the hood open. When it was built, the automobile had a 4-speed transmission, but both the driveshaft and the tranny are vanished. The vendor thinks there may be an original 12-bolt rear end below. It hasn’t been cranked in a long time, so a rebuild is probably necessary.

The automobile needs sheet metal work because of corrosion, but the pictures don’t make it clear how bad the issue is. There are no guarantees, even if the structure seems sturdy. The carpet and seats inside the automobile have also been “borrowed,” so put those things in the shopping cart as well. (To give you an idea of what it would have looked like in the past, the photo above is of another barn find that we covered). The Chevy has four new tires on it, but the hood is not original. The vehicle has to leave, according to the vendor, since there are too many projects that need time and money. However, he or she will contemplate a compelling transaction (maybe not too hectic).