1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396

In 1966, Chevrolet Motor Division repositioned its Super Sport Chevelle as an all-out performance Muscle Car for that year , but in some ways, “more” turned out to be “less” in the Chevelle SS 396.

Like other General Motor intermediate bodied models, it was reskinned but the dimensions hardly changed. SS models got a blackout grille and a new hood with nonfunctional vents. With engines of around 400 cid now a key playing card in this game, Chevy made the 396-cid V-8 standard, so all its midsize muscle cars were now Chevelle SS 396’s.

But instead of the 375-bhp Z-16 396 that bowed midway through the '65 model year, the '66s got detuned 396’s that were rated at 325 bhp ( in base Turbo-Jet’s) , and 360 bhp ( in the optional L34 form.) Both new 396’s had 10.25:1 compression, but the L34 got a taller cam, stronger block, and larger four-barrel. It cost $105 extra and nearly one-third of SS 396 buyers ordered it. Still, the L34's mid 15s 1/4 mile times at around 90 mph were kinda ordinary.

And, pretty much, so was the rest of the Chevelle, especially when it was compared to the pricey, limited-edition Z-16. Instead of reinforced brakes and underpinnings, the '66 SS 396 used standard Chevelle brakes and suspension stuff. Chevrolet claimed it had stiffer springs and shocks, of which some testers disputed once they experienced the car's sketchy handling and not quite up to snuff stopping ability. In fairness, comfortable seats, tractable engines, sporty styling, and a $2,776 base price made the '66 SS 396 a great daily driver. ( I’d still take one…)

Speaking of seats, the SS 396 Chevelle's optional Bucket Seat interior featured a console with a clock and included the extra cost "knee knocker" underdash tachometer as well.

Then, in the spring, Chevy released the L78 396. This was essentially an updated Z-16, but with solid lifters and new exhaust manifolds. It had the 427-cid V-8's large-valve heads, plus 11.0:1 compression, aluminum intake manifold, and an 800-cfm Holley. The L78 echoed the Z-16's 375-bhp rating and was the 396 that hard-core Chevy street warriors had hoped all the '66s would be. Only about 3,100 L78s were built. But even the base Chevelle SS was now a genuine big-block muscle car, and the best was yet to come. And we all know the rest of Chevelle history went…onward and upward!