1966 CHEVELLE SS 396 68,000 ACTUAL MILE SURVIVOR (NUMBERS MATCHING ENGINE/TRANS)

1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS #138 VIN PROTECTO PLATE #S MATCHING 68,000 MILE Description

Ok, Here is likely a once in a life-time opportunity to own a true survivor SS 396 Chevelle with only 68,890 actual miles and a two owner with only one repaint. I was fortunate to find this car around 6 months ago and I bought it from a gentleman who has owned the car since 1972. He is an old man now, and sadly dying of Cancer and Diabetes and said he needed to sell it to pay medical bills. Doug is his name, and he actually began to cry when I drove this car away. But, the good news is that I am sure who ever buys this car will carry on its legacy and take good care of it so it can be admired for generations to come. Doug bought the car for NHRA racing and raced the car in the 1970s and 1980s. Other than racing for the most part it was kept inside his garage under a cover. The last time it was plated was 24 years ago in 1994 from what I saw from the most recent registration.
When I say this car has only 68,890 miles: I can back this up. It is not being sold as exempt, the title reads actual, and I have a legal odometer disclosure statement on the state of Indiana form that is signed by the prior owner proving the mileage is actual (NOT a roll back at restoration or 168,890 flip over). I also have a lot of documentation on this car such as original protect-o-plate, NCRS documentation, original warranty booklet w/ service records 1966-1970 filled out in the warranty booklet, and the car is listed in the official Chevelle SS 396 registry. This car has had one repaint!
What makes this car really special to me is that it is a low mile true survivor. And, not one of those cars that is just called a survivor but this car has the history and attributes to back it up. Such as: the GM part numbers are still present stamped in the cars quarter panels, and even on the rocker panel. I have the original air cleaner that was born on the car. The car has the original steering wheel on it that is not all cracked and wore out like most originals you may find. The car has the original truck lid that was born on the car that is in excellent condition along with a lot of other original GM part numbered trim and body panels and even most of the window glass and other interior pieces such as window cranks and door handles, etc etc.
I have the original protecto-o-plate (not a recreation protecto-plate) and know the history on this car back to when the car was sold by Bradswaw Chevrolet in Cedar City IA to Robert Rynio on 10/17/1965. Another thing that is very neat about this car is that it was one of the very early 1966 models actually built and delivered and sold in 1965, not 1966. It also has some NHRA racing history where Doug raced it and won with the car in Colorado.
I am a car collector and have a shop where I build engines for a living. I bought this car not fully realizing how special of a car it was. But over the last few months as I was able to spend time with the car and look at it closely and do my research on the car, I have come to the conclusion that I will likely never have the opportunity to buy another car that is this original and yet in such good condition for its age and not being a full restoration car. I have seen other cars that are very original, but what sets this car apart from those is its low actual mileage, two owner history with documentation, and the condition of the car. I am selling it because I have other cars and would like to use the money from the sale of the car to work at paying off a note with my bank on a commercial building I own.
When I think of condition, most GM muscle car's from the 1960's the floor boards, rocker arms, body panels, and many times even the frame and other other critical areas of the car have rotted and rusted significantly to where the car has to be disassembled and many new panels welded in and major full restoration. This car has never had this done to it, it has survived much better than most over the last 53 years. The frame and floor boards on this car are nicest of any car I have ever bought, I have never owned a car where you can read the GM part number on the rocker panel and all the floor supports and floor contours and inner quarters and inner fenders are so nice. Both quarters still have the GM stamping and the factory pinch welds are all present on both lower quarters and on the rockers as well. I took off the door panels and the doors have the factory paint inside them yet and GM sealed plastic still behind the door panels. I found factory paint still in good condition in the wheel boxes of inner quarters, inside the truck and deck lid. So, these things along with all the above mentioned have impressed me. As you can see by the car's VIN it is a 138 car true born SS 396 car, as the pro-tecto-plate and other documents also prove.
The engine and transmission in this car are numbers matching. As mentioned, I own a full engine rebuilding machine shop and dyno facility. The engine block I bored and honed and installed new forged Seal Power closed chamber dome pistons, I have only put around 50 miles on the car since the engine rebuild. This car was born with a 396 big block L35 engine and manual 4-speed Muncie transmission and was born with a Holley carburetor, not Quadrajet. The protecto-plate documents these options. This was the only year a Chevelle was ever equipped with a Holley intake and carburetor on L35 engine, another special feature of this car. Also, in 1965 and 1966 the L35 396 received forged dome pistons, forged stell crankshaft, and forged connecting rods. So, with Holley carb and all forged rotating assembly, this was the best year for L35. Later years as early as 1968 the L35 was detuned and down graded with lower compression ratio along with cast crank, and cast pistons. I also installed new cam and lifters and did some head work on our Sunnen VG-20 head machine.
With the cam and head work, this engine runs more like a 450hp LS6 car in my opinion, maybe better. The side-pipes on the car have been on it for decades and look tough! They can easily be removed if you do not like them: the bracket that holds them on to the frame has only two bolts per side and they disconnect from the headers. The Muncie is M21 close ratio with correct 010 main case, correct 584 side plate, and correct 685 tail housing. I tore down the Muncie when engine was out of the car and installed new cluster, cluster shims, tail shaft bushing and seal, and gasket kit. The L35 engine was 10.25:1 compression ratio from GM with high flow large port closed chamber heads 98cc. The camshaft I put in the engine is 224/232 duration @ .050, .527/.553 lift on a 114 LSA. I cut the heads for larger 2.190/1.880 valves during the competition valve job. I installed new stainless valves, double roller timing set, and high performance bearings. I did put a groove in the number 5 cam journal along with a high volume oil pump. The engine oils well and carries 80lbs oil pressure upon start-up with 10w 30 conventional oil. I did break in the engine for 30 minutes at 2000rpm with Lucas zinc. I installed new moly rings after torque plate honing the block. I disassembled the carb down to bare base for rebuild with full rebuild kit.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE CAR:
Engine Block Casting #3855961, Dated H 10 5, August 10th, 1965Engine Block Pad Stamping TI1005ED 6K107560 (Decodes assembled at Tonawanda Engine Plant on Oct, 5th, 1965/Kansas City Body Plant)Head Casting #3872702 (Both heads dated I 14 5 decodes September 14th 1965)Crankshaft GM Forged Steel #6223Seal Power TRW style Forged Dome PistonsGM forged steel connecting rods7" Harmonic BalancerIntake Manifold #3866948 (Dated G 15 5 decodes July 15th 1965)Carburetor #3874898ER List 3139-1 (Dated 583 decodes August 3rd 1965)Alternator #1100693 (Dated 5 H 27 decodes July 27th 1965)Distributor #111169Starter # 1107365 (Dated 5 H 19 decodes July 19th 1965)Muncie #388501, M21 close ratio single grove input shaftMuncie Main Case Stamping PO914 decodes September 14th, 1965Munice Vin Stamping 6K107560 (Decodes Kansas Body Assembly Plant for 1966 Model Year)Muncie side cover part #3857584Muncie tail housing part #3884685Bell Housing #3899621Heavy Duty 3-row Harrison style radiator11" Heavy Duty Clutch and Pressure Plate, Clutch Fresh and AdjustedNew Fuel Tank and SenderNew transmission slip yoke and u-jointVery Good working functional Power SteeringNew redline tiresGM dog dish hub caps (Not reproduction)GM/AC Delco spark plugs and spark plug wires
OTHER INFORMATION:
The lights and turn signals work, including dome light. The speedometer and gas gauge work. Again, its amazing how nice, clean, and solid the car's doors, floors, frame,quarters, inner fenders, etc are. Its easy to get a nice restored Chevelle or other muscle car if you have enough money, but very few people can say they own a 68,000 actual mile survivor car that is 53 years old and has many of its original parts and in this sort of condition. This car would likely do very well at Mecum or Barrett Jackson if promoted and put in their catalog. I do not want to have to take the car to an auction, I am too busy. But, someone else may be able to buy it from me and take it to the right auction and make a profit on a flip. Or, this would be a good car to be put up in a collection and should continue to appreciate in valve over time. My price is negotiable, make me an offer!
Disclaimer:While this car appears to have many very original attributes, I do not guarantee any particular part or parts or group of parts as "original" or "born to the car". I did not buy the car new and many parts get changed or replaced on this cars over the decades when they get broken or wore our or for other various reasons. This car is being sold without any warranty expressed or implied. You may come inspect the vehicle in person in NE Indiana. I do not think you will be disappointed!