This is my 1966 Chevelle SS396. I bought it when I was 17, and I've owned it for 30 years. It is a genuine 13817 VIN Super Sport. After it sat for 15 years, I got motivated to get it running again and restore it to the best of my ability.  

  It was built in Fremont, CA the first week of November, 1965. It still has the original matching number 325 hp 396 and a previous owner replaced the original Powerglide trans with a Turbo-Hydramatic 400 . I wish it had come with a 4-speed - and I just may install one in the future.

  I plan to repaint it the original Aztec Bronze color, and restore the interior to factory correct. I received my Legendary Interiors seat covers recently, and it is nearing time to install them.

  It's a low-option car - U63 AM Radio; A51 Strato -Bucket Seats; D55 Floor Console; A39 Deluxe Seatbelts; M35 Powerglide Transmission; and U14 Special Instrumentation - which is the gauge package with knee-knocker tachometer.

  Through some clues I have discovered, I believe a previous owner added power steering. I thought it came with PS from the factory, but I don't think so.

  The knee-knocker tach was gone when I bought the car; I am looking for one of those.  I added power brakes to it back in the 1980s.

  Update: 8-22-09 - I am working on getting all systems up and running. Embarrassingly enough the horn has never worked since I bought the car. I need to restore my steering wheel and get the horn blowing - parts are on order.  I finally acquired a factory knee-knocker tachometer this past week and ordered a wiring harness for it yesterday. I hope to have the tach and the horn functioning sometime next week.

  Hopefully next month I will start working on the body - at the very least, I want to get a couple of coats of epoxy primer on before winter sets in.

Thanks for checking out my car!

This is my 396 in July, 2007 after it sat for 15

years. Pretty sad sight.

New valve covers, plug wires, and tune-up

August 18, 2007.

I finally found the photos I took when I bought the Chevelle in 1979. The left shot below is from

1979, and the right photo is from March 23, 2009.

I got my exhaust system done right 2-10-09. Thanks to Eddie at Minute Muffler in Redding,

CA. Great job!

Added repro rear rocker moldings 12-11-08

I added the NOS forward rocker moldings October, 2008

Added repro stainless vacuum advance pipe 12-1-08

New 15x8 rear Rallys and tires 9-18-08.

Rusty trunk floor #1 February, 2007.

Rusty trunk floor #2 February, 2007.

Repaired trunk floor 7-29-2007.

New brake booster and master cylinder 10-11-2007.

Original gas tank paint - top.                         

Original gas tank paint -  bottom.

Installed new fan shroud 2-21-2008.

Passenger side front floor pan February, 2007.

Passenger side floor pan #2 February, 2007.

Rear seat floor area.

New (used) 15x7 Rally Wheels and police/taxi style hubcaps 1-18-08.

New stainless reproduction factory style fuel line April 3, 2008.

Working on the brakes at John's April 2, 2008.

  Handwritten trim broadcast sheet. Found in the passenger side bucket seat bottom springs in the mid-1980's. Still hoping to find a computer-generated build sheet somewhere in my upholstery. That's about the only place I have left to look.
   If anyone out there with a Fremont built '66 Chevelle has found a similar sheet in their car, I'd like to hear from you.

5-15-08