We always think it is cool when someone builds a car that somehow manages to blend a couple of different themes perfectly together. This 1966 Chevy Biscayne is the latest example of that and the car is currently for sale on eBay. At first blush the thing looks like it may be trying to be a factory looking car with a pro touring slant, especially with those way larger than stock front tires and larger diameter steel wheels, add in what looks to be a slightly lowered stance and it all ties together. Things go a different direction under the hood with a period correct and correctly built 427 complete with iron manifolds and a factory air cleaner. That of course gives much more of a drag racing theme to the whole program because an iron big block isn’t exactly the recipe for balance and handling prowess. Finally when you peek inside you’ll find a perfectly restored factory interior exactly as this stripper big car would have had when ordered by a speed freak in ’66. As we all know by now, the Biscayne could be ordered completely devoid of options and packed with solid lifter 427 punch and four speed goodness. It was meant to sneak up on and mangle competition on the strips and stoplights of America.
This car hits us right between the eyes. Why? It has all the best stuff. The improvement in looks given by the wheels, stance, and larger tires is killer, the engine combo is a freaking solid lifter big block built to the right specs of the era and it even carries the right date code, and the interior looks like it was produced in a GM factory yesterday. No, it will not be good for an autocross but it will take highway off ramps way better than stock. No, it won’t be a world champion drag racer but it will be fast enough at the strip to give you permagrin. No, it won’t win a car show because of the interior but you will be able to roll down the road in comfort and get a pretty authentic 1960s driving experience out of it.
No car is ever “perfect” but cars like these that really allow and owner to get out and enjoy them are the stuff that dreams are made of. We would literally live in this thing if given the chance. From the second the snow melted until the second the first flake hit, we’d drive this car. Cruise nights, test and tune nights, and yeah, maybe any autocross once just to make people smile. Isn’t that what it is all about?
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Brian, this is a great car. The 1966 body style is one of the best Chevy ever put out. There is only one thing that I can not get past. Man, that thing is way, way too red!!! That’s a deal breaker for me. Other than that, it is a great old car.
There were only two great body styles for the Impala: 1962 and the 1967 Fastback. The only good to come out of the 1966 was the L72 427.
But I do agree with you on the color – way too loud for a Q-Ship,
Agreed, a nice white and keep the interior as is will understate everything nicely enough. Also, I know they wanted to upgrade the amount of rubber they have on the road, but the profile of those tires is a bit unnerving. Coker makes radials that look exactly like bias plys that would suit this thing well. Other than that, this is one of my dream cars.
Subtle doesn’t even come close!
This style would suit any 60s large sedan – make mine a Ford Galaxy!
I would own this in a ” heartbeat”!
The 4 wheel drum brakes would have to go though. Stopping a big block car with drums is no fun!
Meh, I had a 70 Nova , warmed over big block , TH 400. It was spirited to say the least, and I found the drum brakes to be more than adequate. All this drum brake bashing these days is amusing. Just give yourself the proper distance between you and the next car, and, you’re O’K.
I had a 1966 Chevelle SS396 with drum brakes. Even after the car was restored, they still sucked.
I always love the explanation of “Well, they got the job done back in the day”. Yeah, sure but that was when every other car on the road had drum brakes and also took far longer to stop. Now, even the most basic economy cars can haul down from 60 in under 150 feet in an emergency.
Perfect! The guy nailed every part of the build.
know what I’d do with this…..cruise till November!!!!
drum brakes (on all four) is not bad on a street car, it only becomes an issue if you decide to start racing around, like on the twisties in the mountains… braking is fine as long as you have time for them to cool down, i.e. normal street driving. But if you’re hard on them multiple times in a row, they start to fade reallll fast.
The larger wheels and better tires have to help with the braking too. Some better suspension tuning would help too. While disc brakes can be improvement, there’s a lot more to stopping than just the brakes.