1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Reviews, Pricing & Specs

My 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle was a 300 Deluxe 4-door sedan with a 230 CID inline Six and 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. It was an export model assembled at the GM Continental plant in Antwerp, Belgium, in March of 1966 and had been used as a taxicab in that country. The fact that it was in good working order when I bought it 17 years later speaks volumes of the Chevelle's rugged construction and accompanying reliability. Mechanically, the intermediate Chevy was a tough as they come. The Six was not exactly a powerhouse with its modest 140 SAE gross horsepower (120 net hp), but it never ever let me down. Other than a new oil pan gasket, new valve cover gasket and a new starter, the 230 never needed any more attention than regular maintenance. The Powerglide trans was even better and never caused a single problem. With its two forward speeds, it certainly did not possess great flexibility, but who cares when you're not going anywhere fast, anyway? Performance was what one would expect: 0-60 mph in approx. 16 seconds, top speed around 92 mph if you really pushed the Chevelle. At highway speeds of 60-65 mph, the 300 Deluxe would travel smoothly and quietly all day long and without fuel bills eating you alive. Being a taxicab originally, the Chevelle featured a number of heavy-duty items, particularly shocks and springs, upholstery, carpets and the like, all of which held up quite well. Thanks to the heavy-duty suspension and the light Six, the Chevelle handled nicely, even though power slides were out of the question - no power. By the way, the car had no power steering, either, so a lot of twirling of the steering wheel was required when parking. Other goodies NOT on the car: power windows, power seats, power door locks, cruise control, tilt/telescope steering wheel, and air conditioning. It did have power brakes, though, which made the front and rear drums rather sensitive when cold. All in all, I had the car for seven years and I regret ever having sold it to the present day, especially since 1966 Chevelles are hot collector's items these days, even modest four-door sedans like my 300 Deluxe. If you've got one like it, keep it - and don't mess with it trying to "improve" it with an engine swap, custom wheels/tires and the like. Enjoy it the way it came from the factory; anything else is a sacrilege.Apr 18, 2014