Seeing that 66 brings back a sad memory for me . I left my 66 S S 396 4 speed behind at my mother's house when I entered the Marines and was sent to Nam . After my hitch I came back home and was told after 2 weeks I couldn't live there anymore . I loaded that car with my gear and lived in it for over 6 months . I finally got straightened out and continued on in life . I kind of get chocked up when I see a 66 because of the memories . People don't realize how much a part of our lives vehicles are . Thanks Steve for the walk down memory lane .
Man! Memories, huh? I also left my '67 SS behind with my grandparents when I got drafted. Some time later they let my girlfriend use for transportation to work; it was stolen and used in a bank robbery and never recovered. They gave her the insurance money and she bought a damn l yellow like the lemon it was! Good luck out there, Dingle. Yo, memories, right?
The 66-69 front end for the Chevelle and El Camino was perfect. Although I liked the 70-71 look (and even the 72), the elegance was at its best from 66-69.
They truly are, I agree, and in my opinion that whole first generation is. From 1964 through to and including the 1967 that mid-size A-body just fits a groove and although the SS is the pinnacle, I'll take any two door V8 heh, heh. As a matter of fact, my favourite A-body is the Buick Special from that same 1964-1967 generation. General Motors really got it right for A-bodies of that era, they were firing on all cylinders.
Very true but you also forgot about the station wagons through that era me personally but we all know the same basic gearhead stuff he's telling us right now all you good old boys have a wonderful New Year all respect
Always preferred the '66 over the '67 model year. The front end/grille on the '66 is awesome, and I much prefer the same body paint scheme on the rear valence of the '66 over the '67 blacked out version. Both are gorgeous cars however - my two favorite years, with the '69 model being a close third. JMO of course. Nice vid...
Love the 66. Really like how you managed to come up with a black car for both years. There are few things so pleasing as a shiny black car under a bright blue sky.
I had a good friend that had a 66 396 Chevelle around 1980, half brown primer and the other half grey primer and he left it that way for a couple year's. One night several of us were hanging out in another friend's garage drinking beer and a couple of us decided to help him get it painted so we grabbed a huge permanent black magic marker and put 'PAINT ME FOOL' on the grey trunk lid. We all thought it was funny as hell, but he lost it the next day when he saw it and was calling all of us threatening to kick who ever did it's ass. I guess that's what you get when you try to help a friend out.
Funny!! Thought of a late friend of mines early 70,s roadrunner back in the mid 80,s his friends painted CHRISTINE from the movie down the side of it where it was already primerd....Hell..he drove it that way for awhile here in East Tn.back when they were considered just old cars! he had a 440 in it is allI remember,beleive it was a 71 roadrunner.
My brother talked me into selling my 66 SS factory 396 punched to a 402 ci from the factory. The L34 version. I couldn't even find a tail light lens since they were faded. A year later you could buy them brand new. It was all original factory matching numbers. Factory light yellow, bench seat, 8 to one steering, 12 bolt Dyna 60 rear end, 4 speed M21. I could drive that car like no other. Never got beat on the street and I took on Road runners, chargers, vets, and anything in between. Never beaten.
Back in 1976 I bought a gold 1967 Chevelle SS396/325hp in Phoenix, AZ for $325 off a used car lot because I was told it needed a camshaft and didn't run. I towed it back to a little parts store just outside of Luke AFB and proceeded to try and get the camshaft out of it. Took the intake off and I couldn't pull the lifters out because they were worn on their bottoms and wouldn't come back up through the lifter bores. I could get them up far enough to get the old camshaft out though. Ok, what to do about the lifters. I cut the new camshaft box in half lengthwise and stuck it into where the camshaft would go and pushed the old lifters down until they fell into the box and just pulled them out that way. It worked. Drove that car all over Arizona for a couple of months and then sold it when I was assigned overseas to Germany. I think I got $450 for it. LOL Wish I still had it for sure.
Absolutely agree. Seems like I see a lot of the '66 on the road, and they're still a nice car. One would think I would be partial to it since it's my birth year, but no. It's '67 for me all the way. If you're talking birth year, then who can blame me for also loving the 1966 Impala SS.
That's right, I imagine "Mags" has been talkin' like this since he was knee high heh, heh. It just so happens that a camera started capturing him sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm and it resonated with a whole bunch of us. If nobody had put that first camera in front of him he'd likely still be out in the yards and the fields rambling on about the vehicles he encounters hahahaaa! Just bustin' on ya Steve, have a good one.
Man I remember back in the mid 80s I built an exact model replica of that 67 ss! I even painted it black with the same Crome rally wheels! Both are beautiful cars. It’s just too bad Chevy isn’t the same anymore! The only thing they have going for them is the corvette and Camaro, that’s it!
My dad had a 67 malibu in my pre teen years. Rebuilt 283 2 sp little rowdy cam in it, cragar ss with 60s on the back. Used to beg him to drive it all the time lol.
I personally love the ‘67! I didn’t care for the 66. The ‘66 front end doesn’t appeal to me and the taillights look like an afterthought. The ‘67 front end reminds me of a shark. The tail end looks much cleaner with the taillights flushed into the quarter panel. ‘67 just seems more thought out and looks more like a designer’s vision. Very cool video Steve!
I always liked the styling, hood, grille area and rear end much more on the '67 model myself, just seemed the extra year gave it more of a finished polished look overall.
Great video! I love the 67 over all other years. Restoring my late fathers 67 presently. I would like to add the 67 introduced the split master cylinder for the brake system and I believe was also the first year of the telescopic steering shaft.
1967 is my favorite It's amazing how back then they tooled up major body parts for one years production Now nothing changes for 4 years just software updates G M went from designing that to designing the Aztec and avalanche lol
As an old timer Chevelles were my car of choice, I owned a 66 396 4 speed, a 67 396 4 speed, a 67 396 4 speed convertible, a 1968 396 4 speed, a 1970 396 4 speed and a 72 automatic 33, engine was a 350 by then but still a SS. Loved them all but these 66 & 67 are still my favorites.
Thanks Steve, it's really awesome to learn about these American classic cars because by time I got into working on cars, they were all but gone from the roads.
My first car was a ‘67 Chevelle S/S. Bought it for $500. It was never in a wreck and no dings or dents, rust free. Last tag on it was 1977 and I got it in 1985. My dad and I restored it, showed it all the time and some street racing. Sold after I got married. I’ve missed that car my entire life until I got back into hot rods and now I own 2 Model A hot rods. Lot of memories in that chevelle.
They didn't even share a steering wheel or seat upholstery either. The dash was similar but if I recall, the top panel with the knobs was different as well. So interesting how much they were willing to change each year back then!
I'd been in some incredible cars by 1969, such as a '57 Chevy hardtop with a 409/425hp/4-spd stuffed under its hood and a slug of sports cars, but the first Muscle Car I drove was a friend's Maroon '67 Chevelle SS396/4-spd. Within a month I owned a '69 383/4-spd Super Bee. Needless to say that '67 mad an impression on me.
The first muscle car I drove belonged to a friend of mine. ('69 Chevelle)He had too much to drink,so our buddy offered to drive and he was pretty sloshed himself! So it fell on my inebriated, but not drunk, ass to get us home from the country! Needless to say, I got us upside down in a ditch about 5 miles later! I paid for the car because his dad had just bought it for him to get to highschool, $800!!!! Would be worth up in the 5 digits for sure now, in it's condition before the wreck! That happened in '81
I bought, > My New 1967 CHEVELLE SS 396 in October 1967 at Cormier Chevrolet about 500 feet away from the Famous LIONS DRAG STRIP in SoCal... The same Freeway offramp.. I have owned 3 - 1967 SS396 CARS, (138 Serial number cars total).. 138 in the VIN code meant SS BIG Block.. 136 was a 327 and 135 was a straight 6 cylinder engine .
Always loved the 66/67. Top dog engine option (L78??) 375 horse 396. The first year for the 396 was 1965. 1965 was the only year it was rated 425 horse and only available in the Vette. If you bought a new 65 Vette and you wanted the big block you could only get the 425-horse version of the 396. 427 didn't come out till 67. 65 Chevelle had the first 396 as well but "only" in the 375-horse version. Try to find one now. If you do, hang on to your wallet.
The 1966 427 was originally supposed to get rated at 450 hp, but the insurance companies raised a fuss. The 1966 396 would have been 425 hp, but since the 1966 427 was rated at 425 hp, the 1966 396 got rated at 375 hp.
The rear suspension was changed half way into 1967 to address some wheel hop issues. The 1968 pretty much eliminated it and the late 1967 uses 1968 style rear springs. If nothing else the spring mounts were changed, but there might have been other upgrades, like the 1968 got. The early 1967 was pretty much the same as the 1966.
I had a guy harass me for years about buying my 67 for parts for his 66. He never believed me that nothing would fit. I still have the 67. I’m sure his 66 is long gone.
Had a 66 396/360 horse...not the 375 horse,but the ol engine held it,s own and was reliable to boot,both are very nice cars that still used alot of metal compared to the 68,s and up where they started the plastic stuff.
Thanks for the comparison, these are my favorites, but now I know that 1967 is #1. I like the 1967 taillights a little better. I turned 12 years old in 1967.
I remember when those cars were new. I was just a kid but I loved the muscle cars in the 60's. So much so in high school in the 70's I bought a 66 Fairlane GT. 390 and a 4 speed. I destroyed Mustangs and Camaros at the stop lights. I only paid $650.00 it had about 50,000 miles on it, It was red on red with a dealer add a/c unit. They had to cut the top of the console to put the a/c unit in there.
1973 I was 16 years old, my high school car was a 1965 GTO, 389, 3-2's, 4 speed. Cost me $500. Looked perfect, no problems. Light yellow, tan interior. I joined the Air Force a year later, bought a 1970 Roadrunner.... AWESOME.. never looked back.
I'd love to see him do a comparison of the Canadian Pontiac Beaumonts vs the Chevelles. The front end of the 66 Beaumont was classic beauty and I always like the rear end of the 67 Chevelle the best.
The 66-67 are definitely my favorite years, my first car in 1981 was a 66 2 door hardtop with a 230 inch 6, I paid a whopping $100.00 for it as the front end had been taken out by a drunk driver, I had big plans, but no money and the frame was junk, picked what I could off of it and junked the rest then with the help of my Oma was able to purchase a 67 2 door hardtop out of California with no rust, not an easy feat in New York, both are easy enough to find nowadays, but the problem is finding a stock one where people haven't put their highly questionable personal touches on!
My buddies and I had these as well as Impalas, Camaros, GTOs, Olds 442s, etc, having gotten bitten by the supercar bug in our later 'teens. Nice to view these restorations and recall the rural races and the suburban drive-in eateries and movies before, during and after. And a tip of the hat to you for making this video. And to that Gal in a Vette at Skip's on North Avenue in Elmwood Park, whose motto was "If you can beat me..."
Father had a 1966 when he was young. Ended up getting a 1967 4 speed 396 ss later in life. We did a body off restoration with alot of performance parts. We took the 396 and punched it .40 over. We brought the compression up a little to 10:1 and it was built completely with forged internals. Slapped a Weiand 871 blower on top withb2 demon 1100 cc carbs amd it was engine dynoed at 1,009 hp on race fuel back in 2007 when 1,000hp was alot. Just about everything else about the car was original except the transmission and read end. Build 4 speed and clutch with a 12 bolt posi. Also stretched the tubs out just enough to put a 10.5 inch tire under it but it was a show car with alot of power pretty much. We did take it to a few test and tunes. Fastest was 6.80s in the 8th at Shelor motor mile .
I had a '66 and I like the tail lights better IF You had to hit them when a cop was sitting on the side of the road it was sorta hidden for their view....IF it wasn't to dark yet.
Very educational for me. I used to put them in the same mental category. Both gorgeous cars with some of the best Chevy styling of that era. Now that I see the differences, I think I like the '66 front end slightly better, but I like the '67 tail lights slightly better. However, both are gorgeous.
Both are beautiful!!! I'm glad you did this video because I've been trying to figure out what the difference between the two is besides the tail lights.
Another good comparison video, friend late 80's had that exact '66, still have some pics. We used to take it to Pomona swap and could park right in venue. He traded it for a silver 32 Ford Coupe. Friends car not the reason, but always preferred the '66 as the '67 always looked like a Ford to me with the grille, rearend, etc.
Love Steves style of talking and great knowledge of the vehicles he's talking about... Both are highly coveted machines now.. Amazing the detail and design put into the cars back then. Universe's apart from today's, blah crap produced. Except in trucks they still have alot of character and fun stuff in thier designs!!! Thanx Steven!!!
Two just awesome years, I have a 66 and had a 64. Unfortunately I got rid of them When I got married but I had five kids and got a Malibu 4dr to fit the kids. And up graded to a 350/ turbo 350. Now looking to sell this and get an SS back. (Kids all older now).
These are two favorite years. My first car in 1974 was a black '66 SS 396 4SPD just like this one. I was a HS Junior. I've kicked myself for forty years for every letting it get away. I'm sick just watching this video.
In 1966 my dad bought a new 396 4 speed chevelle .He hated it he said it rattled and banged like a garbage can. Lol He traded it a month later for a 66 Plymouth Hemi And never looked back. He raced Big Block Mopars untill He passed away at 72 years old in 2012. He last car was a 64 Fury 500 stroker Max Wedge .
Hey Steve, how's it goin'? Now that's a spiffy lookin' pair of Chevelles...true SS cars, niiiice. Those two are so much alike they are their production year's version of the other. I really hope they have the same owner 'cause that would be cool. You never fail to inform and entertain Steve, thanks man.
Seeing that 66 brings back a sad memory for me . I left my 66 S S 396 4 speed behind at my mother's house when I entered the Marines and was sent to Nam . After my hitch I came back home and was told after 2 weeks I couldn't live there anymore . I loaded that car with my gear and lived in it for over 6 months . I finally got straightened out and continued on in life . I kind of get chocked up when I see a 66 because of the memories . People don't realize how much a part of our lives vehicles are . Thanks Steve for the walk down memory lane .
Man! Memories, huh? I also left my '67 SS behind with my grandparents when I got drafted. Some time later they let my girlfriend use for transportation to work; it was stolen and used in a bank robbery and never recovered. They gave her the insurance money and she bought a damn l yellow like the lemon it was! Good luck out there, Dingle. Yo, memories, right?
Thanks for your service fellas
@@brandonford8092 yessir !
Thank you for your service!
Thanks for your service guys and I’m so sorry on both accounts..
I spent half my life pampering a 67 SS called Old Yeller! God I loved that car!!!
Doesn't matter, both cars are styling Marvel's. So elegant. Just gorgeous
The 66-69 front end for the Chevelle and El Camino was perfect. Although I liked the 70-71 look (and even the 72), the elegance was at its best from 66-69.
They truly are, I agree, and in my opinion that whole first generation is. From 1964 through to and including the 1967 that mid-size A-body just fits a groove and although the SS is the pinnacle, I'll take any two door V8 heh, heh. As a matter of fact, my favourite A-body is the Buick Special from that same 1964-1967 generation. General Motors really got it right for A-bodies of that era, they were firing on all cylinders.
I had a '67!!
Very true but you also forgot about the station wagons through that era me personally but we all know the same basic gearhead stuff he's telling us right now all you good old boys have a wonderful New Year all respect
I agree, but I always wondered what the differences were, same for the 66-67 Gtos
This guy is a muscle car encyclopedia. Miss the show .
I never actually realized why I liked the 1967 Chevelle SS 396 better than the 1966 until now. Thanks Steve.
My dad had three different 67s when i was growing up .Always my favorite year .
Always preferred the '66 over the '67 model year. The front end/grille on the '66 is awesome, and I much prefer the same body paint scheme on the rear valence of the '66 over the '67 blacked out version. Both are gorgeous cars however - my two favorite years, with the '69 model being a close third. JMO of course. Nice vid...
I graduated from H.S. in '66, and those cars were my all time favorites. I would take either one if I could afford it.
The 66 Chevrolet is 1 of the most beautiful cars and trucks ever made !!
Love the 66.
Really like how you managed to come up with a black car for both years.
There are few things so pleasing as a shiny black car under a bright blue sky.
I really like the look of the '66,
The '67 doesn't look to bad either.
I had a 69 SS 396 Chevelle. I prefer the 69 Chevelle SS body style of all the Chevelle bodies. I like the semi-fastback look of it.
Put the '66 front end on the '67 and it would be perfect. (in my opinion)
I like that Challenger and the Tri Five Chevy in the background.
I was thinking the same thing about the front ends.
My first car was a 1967 SS.
I had a good friend that had a 66 396 Chevelle around 1980, half brown primer and the other half grey primer and he left it that way for a couple year's. One night several of us were hanging out in another friend's garage drinking beer and a couple of us decided to help him get it painted so we grabbed a huge permanent black magic marker and put 'PAINT ME FOOL' on the grey trunk lid. We all thought it was funny as hell, but he lost it the next day when he saw it and was calling all of us threatening to kick who ever did it's ass. I guess that's what you get when you try to help a friend out.
some of us like dusty lookin rides.
Rule #1. Never mess with someones car unless you're ready for a fight. 🙂
With friends like you who needs enemies.
Funny!! Thought of a late friend of mines early 70,s roadrunner back in the mid 80,s his friends painted CHRISTINE from the movie down the side of it where it was already primerd....Hell..he drove it that way for awhile here in East Tn.back when they were considered just old cars! he had a 440 in it is allI remember,beleive it was a 71 roadrunner.
My brother talked me into selling my 66 SS factory 396 punched to a 402 ci from the factory. The L34 version. I couldn't even find a tail light lens since they were faded. A year later you could buy them brand new. It was all original factory matching numbers. Factory light yellow, bench seat, 8 to one steering, 12 bolt Dyna 60 rear end, 4 speed M21. I could drive that car like no other. Never got beat on the street and I took on Road runners, chargers, vets, and anything in between. Never beaten.
67 love tail lights , front grill not so much … 66 , LOVE front end , don’t mind tail lights…. I have 66 Ss convert …it’s like piece of art to me
I like both, but lucky enough to have a 67😎
Thanks Steve. Keep up the good work. My 9 year old and I never miss an episode. He tells me "Dad, Steve has posted a new video".
Back in 1976 I bought a gold 1967 Chevelle SS396/325hp in Phoenix, AZ for $325 off a used car lot because I was told it needed a camshaft and didn't run. I towed it back to a little parts store just outside of Luke AFB and proceeded to try and get the camshaft out of it. Took the intake off and I couldn't pull the lifters out because they were worn on their bottoms and wouldn't come back up through the lifter bores. I could get them up far enough to get the old camshaft out though. Ok, what to do about the lifters. I cut the new camshaft box in half lengthwise and stuck it into where the camshaft would go and pushed the old lifters down until they fell into the box and just pulled them out that way. It worked. Drove that car all over Arizona for a couple of months and then sold it when I was assigned overseas to Germany. I think I got $450 for it. LOL Wish I still had it for sure.
Steve is great. I ❤ his videos.👍
66!!!
To complete this comparison you should get a hold of the 66 and 67 Beaumont SD 396s.
Very good comparison. Love them both but for me the 67 for its tailights 💙
I'm a 66 model myself. So 66 for me.
Absolutely agree. Seems like I see a lot of the '66 on the road, and they're still a nice car. One would think I would be partial to it since it's my birth year, but no. It's '67 for me all the way.
If you're talking birth year, then who can blame me for also loving the 1966 Impala SS.
Absolutely the taillights. I can't explain it,...perhaps the elegant power they seem to portray.
Super impressive how you can do these in one continuous take! ⚡️🏁
Because he is Steve Magnante!
That's right, I imagine "Mags" has been talkin' like this since he was knee high heh, heh. It just so happens that a camera started capturing him sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm and it resonated with a whole bunch of us. If nobody had put that first camera in front of him he'd likely still be out in the yards and the fields rambling on about the vehicles he encounters hahahaaa! Just bustin' on ya Steve, have a good one.
Man I remember back in the mid 80s I built an exact model replica of that 67 ss! I even painted it black with the same Crome rally wheels! Both are beautiful cars. It’s just too bad Chevy isn’t the same anymore! The only thing they have going for them is the corvette and Camaro, that’s it!
GM needs to start making their classics again. ....'63 split window Corvette.....'69 Camaro......69 Chevelle......
This is interesting and why I like watching his videos. Those videos of him on his couch showing his hoard of toys is zzzzzz
My dad had a 67 malibu in my pre teen years. Rebuilt 283 2 sp little rowdy cam in it, cragar ss with 60s on the back. Used to beg him to drive it all the time lol.
I personally love the ‘67! I didn’t care for the 66. The ‘66 front end doesn’t appeal to me and the taillights look like an afterthought. The ‘67 front end reminds me of a shark. The tail end looks much cleaner with the taillights flushed into the quarter panel. ‘67 just seems more thought out and looks more like a designer’s vision. Very cool video Steve!
I feel just the opposite, the 66 seems elegant and the 67 seems gaudy. I may be biased because my first car was a 66 Chevelle.
We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you back in the Junkyard soon
I’ve always loved the 67 Chevelle over the 66
I purchased a 67 SS 396 Chevelle in 1984 from a friend the original owner ,low mileage. I loved that car 😂
I always liked the styling, hood, grille area and rear end much more on the '67 model myself, just seemed the extra year gave it more of a finished polished look overall.
Agreed. It also looks more "modern" than the '66. Even after all of these years.
Great video! I love the 67 over all other years. Restoring my late fathers 67 presently. I would like to add the 67 introduced the split master cylinder for the brake system and I believe was also the first year of the telescopic steering shaft.
Love the ‘66, my favorite year chevelle by far. ‘67 is my 2nd
1967 is my favorite
It's amazing how back then they tooled up major body parts for one years production
Now nothing changes for 4 years just software updates
G M went from designing that to designing the Aztec and avalanche lol
67 has always been my favorite Chevelle
As an old timer Chevelles were my car of choice, I owned a 66 396 4 speed, a 67 396 4 speed, a 67 396 4 speed convertible, a 1968 396 4 speed, a 1970 396 4 speed and a 72 automatic 33, engine was a 350 by then but still a SS. Loved them all but these 66 & 67 are still my favorites.
Very cool as usual Steve! Brings back great memories
Thanks Steve, it's really awesome to learn about these American classic cars because by time I got into working on cars, they were all but gone from the roads.
My first car was a ‘67 Chevelle S/S. Bought it for $500. It was never in a wreck and no dings or dents, rust free. Last tag on it was 1977 and I got it in 1985. My dad and I restored it, showed it all the time and some street racing. Sold after I got married. I’ve missed that car my entire life until I got back into hot rods and now I own 2 Model A hot rods. Lot of memories in that chevelle.
Very cool buddy
They didn't even share a steering wheel or seat upholstery either. The dash was similar but if I recall, the top panel with the knobs was different as well. So interesting how much they were willing to change each year back then!
Thanks Steve for the info on differences! I prefer the 66 look but would be happy with either car in my garage!
Jeez , look at that snow. We sure dont get that in Sydney. Stay warm and thanks for puttin the work. Cheers
I had a 1966 and where you are right about the hood as it came from the dealer, you could do some modifications and make that hood functional.
I'd been in some incredible cars by 1969, such as a '57 Chevy hardtop with a 409/425hp/4-spd stuffed under its hood and a slug of sports cars, but the first Muscle Car I drove was a friend's Maroon '67 Chevelle SS396/4-spd. Within a month I owned a '69 383/4-spd Super Bee. Needless to say that '67 mad an impression on me.
The first muscle car I drove belonged to a friend of mine. ('69 Chevelle)He had too much to drink,so our buddy offered to drive and he was pretty sloshed himself! So it fell on my inebriated, but not drunk, ass to get us home from the country! Needless to say, I got us upside down in a ditch about 5 miles later!
I paid for the car because his dad had just bought it for him to get to highschool, $800!!!!
Would be worth up in the 5 digits for sure now, in it's condition before the wreck! That happened in '81
Oh and I had a 74 super beetle but ended up buying a '70 Monte Carlo 350/350turbo! Still miss that car and my friend, RIP KEITH KENNEDY
Looking at the front of the 66 at a certain angle, I kind of see shades of the 68 Chevelle front end treatment.
Thank you very much, I learned a lot!
Great video, 64-65 olds 442 could be another great video.
Steve thanks for all the great information and keep it going.
The difference is; the 67 is cooler! I've owned both but really liked all of the 67 models especially the Chevelle, Impala and Corvette.
I bought, >
My New 1967 CHEVELLE SS 396 in October 1967 at Cormier Chevrolet about 500 feet away from the Famous LIONS DRAG STRIP in SoCal... The same Freeway offramp.. I have owned 3 - 1967 SS396 CARS, (138 Serial number cars total).. 138 in the VIN code meant SS BIG Block.. 136 was a 327 and 135 was a straight 6 cylinder engine
.
Learn something new everyday with Steve.
Always loved the 66/67. Top dog engine option (L78??) 375 horse 396. The first year for the 396 was 1965. 1965 was the only year it was rated 425 horse and only available in the Vette. If you bought a new 65 Vette and you wanted the big block you could only get the 425-horse version of the 396. 427 didn't come out till 67. 65 Chevelle had the first 396 as well but "only" in the 375-horse version. Try to find one now. If you do, hang on to your wallet.
The 1966 427 was originally supposed to get rated at 450 hp, but the insurance companies raised a fuss. The 1966 396 would have been 425 hp, but since the 1966 427 was rated at 425 hp, the 1966 396 got rated at 375 hp.
The rear suspension was changed half way into 1967 to address some wheel hop issues. The 1968 pretty much eliminated it and the late 1967 uses 1968 style rear springs. If nothing else the spring mounts were changed, but there might have been other upgrades, like the 1968 got. The early 1967 was pretty much the same as the 1966.
Chevelles seem to be one of the hottest cars right now and there are plenty of them.
Both beautiful cars. But I like the 67 just a bit more.👍
I had a guy harass me for years about buying my 67 for parts for his 66. He never believed me that nothing would fit. I still have the 67. I’m sure his 66 is long gone.
Had a 66 396/360 horse...not the 375 horse,but the ol engine held it,s own and was reliable to boot,both are very nice cars that still used alot of metal compared to the 68,s and up where they started the plastic stuff.
Thanks for the comparison, these are my favorites, but now I know that 1967 is #1. I like the 1967 taillights a little better. I turned 12 years old in 1967.
I remember when those cars were new. I was just a kid but I loved the muscle cars in the 60's. So much so in high school in the 70's I bought a 66 Fairlane GT. 390 and a 4 speed. I destroyed Mustangs and Camaros at the stop lights. I only paid $650.00 it had about 50,000 miles on it, It was red on red with a dealer add a/c unit. They had to cut the top of the console to put the a/c unit in there.
1973 I was 16 years old, my high school car was a 1965 GTO, 389, 3-2's, 4 speed. Cost me $500. Looked perfect, no problems. Light yellow, tan interior. I joined the Air Force a year later, bought a 1970 Roadrunner.... AWESOME.. never looked back.
Always, always great information. I find myself quoting you when I watch my wife’s eyes roll back in her head. 😂 Thanks Steve!
Guys with money used to have the dealer here in Fremont install a 427, Corvette mill in these when the 396 wasn't enough. Haha.
I love my '66 SS396!!
Thanks for pointing these things out. Never noticed all the differences between the two
I'd love to see him do a comparison of the Canadian Pontiac Beaumonts vs the Chevelles.
The front end of the 66 Beaumont was classic beauty and I always like the rear end of the 67 Chevelle the best.
The 66-67 are definitely my favorite years, my first car in 1981 was a 66 2 door hardtop with a 230 inch 6, I paid a whopping $100.00 for it as the front end had been taken out by a drunk driver, I had big plans, but no money and the frame was junk, picked what I could off of it and junked the rest then with the help of my Oma was able to purchase a 67 2 door hardtop out of California with no rust, not an easy feat in New York, both are easy enough to find nowadays, but the problem is finding a stock one where people haven't put their highly questionable personal touches on!
I'm restoring my 67 SS convertible four speed 396/375
My buddies and I had these as well as Impalas, Camaros, GTOs, Olds 442s, etc, having gotten bitten by the supercar bug in our later 'teens.
Nice to view these restorations and recall the rural races and the suburban drive-in eateries and movies before, during and after.
And a tip of the hat to you for making this video. And to that Gal in a Vette at Skip's on North Avenue in Elmwood Park, whose motto was "If you can beat me..."
Now, when observing 66' & 67' Chevelles, will have an easier way of distinguishing which is which. Thank you for the subtle details!
67 has always been my favorite chevelle 66 has grown on me
Father had a 1966 when he was young. Ended up getting a 1967 4 speed 396 ss later in life. We did a body off restoration with alot of performance parts. We took the 396 and punched it .40 over. We brought the compression up a little to 10:1 and it was built completely with forged internals. Slapped a Weiand 871 blower on top withb2 demon 1100 cc carbs amd it was engine dynoed at 1,009 hp on race fuel back in 2007 when 1,000hp was alot. Just about everything else about the car was original except the transmission and read end. Build 4 speed and clutch with a 12 bolt posi. Also stretched the tubs out just enough to put a 10.5 inch tire under it but it was a show car with alot of power pretty much. We did take it to a few test and tunes. Fastest was 6.80s in the 8th at Shelor motor mile .
To of my fav from GM thanks Steve for sharing .great video as always 👍👍👍👍👍👍
I had a '66 and I like the tail lights better IF You had to hit them when a cop was sitting on the side of the road it was sorta hidden for their view....IF it wasn't to dark yet.
Very educational for me. I used to put them in the same mental category. Both gorgeous cars with some of the best Chevy styling of that era. Now that I see the differences, I think I like the '66 front end slightly better, but I like the '67 tail lights slightly better. However, both are gorgeous.
I had a 67 Malibu 2 door and like you I liked the 66 front end and 67 rear end.
Both are beautiful!
Very cool information. I love to learn. Thanks for sharing! Juan in Virginia
Excellent as always. The rear taillights remind me somewhat of the taillights on my dad’s 73 Electra LImited
I actually love my 66 triple black 4-speed 396 360 horse
Both are beautiful!!! I'm glad you did this video because I've been trying to figure out what the difference between the two is besides the tail lights.
Another good comparison video, friend late 80's had that exact '66, still have some pics.
We used to take it to Pomona swap and could park right in venue.
He traded it for a silver 32 Ford Coupe. Friends car not the reason, but always preferred the '66 as
the '67 always looked like a Ford to me with the grille, rearend, etc.
Love Steves style of talking and great knowledge of the vehicles he's talking about... Both are highly coveted machines now.. Amazing the detail and design put into the cars back then. Universe's apart from today's, blah crap produced. Except in trucks they still have alot of character and fun stuff in thier designs!!! Thanx Steven!!!
Thank you for pionting out the difference, these are on top of my list as cool cars!
Get well Steve!
67 was my favorite year.
Two just awesome years, I have a 66 and had a 64. Unfortunately I got rid of them When I got married but I had five kids and got a Malibu 4dr to fit the kids. And up graded to a 350/ turbo 350. Now looking to sell this and get an SS back. (Kids all older now).
Both pure perfection. We had two of the 66 when I was 6 years old. A red Chevelle Malibu and a burgundy Chevelle Super Sport.
Two dream cars in the same video.
Excellent video. Never knew the difference before. Reminds me of the differences between the true 1964 1/2 Mustang and the 1965 Mustang.
Another great video (I had a GN in the early 90's so I recognize the front end of this car as it's what I saw in my rear view mirror so often...:) )
I knew all these differences but still enjoyed watching you point them out. I like these comparison videos. How about a 71 - 72 roadrunner vid?
I'd take either of them. Both great looking cars.
Beauties, have to admit I prefer the 66, especially the taillights / rear-end look. As always, thanks Steve.
Great comparison Steve ! Now you can do a similar video using the 1/25 scale model kits of these cars. 😉
These are two favorite years. My first car in 1974 was a black '66 SS 396 4SPD just like this one. I was a HS Junior. I've kicked myself for forty years for every letting it get away. I'm sick just watching this video.
Hey Steve, appreciate the time change. My first car was a 70 Chevelle, I 💘 these two beauty's!!!
Tat was my first on the road legal car also 350 4speed 3:50 posi 10 bolt posi red fucking awsome till I got the big block
Mine also mine had the ls 5 454 fathom blue /white stripes
In 1966 my dad bought a new 396 4 speed chevelle .He hated it he said it rattled and banged like a garbage can. Lol He traded it a month later for a 66 Plymouth Hemi And never looked back. He raced Big Block Mopars untill He passed away at 72 years old in 2012. He last car was a 64 Fury 500 stroker Max Wedge .
Thank you for this Video! 66 is my most favorite car EVER! Love the 67 tail lights, but 66 front end makes the final win. Hope to have one, one day.
Always thought the 66 looked better from the front and the 67 looks better from the rear.
For me, my preference would be to mate the ‘69’s nose with the ‘72’s tail…….😂
Congratulations on 50k Steve.
Hey Steve, how's it goin'? Now that's a spiffy lookin' pair of Chevelles...true SS cars, niiiice. Those two are so much alike they are their production year's version of the other. I really hope they have the same owner 'cause that would be cool. You never fail to inform and entertain Steve, thanks man.