Chevrolet Impala 1966

500+ Horsepower 468 Cubic Inch Big Block Chevy | Full Restoration | Turbo 400 Automatic Transmission

Once upon a time, if you wanted a powerful, practical Chevrolet, you stepped into the dealer and bought a full-size passenger car with the biggest engine.The biggest '66 Chevrolets were player in the performance game, as buyers had the option of ordering the 325-hp 396, as well as the 390-hp and 425-hp 427 in any full-size passenger car.

This beautifully restored Impala goes a step farther, with 500 plus horsepower 468 cubic inch big block built by the well-respected experts at Davenport Motorsports. It makes its power with a street-friendly performance cam, pump-gas friendly compression ratio, and is finished off with ceramic coated long tube headers, a Holley carburetor perched on an aluminum high-rise intake manifold, and polished aluminum deep-groove pulleys.

The gorgeous ivory white interior with blue accents isn't just generous, but it feels quality, the console, the pleated door panels, all give the impression of a more expensive car. This is GM at the top of its big-car game. The speedo is the most legible bar speedo we've ever seen--huge and in your face; the tach off to the right is a nicely integrated into the stock cluster. We confess, we never looked at the console gauges when we were moving--they're a cool feature for sure, but when the Impala is accelerating, it is hard to find a moment to pull your eyes off the road to see them!

Twist the key, and the Big Block awakens with a bark and a steady 900-RPM thrum, an octave deeper than the small-blocks that often appear in these machines. The torque curve feels more like a straight line to us--get on it, and you steamroll up the revs, with no pause or running out of breath. The Turbo 400 Transmission is crisp and smooth through each gear, and when the go-fast is finished, provides a subtle purr as you cruise away the miles.

The steering is surefooted, with typical 60's feel through the beautiful thin, two-tone steering wheel. The steering box is quick enough and there's little slop; strong disc brakes up front work well with lots of confident, straight stops.What really separates the Impala from some of the other muscle machines we've driven is the suspension--the ride, the handling, all of it--as a package. On its own, you don't think much of it as you drive--the ride is smooth but controlled, not floaty or crashy, and despite the heft of the whole package, it stays put when you chuck it into a bend.

This Impala has been the subject of a lengthy restoration by a career GM mechanic. The attention to detail shows all over this car. In the big things like the straight body and shiny Marina blue paint, the tidy and upgraded interior, or the detailed engine bay, showing off the powerful big block.

Built for style, comfort and performance, this 1966 Impala is a triple threat ready to go fast, cruise the highway, and show beautifully.

This vehicle is presented by Sherwood Motorcars located at 155-3001 Buckingham Drive, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0X5. For more details, please visit us in store, or call/text 587-782-4153. AMVIC Licensed Dealer. [Read more] [Read less]