My dad had a 1966 Caprice 396. It was a turbo 400, not a cool 4 spd., but it did have a 4.10 posi and would absolutely launch! I was 15 when he bought it and I did get to drive it. 👍🏼👍🏼
You too! What a small world! A lot of somebodies dads had big block 4 speed Caprices with 4.10’s and 4.56’s. Maybe some uncles. Or the neighbor. “Special orders”, they say. They must have grew on trees, or maybe it was just a very large family. And Kurt Cobain was a cast member in Glee. Someone on social media told me that too.
@@gordocarboIt's just projected negativity driven by jealousy. Healthy people can feel good about people sharing their automotive memories and don't get too wound up about verifying the vin plate and paperwork stack. I'm sure I've thumbs up'd a tall tale or two over the years, but I'm not verifying sellers for RM Sotheby's so no matter.
My next door neighbor in 1966 had two Caprice big block (396) cars. One was a Burgundy color, and the other a turquoise. Both two door cars. He worked at GM and his wife was a school teacher in town. They used one to pull their airstream trailer every July. Both cars were loaded with the console, gauge package, and both had parchment interior.
Great narration! I worked for the Ford Motor Company for 46 years and enjoy all of the 'insider' information offered on these videos; especially a look into the GM and Chrysler competition.
My family had 2 65 Biscaynes when I got my license. Both 4 doors with 230 turbo thrift engines. One with a 2 speed power glide and the other a 3 speed on the column. I pretty much learned about driving and auto repair/maintenance between those two cars. I still love these cars.
My third and fourth cars were pretty much the same thing, but Bel Airs. The third was a two-door with a 230 and three-on-the-tree, and the fourth was a four-door with a 230 and powerglide. Both were sedans.
Conjures up a memory of being picked up from our Parochial school by one of my 5th grade classmate's Mom, and riding home in their family's '66 Caprice coupe one afternoon, oh ... roughly during the spring of '68. That was a VERY impressive automobile, fully loaded to include the power windows package. Meticulously maintained along with cropped lawn competitions between our families. Cropped lawn, a Caprice in the driveway, and an over-the- top Mom housekeeper at home. Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end as the song says. As always THANKS for the memories, with a Bob Hope twist!🎉
I had a ’66 Impala with 283 and 3 on-the-tree. It was a black 2 door hardtop. It ran and shifted like butter. The three speed column set up would always be my choice. It provided what I would call “ drive personality" in the way the car felt when driven. It is nothing like anything available today. It increases charm by multiples. You can see how attractive the steering wheel is on the ’65 pictured. These cars were so smooth.
@@danielulz1640 I suspect that's right. Stock car racers used to use the convertible frames when the built their racers. I think the police specials were on the convertible frame as well.
I much preferred the “bar” tail lights of the 66. My Grandfather had one - he was Chevy while my Dad was Ford/Mercury so as a kid I recognized all the trim levels, model similarities, etc for all 3 brands. Good times
You said it was amazing for Chevy to get approval for the roofline, you forget that Chevrolet was what Toyota is today. Chevy was basically refused nothing in those days when the impala alone outsold anything made today in a single lineup.
Chevys of this era were truly special, and have maintained their great looks even after more than a half century. It’s a shame we can’t get cars like this today that look terrific and go terrifically as well, at a price that’s affordable.
Only detail you missed here: to include an example of Caprice optioned with floor console and full gauges. One of the best flowing dash to console designs of the era - just beautiful! Restored example featured here looks magnificent w/no vinyl top and solid white. Full compliment of chrome surrounding the side glass opening frames is stunning. So well done GM! Thanks for the video of an often overlooked model........ :)
That particular layout is epically elegant. It was used in a popular '66 Caprice magazine advertisement with the instrument panel photo taken from between the bucket seats and over the console. 🩵
I have a soft spot for the LTD as my grandfather had a 67 LTD coupe. It was green with a black vinyl top. They lived in Detroit off Vernor and would take me to Farmer Jacks’s and Kresge’s. Great memories for a bygone era.
14:39 I enjoyed your comments about Detroit and Farmer Jack’s (“Bushel and Case Prices!”) and S.S. Kresge. I lived in Detroit in the 1970s through the 80s and lived on Glynn Court in the Boston-Edison Historic District. My apartment building was across the street from Stanley S. Kresge’s estate, a beautiful and half-block long home. Originally from Pontiac, MI, my father and his older brother both worked at Pontiac Motor Division (skilled tradesmen - die makers). They both drove Pontiacs religiously until my uncle purchased a 1966 Caprice two-door. It was a beautiful car!
Thanks again for bringing back memories, of my early years of car ownership. My very first car was a used 1965 Impala four door hardtop sedan (327/powerglide). Years later, I purchased a 1966 Caprice two door, in blue with the black top, as a snow car. Didn't want to expose my good car to the salt etc on the KC streets. A couple of years and 10K miles later, I moved to warmer climes and sold the Caprice for exactly what I originally bought it for. I had all but forgotten about that car. Thanks again.
'65's and 66's were good years. '61 was also pretty spectacular with those slender pillars and bubble-shaped windows. A 4-speed and big block on a sedan? Those were the days. The 3 tail lights on the '65 looked better than the single on the '66, IMO.
There were also two new Caprice wagons in 1966. New options available were Comfortron climate control, tilt/telescopic steering wheel (1966 full-size models only, dropped for 1967 and after) full instrumentation on the Caprice Coupe console if you ordered bucket seats. I think 4x power bucket seats were a first for 1966 Chevys also.
I had a 66 Impala SS, and I always wanted one of these, but I could never get my hands one! I eventually did get a 1965 Ford Galaxy, which I REALLY LOVED, and I got it for a SONG, put 72 Lincoln Continental Mark VI seats in it, and MAN, I was COOL! I also found out why Fords had a BETTER ride because their coil springs were beefier and longer!
Mom and dad in ‘65 bought a new dk blue w/lt blue int 2dr white top convertible just prior to us driving across country. 283/p-glide no a/c. Gramma couldn’t be outdone so she bought a ‘66 4dr HT 327 ! Neighbor had a 68 Impala medium blue SS427/4spd, his mother a 68 Caprice 2dr 427/auto gold/gold black? Vinyl top. YUP POPULAR CARS
Had a 67 Impala convertible in the day, liked the 66 better, seemed to have the quality edge. Recently acquired a restored 67 convert/red/black bucket interior/4sp after a 25 year search. The old 396/325 is still a spirited performer.
Thanks Adam for the long loving look at that incredible Caprice! An absolutely beautiful restoration. I always look forward to your presentations and informative overviews.
1966 was indeed a very good year. I was born 22 days in, and my parents finally brought me home from the hospital 10 days later in a 1965 Impala fastback two door coupe in white. Dad traded his '63 split window Corvette for the Impala since he knew the Corvette wouldn't work for a family of three; I later told him that was not correct and would have loved staring up at the rear split window as a baby in a bassinet. And I sure as hell would loved it 16 years later when I got my first driver's license if he had kept the car!
I subscribe to your videos because they are well edited, informative, and no BS. I block videos if the presenter is trying to be clever, funny, snarky, or just weird. Don't change a thing.
With that formal roofline the Caprice is a fantastic looking car. I always thought that the interior of the 66 Caprice was also special with the button pattern, especially on the bucket seats. The contour and the looks of these seats were one of my two favorite (also loved the bucket seat interior of the 64 Ford Galaxie 500 XL). Great car and great video.
My Dad worked at a small town Chevy dealership in those days and I would ride my bike down and hang out after school and during the summers. The first Caprice that I remember was on "showday" for the 65 model year and it was a 4dr white with black top that had the 396 engine.and tubo transmission. The 66 I remember was a 2 door Astec bronze with cream colored top and had Astro bucket seats with console with a gauges on it and a 396 with a turbo trans. I think about that car a lot since I have never seen another Caprice with bucket seats. I think I am remembering this correctly in my mid 70s. Thanks for the videos since I was a bowtie man back in those days.
My friend had a 1966 Caprice 2 door he acquired in 1973 with 40,000 miles. White, blue satin cloth bench seat with stratoback bench seat, fold down center arm rest power assisted. Had the 396 and a wide ratio 4 speed with 3:31 12 bolt posi. AM/FM plus power windows. Ran good for a big car. Of course being 20 years old, he ditched the whitewalls and wire wheel covers for Cragar wheels. Beautiful cruiser!
If was alive then and had the money for 1966 I would have bought a 1966 Galaxie 7 liter black with blue interior a 4 speed and a 3.50 traction lock rear axle
The ‘66 with strato-buckets in aqua fabric was peak Chevrolet. My dad had a ‘67 Caprice wagon, but the wagons had Impala interiors. I was sooooo disappointed.
Love those! Had a 67 Caprice my grandfather bought new, rode around in it as a kid, got it from him late 80s. What a highway cruiser! Since new that 4 seasons air never worked right .in/out of the dealer all the time Remember my gramma yelling "Good Gravy!" when it was hot out and ac wouldnt come on. lol
In 1966 I was a junior in high school and like to race slot cars. The gentleman who owned the racetrack bought a new car that year - it was Impala wagon with a 427.
IN 66' I was in elementary school and was into slot cars, we also had Aurora HO scale cars and an IDEAL Motorific Giant Detroit Torture track. The Torture track came with a 57' Chevy BelAir and a 64' Impala. The Aurora track came with a 60' Corvette and a 59' TBird.
My Pop had a burgundy ‘65 Caprice 396 4-door hardtop with the turbo 400, black vinyl roof, a/c, power seats and 4 speaker multiplex stereo with the balance, fade, bass and treble knobs under the dash. It was a big step up in luxury from his ‘64 Impala and the gas station guys would always geek out when they opened the hood to check the oil.
I saw the first 65 Caprice 4 door hardtop at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1965. I think it was a medium blue with the black vinyl top. I saved its brochure for many years. When the 66 Chevys were introduced that September, my Dad took me to our local dealer where I saw the new Caprice 2 door hardtop, bronze with the light tan vinyl roof. A married couple had just bought it. Then the next spring I fell in love with a 66 Caprice 2 door at the same dealer. It was fawn tan with the light tan vinyl roof and tan cloth interior. It had the factory wire wheel covers, a/c, power windows. It was a beautiful car and it's sticker was around $3700. I kept asking my Dad to buy it, but that didn't happen, lol. I wish that I could find one in that color combo today.
Wow that's really interesting about the overspray on the exhaust manifolds and bypass hose, small details from the production line that would otherwise be forgotten. Love the 1965 and 1966 Impala/Caprice.
I knew the original owner of a ‘65 Caprice 396 sedan, white with black roof & interior. She drove it for the rest of her life. I do not know what became of the car. That white coupe is the best restoration I’ve seen!
I had 70 Caprice estate wagon very nice mild engine hopup dull exhaust crager wheels an original led sled great highway car run way over speed limit it was a hand full to stop at that speed wish I had it today loved that car.!
I vividly remember the ‘65 & ‘66 Impalas and direct competitor Galaxie 500s seemingly everywhere during my youth (I was 10 & 11 at the time). As another commenter mentioned, during the summer you’d regularly see these land cruisers (and their station wagon brothers) towing boats and campers.
I always felt that Impala/Caprice should have 3 round tail lights....a styling tradition that shouldn't have been messed with. It's like a Buick without portholes.
I heard another reason the Caprice was introduced was that GM began requiring executives to use vehicles made by the division they worked for. Since high-ranking Chevrolet employees could no longer drive or ride in Cadillac or Buick company cars, they decided to introduce a more luxurious model above the Impala.
My second car (back in 1973) was a '66 Caprice, white, like the one in the thumbnail, w/black interior. 327, 2bbl, Powerglide, no AC, no radio... I paid $500 for it, drove it for a year and left it with my sister when I was posted overseas. edited for spelling
In the early part of 1966, my late father bought a new 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air four-door sedan. It had a medium blue metallic paint finish, with a medium blue cloth and vinyl interior. The only options on it were a 283ci V8, powerglide automatic transmission, AM radio, and power steering. My dad’s previous car was a “1958 Cadillac,” so that car was a disappointment to me. I had hoped he would at least opt for an Impala!
I like the 1965 better too. These cars were a dime a dozen when I was in high school when the teenagers were finishing off the fleet. I remember that a lot of the 1966 frames rusted so badly they broke and fell to the ground. This was in the late 70's.
During our senior year in high school, my best friend's dad special ordered a 1965 navy blue Impala 2-dr HT with a 396 and 3-speed column shift transmission. I was always amazed that his dad would start off and almost immediately shift it into 3rd. I don't think he hardly ever used 2nd gear. I guess that he just didn't like to shift gears...
I hooked a friend up, in 1982, with a 396 Caprice coupe with bucket seats and console. Automatic and AC, but don’t recall which one. Same color beige as the one in the video but his had a black vinyl roof. I bought a ‘65 Imperial Crown 4 door from the same guy, that’s how I knew about the Caprice. The Caprice would probably bring more today but it was tinny compared to the Imperial.
A great uncle bought a new Caprice in ‘66, black vinyl top over white. I was too young to know anything about power, but to my family from the backwoods of Eastern Oklahoma, this car was as luxurious as we imagined a Cadillac to be.
73 now. But my parents bought a 1966 Red Chevrolet Caprice. I was a high school teenager then. I had girlfriends. I would barrow that car and pull it down the street where my parents couldn't see. Stop and take off the Hubcaps before driving on to my girlfriend's house to picker up. Beautiful car for sure.
Good looking overall styling and the interior too, funny how in the sixties they could manage without endless black plastic! I love the naming story also.
Such a beautiful machine! I remember riding in a ‘66 Caprice as a young boy. It belonged to a cousin in my family. The car was only a couple years old and still had a faint new car smell. Was very comfortable and plenty of horsepower.
I really liked the Body Style of the 65/66, a real improvement over all those Prior to it. The 66 and 67 Chevelle and Canadian Beaumont are also one of my Favorites Privacy in the Rear Seat was Always Welcome.... Underhood, that Single Master Cylinder sent a Shiver up/down my Spine. I remember that in my 66 Ford, and my Dad's 66 Dodge. I still shake my Head about the Idea of a Powerglide behind any Engine, let alone a Big Block...
My first car before I was eligible for my license to drive was in the showroom window at a dealership I would walk by each day to get to school was a burgundy 1966 Impala Super Sport convertible 283 power glide. That car was so beautiful I looked past the less than muscle power trane and paid the asking price, $800 just so I could be the fortunate one to be cruising that garage kept gem many time a day from Wollaston Beach to Paragon Park then we'd all fill the back row at Neponsit Drive in, the tail end of American Graffitti before they all closed down
Very nice 1966 Chevrolet Caprice Hardtop Coupe. The only thing that was lacking on this luxury Caprice was A/C I'm quite surprised that was not ordered on this top of the line model. I remember the following year my mother bought a 1967 Caprice 4 door hardtop with a vinyl top, 327 C.I. engine, & automatic trans. along with A/C this was my favourite Caprice of the 60' as far as body styles, & you got love the roof line of the Caprice 2 doors well into the 80's IMHO.
My brother and sister in law bought a 1966 with the 427 / 390hp auto transmission…thing was awesome I ended up with it in 1974! I won a lot of drag races with that thing
My parents bought a used 65 white Caprice in 1966, with the oh so comfortable blue satin interior and had the 327 engine. That car was a looker with the spinner hubcaps. It was a great drive in movie car with being so comfortable. My dad later traded it in for a blue with black vinyl top 1969 Chevelle Malibu. Good times growing up back then. Love the white 66 story with the 4 speed.
I agree, 1966 had alot of nice cars from the big 3, and the lesser mfrs. chevy and Ford were neck & neck thruout this era. The Caprice gave Buick & Caddy competition.
I just want a car from the 60s. A Caprice or something like that would be great. But I'd be happy with a stripped down economy car. I just love the styling and simplicity of the mechanicals of the 60s cars and trucks. The 70s were pretty good. Although the safety standards and economy goals hampered them a bit. A lot of 80s cars are okay too. They lack the power and build quality of the 60s. But the styling wasn't too bad. Actually pretty good on the B-Body and G-Body cars. But the best car from the 70s or 80s can't compare to a 60s car. They're just the best in my opinion.
I was the second owner of a '66 Caprice, which I got in 1967. Gold with a black vinyl roof and a fawn interior. 327 with 275 HP. Great car, but blew the engine at 97,000 miles. Got a rebuilt 327 installed. Put another 10000 miles on it, and traded tin on a 1973 Cutlass Supreme.
My aunt and uncle had one new. Dark green with a black vinyl roof and black interior coupe. Had a 396. They sold it to my cousin in early 70s. By that time they had switched to Oldsmobiles. It was a nice car and didn't rust. Nice video.
When I was in high school, one of the girls I worked with after school her parents had a 66 Caprice with the 427/390, turbo 400, EVERY OPTION THEY OFFERED that year including buckets and I wanted to buy it, but they promised the car to their daughter. For a fleeting moment I thought about marrying her, just to be able to use the car. But, calmer heads prevailed and I didn't. Sigh.
Interesting tidbit: when the Caprice option came out on the '65 sedan, they were all white with a black top and a silver blue interior for the first few thousand made. It also featured additional foam in the seats, over and above the Impalas. And as you said stiffer framing. And as you said, the '66 Coupe was an absolutely gorgeous car! Another great video down memory lane. Thank you so much!
In 1975 after wrecking a 65' 2+2 421 Pontiac, I bought a parts chaser Caprice wagon from Frank's Esso in Bloomingdale, NJ for $200. It had a 2bbl 327, PowerGlide, 3.07 open rear end, PW, PB, AC and power rear tailgate window and a roof rack. It was a somewhat faded ice blue color. It had hardly any rust for a 9 year old NJ car. I was 17 and used it to go to school 20 miles away. I spun a main bearing one snowy morning going to school and was able to make it the 10 miles back to the house. That was a Wednesday. On Saturday my dad asked me how much I had set aside from my afterschool job. I said $200. We went to a friend of his who I knew had a cool 66' Vette. While he and my dad went in for a beer I went into the garage to look at the Vette. It had a new 427 in it and the factory installed 327 was sitting against a wall on roll around platform. Everything was clean as a whistle. My dad and his friend came into the garage and were looking at the car talking about why he changed engines. i ended up buying the 327 for $200, complete, it had 28,000 miles on it. It was a 327/375HP engine. It went into the wagon that afternoon and by Sunday noon it was driving around the block. Put a Turbo 400 behind it. It was one hell of a sleeper. I buffed it out and waxed it, put F70-14 tires on it with bottle cap hub caps from an old police car. It had duals with Mopar Hemi mufflers. My dad was a big Mopar guy and always had parts in our garage. So for cleaning the garage I got the mufflers. It had the same color interior as this feature car. The rear luggage tub had drain holes drilled in the lower corners and painted so that the melting ice from the "beverages" could get out. Beautiful car and I was I still had it.
Oh you got a helluva score on that 327… nice. Reminds me of my first car, a special order 68 Malibu with an L-79 327, 4 speed and 4:10… even had the “roll-tach” above the column. I went Mopar and sold it and a 67 Malibu for $500 each. Oh to have that to do over. Still love Mopar best but appreciate all Muscle.
If it was a '66 327, it would have been a 300 HP or a 350 HP. The 375 HP - fuel injected - engine ceased when fuel injection was no longer an option. After 1965, no fuel injection.
This is so familiar; my neighbor had a 66 Impala 2D with 386/4sp. The only one I was ever familiar with; he was an older farmer, in a community of farmers who typically didn’t buy cars like that. He only had 2 kids though, so there’s that. Enjoyed your presentation!
The great thing about the US car industry during the 1960's is that there were EIGHT distinct car companies, arranged in an obvious pecking order. From top To bottom, you had Cadillac & Lincoln, Buick and Mercury, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Chevrolet and Ford and AMC. GM and Ford Motors Co were modeled more like the music industry - each brand was a unique "artist' and the Big 3 acted as distributors.
I turned 16 in 1973 and my aunt and uncle both were executives within GM they had bought one of the 1966 caprice's that was built to be a show cars but was never used at the car shows,2 door black with red buckets with the full console and gauge package,the car had a/c,power windows,and every other option,didn't have the 396 it had a 327/275hp engine with a power glide,had the wire wheel hub caps,which I still have those,,kept it a couple years sold it and bought a 1970 hemi road runner,
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Coincidentally, the '65s and '67s, were always my favourite Bow Ties.
I also prefer the styling of the '65 Chevy over the '66 - especially those beautiful taillights on the '65's! I never understood why Chevy (in most years) didn't give the Caprice its own grill - looking from the front, you didn't know if it was a Belair/Biscayne or a Caprice. My parents had a '71 Caprice and that was one of the few years it had its own grill design. Ford was also guilty of that with their Custom500/Galaxie500/LTD series. That evening orchid is a nice color but I don't recall seeing very many in that color back then, probably because in a certain light I remember it having a "pinkish" hue to it and I imagine men (especially back then) didn't want to drive around in a pink car.
I really love this show. I remember my father coming home, with a 66 Caprice. It was yellow, black vinyl top black interior with the button tuck. 327 under the hood. Double black pinstripes painted on. Those full dome wheel covers. Just a gorgeous car. I'm pretty sure it was a turbo hydramatic 3-speed. On the column. As I got older and got my own car out of 67 Cutlass Supreme. Although that was a mid-sized I think it was probably close in size to the Caprice. Anyway I enjoyed the video.
My dad had a 1966 Caprice 396. It was a turbo 400, not a cool 4 spd., but it did have a 4.10 posi and would absolutely launch! I was 15 when he bought it and I did get to drive it. 👍🏼👍🏼
You too! What a small world! A lot of somebodies dads had big block 4 speed Caprices with 4.10’s and 4.56’s. Maybe some uncles. Or the neighbor. “Special orders”, they say. They must have grew on trees, or maybe it was just a very large family. And Kurt Cobain was a cast member in Glee. Someone on social media told me that too.
@@AdamWaffenwhat an annoying reply…
@@STR8SIXER292 Sad that even car channels have become a dumping ground for misery
@@gordocarboIt's just projected negativity driven by jealousy. Healthy people can feel good about people sharing their automotive memories and don't get too wound up about verifying the vin plate and paperwork stack. I'm sure I've thumbs up'd a tall tale or two over the years, but I'm not verifying sellers for RM Sotheby's so no matter.
The Talent to be able to Restore a car with such detail like this 396 Caprice. Never-mind having the $$$ to do it too. Beauty
Only one guy in the world rebuilds Chevy B bodies to that level…great job Leigh!
My next door neighbor in 1966 had two Caprice big block (396) cars. One was a Burgundy color, and the other a turquoise. Both two door cars. He worked at GM and his wife was a school teacher in town. They used one to pull their airstream trailer every July. Both cars were loaded with the console, gauge package, and both had parchment interior.
They must have been ravishing...
Of course. There were many neighbors, dads and uncles who had them. They like grew on trees, or maybe it was just the same person!
Love that guage package/console, wanna find one and put it in my 67 El.
Coolest gauge pack ever
That black ‘66 Caprice with those wheels looks so stunning and bad-ass! Wow..
A very unique car - I’m glad you featured it.
This car and the 1966 Pontiac GTO = Pure Auto Heaven!
Can't forget the 1966 Caprice Estate wagon.
Caprice in name only. It had the Impala interior and none of the other unique features. We had one, a 396, and it was bulletproof.
Great narration! I worked for the Ford Motor Company for 46 years and enjoy all of the 'insider' information offered on these videos; especially a look into the GM and Chrysler competition.
My family had 2 65 Biscaynes when I got my license. Both 4 doors with 230 turbo thrift engines. One with a 2 speed power glide and the other a 3 speed on the column. I pretty much learned about driving and auto repair/maintenance between those two cars. I still love these cars.
My third and fourth cars were pretty much the same thing, but Bel Airs. The third was a two-door with a 230 and three-on-the-tree, and the fourth was a four-door with a 230 and powerglide. Both were sedans.
Conjures up a memory of being picked up from our Parochial school by one of my 5th grade classmate's Mom, and riding home in their family's '66 Caprice coupe one afternoon, oh ... roughly during the spring of '68. That was a VERY impressive automobile, fully loaded to include the power windows package. Meticulously maintained along with cropped lawn competitions between our families. Cropped lawn, a Caprice in the driveway, and an over-the- top Mom housekeeper at home. Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end as the song says. As always THANKS for the memories, with a Bob Hope twist!🎉
An older gent I know has a ‘66 Biscayne with the 427 and a ‘65 with the 396. Two sleepers 😎
💋
I had a ’66 Impala with 283 and 3 on-the-tree. It was a black 2 door hardtop. It ran and shifted like butter. The three speed column set up would always be my choice. It provided what I would call “ drive personality" in the way the car felt when driven. It is nothing like anything available today. It increases charm by multiples. You can see how attractive the steering wheel is on the ’65 pictured. These cars were so smooth.
Wow- thicker steel, frame reinforcement and a stronger crossbar just for a trim package? That's a lot of engineering.
Basically the convertible frame.
That's how you move up to Caddy territory or on par with Buick and Olds.
Bean counter's day off.
@@danielulz1640 I suspect that's right. Stock car racers used to use the convertible frames when the built their racers. I think the police specials were on the convertible frame as well.
I believe that you are correct. I know for a fact that 1964 Ford Intercepter sedans were built on a convertible frame. @@keithstudly6071
I much preferred the “bar” tail lights of the 66. My Grandfather had one - he was Chevy while my Dad was Ford/Mercury so as a kid I recognized all the trim levels, model similarities, etc for all 3 brands. Good times
You said it was amazing for Chevy to get approval for the roofline, you forget that Chevrolet was what Toyota is today. Chevy was basically refused nothing in those days when the impala alone outsold anything made today in a single lineup.
Has 2 '61 Cadillacs. Love that year.
Chevys of this era were truly special, and have maintained their great looks even after more than a half century. It’s a shame we can’t get cars like this today that look terrific and go terrifically as well, at a price that’s affordable.
Only detail you missed here: to include an example of Caprice optioned with floor console and full gauges. One of the best flowing dash to console designs of the era - just beautiful!
Restored example featured here looks magnificent w/no vinyl top and solid white. Full compliment of chrome surrounding the side glass opening frames is stunning. So well done GM! Thanks for the video of an often overlooked model........ :)
That particular layout is epically elegant. It was used in a popular '66 Caprice magazine advertisement with the instrument panel photo taken from between the bucket seats and over the console. 🩵
I have a soft spot for the LTD as my grandfather had a 67 LTD coupe. It was green with a black vinyl top. They lived in Detroit off Vernor and would take me to Farmer Jacks’s and Kresge’s. Great memories for a bygone era.
14:39 I enjoyed your comments about Detroit and Farmer Jack’s (“Bushel and Case Prices!”) and S.S. Kresge. I lived in Detroit in the 1970s through the 80s and lived on Glynn Court in the Boston-Edison Historic District. My apartment building was across the street from Stanley S. Kresge’s estate, a beautiful and half-block long home.
Originally from Pontiac, MI, my father and his older brother both worked at Pontiac Motor Division (skilled tradesmen - die makers). They both drove Pontiacs religiously until my uncle purchased a 1966 Caprice two-door. It was a beautiful car!
Thanks again for bringing back memories, of my early years of car ownership. My very first car was a used 1965 Impala four door hardtop sedan (327/powerglide). Years later, I purchased a 1966 Caprice two door, in blue with the black top, as a snow car. Didn't want to expose my good car to the salt etc on the KC streets. A couple of years and 10K miles later, I moved to warmer climes and sold the Caprice for exactly what I originally bought it for. I had all but forgotten about that car. Thanks again.
Dad had a ‘66 Caprice 2dr. Dk blue sans vinyl roof. 283 no ac window sticker $3400. It was beautiful!
'65's and 66's were good years. '61 was also pretty spectacular with those slender pillars and bubble-shaped windows. A 4-speed and big block on a sedan? Those were the days. The 3 tail lights on the '65 looked better than the single on the '66, IMO.
The story of how the Caprice was named reminds me of the way the Mercedes name came to be. Fun!
😎👍 Nice 396 4 speed!
Gorgeous car!! 65-75 was an unbeatable decade
looks big and beautiful even in a picture
Was 16 in 1977. My first car was a '66 LTD; 352 4bbl, C4 trans, fully loaded including factory 8 track! Wish I still had it!
Mine same motor same trans only galaxy
There were also two new Caprice wagons in 1966. New options available were Comfortron climate control, tilt/telescopic steering wheel (1966 full-size models only, dropped for 1967 and after) full instrumentation on the Caprice Coupe console if you ordered bucket seats. I think 4x power bucket seats were a first for 1966 Chevys also.
Thanks Adam! I have a '66 Caprice 2 door, 396 4 speed. Great car.
The black one in this video looks so stunning and bad-ass with those wheels! Wow.. How does yours look? Any pics of it somewhere? 😀
Thanks for this one, Adam. That's a great example of a 1966 Chevrolet Caprice you discovered with a 396.
That roofline was. GREAT .
Al. Midon
I had a 66 Impala SS, and I always wanted one of these, but I could never get my hands one! I eventually did get a 1965 Ford Galaxy, which I REALLY LOVED, and I got it for a SONG, put 72 Lincoln Continental Mark VI seats in it, and MAN, I was COOL! I also found out why Fords had a BETTER ride because their coil springs were beefier and longer!
Mom and dad in ‘65 bought a new dk blue w/lt blue int 2dr white top convertible just prior to us driving across country. 283/p-glide no a/c. Gramma couldn’t be outdone so she bought a ‘66 4dr HT 327 ! Neighbor had a 68 Impala medium blue SS427/4spd, his mother a 68 Caprice 2dr 427/auto gold/gold black? Vinyl top. YUP POPULAR CARS
Had a 67 Impala convertible in the day, liked the 66 better, seemed to have the quality edge. Recently acquired a restored 67 convert/red/black bucket interior/4sp after a 25 year search. The old 396/325 is still a spirited performer.
Thanks Adam for the long loving look at that incredible Caprice! An absolutely beautiful restoration. I always look forward to your presentations and informative overviews.
1966 was indeed a very good year. I was born 22 days in, and my parents finally brought me home from the hospital 10 days later in a 1965 Impala fastback two door coupe in white. Dad traded his '63 split window Corvette for the Impala since he knew the Corvette wouldn't work for a family of three; I later told him that was not correct and would have loved staring up at the rear split window as a baby in a bassinet. And I sure as hell would loved it 16 years later when I got my first driver's license if he had kept the car!
I subscribe to your videos because they are well edited, informative, and no BS. I block videos if the presenter is trying to be clever, funny, snarky, or just weird. Don't change a thing.
With that formal roofline the Caprice is a fantastic looking car. I always thought that the interior of the 66 Caprice was also special with the button pattern, especially on the bucket seats. The contour and the looks of these seats were one of my two favorite (also loved the bucket seat interior of the 64 Ford Galaxie 500 XL). Great car and great video.
My Dad worked at a small town Chevy dealership in those days and I would ride my bike down and hang out after school and during the summers. The first Caprice that I remember was on "showday" for the 65 model year and it was a 4dr white with black top that had the 396 engine.and tubo transmission. The 66 I remember was a 2 door Astec bronze with cream colored top and had Astro bucket seats with console with a gauges on it and a 396 with a turbo trans. I think about that car a lot since I have never seen another Caprice with bucket seats. I think I am remembering this correctly in my mid 70s. Thanks for the videos since I was a bowtie man back in those days.
Evening orchid color on that 1965 actually came from the Corvair group at the time...
Buick, Olds, Pontiac used it too😮very pretty colour😂❤
My friend had a 1966 Caprice 2 door he acquired in 1973 with 40,000 miles. White, blue satin cloth bench seat with stratoback bench seat, fold down center arm rest power assisted. Had the 396 and a wide ratio 4 speed with 3:31 12 bolt posi. AM/FM plus power windows. Ran good for a big car. Of course being 20 years old, he ditched the whitewalls and wire wheel covers for Cragar wheels. Beautiful cruiser!
If was alive then and had the money for 1966 I would have bought a 1966 Galaxie 7 liter black with blue interior a 4 speed and a 3.50 traction lock rear axle
The ‘66 with strato-buckets in aqua fabric was peak Chevrolet. My dad had a ‘67 Caprice wagon, but the wagons had Impala interiors. I was sooooo disappointed.
Love those! Had a 67 Caprice my grandfather bought new, rode around in it as a kid, got it from him late 80s. What a highway cruiser!
Since new that 4 seasons air never worked right .in/out of the dealer all the time
Remember my gramma yelling "Good Gravy!" when it was hot out and ac wouldnt come on. lol
In 1966 I was a junior in high school and like to race slot cars. The gentleman who owned the racetrack bought a new car that year - it was Impala wagon with a 427.
IN 66' I was in elementary school and was into slot cars, we also had Aurora HO scale cars and an IDEAL Motorific Giant Detroit Torture track. The Torture track came with a 57' Chevy BelAir and a 64' Impala. The Aurora track came with a 60' Corvette and a 59' TBird.
I worked on so many of these back in the day..... never saw a factory tachometer. Cool!
The 65s had a vacuum gauge in the right pod, at least the SS as it had a clock in the console.
Absolutely love the1966 Caprice.
I have one. 327/275hp automatic. I totally agree with you.
My Pop had a burgundy ‘65 Caprice 396 4-door hardtop with the turbo 400, black vinyl roof, a/c, power seats and 4 speaker multiplex stereo with the balance, fade, bass and treble knobs under the dash. It was a big step up in luxury from his ‘64 Impala and the gas station guys would always geek out when they opened the hood to check the oil.
This has to be one of my favorite videos of yours! Always loved the 66 Impala / Caprice. We had a beautiful 66 Bel Aire back in the day. Loved it!!
I love the Caprice Styling especially on the 1971 & 1972 Model with the skirts. Classed it up a lot.
I agree, although I prefer the styling of the '71 - best looking Caprice of all Caprices I think!
I saw the first 65 Caprice 4 door hardtop at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1965. I think it was a medium blue with the black vinyl top. I saved its brochure for many years. When the 66 Chevys were introduced that September, my Dad took me to our local dealer where I saw the new Caprice 2 door hardtop, bronze with the light tan vinyl roof. A married couple had just bought it. Then the next spring I fell in love with a 66 Caprice 2 door at the same dealer. It was fawn tan with the light tan vinyl roof and tan cloth interior. It had the factory wire wheel covers, a/c, power windows. It was a beautiful car and it's sticker was around $3700. I kept asking my Dad to buy it, but that didn't happen, lol. I wish that I could find one in that color combo today.
Wow that's really interesting about the overspray on the exhaust manifolds and bypass hose, small details from the production line that would otherwise be forgotten.
Love the 1965 and 1966 Impala/Caprice.
That is one beautiful automobile...
I knew the original owner of a ‘65 Caprice 396 sedan, white with black roof & interior. She drove it for the rest of her life. I do not know what became of the car.
That white coupe is the best restoration I’ve seen!
I had 70 Caprice estate wagon very nice mild engine hopup dull exhaust crager wheels an original led sled great highway car run way over speed limit it was a hand full to stop at that speed wish I had it today loved that car.!
I vividly remember the ‘65 & ‘66 Impalas and direct competitor Galaxie 500s seemingly everywhere during my youth (I was 10 & 11 at the time). As another commenter mentioned, during the summer you’d regularly see these land cruisers (and their station wagon brothers) towing boats and campers.
I always felt that Impala/Caprice should have 3 round tail lights....a styling tradition that shouldn't have been messed with. It's like a Buick without portholes.
I agree that the '65 looks a little better, but both look good.
I had a 66 Impala four door hardtop back in 1986. Great car, wish I’d kept it.
Nice ride!
I heard another reason the Caprice was introduced was that GM began requiring executives to use vehicles made by the division they worked for. Since high-ranking Chevrolet employees could no longer drive or ride in Cadillac or Buick company cars, they decided to introduce a more luxurious model above the Impala.
Indeed 1966 was a special year ! The year i was born !
My second car (back in 1973) was a '66 Caprice, white, like the one in the thumbnail, w/black interior. 327, 2bbl, Powerglide, no AC, no radio...
I paid $500 for it, drove it for a year and left it with my sister when I was posted overseas.
edited for spelling
In the early part of 1966, my late father bought a new 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air four-door sedan. It had a medium blue metallic paint finish, with a medium blue cloth and vinyl interior. The only options on it were a 283ci V8, powerglide automatic transmission, AM radio, and power steering. My dad’s previous car was a “1958 Cadillac,” so that car was a disappointment to me. I had hoped he would at least opt for an Impala!
I like the 1965 better too. These cars were a dime a dozen when I was in high school when the teenagers were finishing off the fleet.
I remember that a lot of the 1966 frames rusted so badly they broke and fell to the ground. This was in the late 70's.
Used to deliver newspapers in friends dads 68’ Caprice wagon. It had a 396 turbojet.
Sat and esp Sunday you needed someone to drive you those papers were huge
Wasnt happening on a bicycle
During our senior year in high school, my best friend's dad special ordered a 1965 navy blue Impala 2-dr HT with a 396 and 3-speed column shift transmission. I was always amazed that his dad would start off and almost immediately shift it into 3rd. I don't think he hardly ever used 2nd gear. I guess that he just didn't like to shift gears...
Great watch. Always wanted a 65 or 66 Chevy Biscayne 2 door post with no options except a 427 4-speed and full gages. Maybe someday..........
I hooked a friend up, in 1982, with a 396 Caprice coupe with bucket seats and console. Automatic and AC, but don’t recall which one. Same color beige as the one in the video but his had a black vinyl roof. I bought a ‘65 Imperial Crown 4 door from the same guy, that’s how I knew about the Caprice. The Caprice would probably bring more today but it was tinny compared to the Imperial.
A great uncle bought a new Caprice in ‘66, black vinyl top over white. I was too young to know anything about power, but to my family from the backwoods of Eastern Oklahoma, this car was as luxurious as we imagined a Cadillac to be.
The '66 Caprice had class! 👌
73 now. But my parents bought a 1966 Red Chevrolet Caprice. I was a high school teenager then. I had girlfriends. I would barrow that car and pull it down the street where my parents couldn't see. Stop and take off the Hubcaps before driving on to my girlfriend's house to picker up. Beautiful car for sure.
Another superb presentation
Good looking overall styling and the interior too, funny how in the sixties they could manage without endless black plastic! I love the naming story also.
Unique to the Caprice was back up lights in the bumper, not integrated into tail light lenses like other models in the B body line up.
Also used on 66 Super Sports.
I have a 66 Ford LTD that I’ve had for many years that is just such a super nice car. I have the 352 V8 automatic 4-door hardtop
Such a beautiful machine! I remember riding in a ‘66 Caprice as a young boy. It belonged to a cousin in my family. The car was only a couple years old and still had a faint new car smell. Was very comfortable and plenty of horsepower.
Always felt the 1963,1969, and 1970 were the nicest looking Chevys. 1966 was nice too. Tony Baretta's car.
I really liked the Body Style of the 65/66, a real improvement over all those Prior to it. The 66 and 67 Chevelle and Canadian Beaumont are also one of my Favorites
Privacy in the Rear Seat was Always Welcome....
Underhood, that Single Master Cylinder sent a Shiver up/down my Spine. I remember that in my 66 Ford, and my Dad's 66 Dodge.
I still shake my Head about the Idea of a Powerglide behind any Engine, let alone a Big Block...
My first car before I was eligible for my license to drive was in the showroom window at a dealership I would walk by each day to get to school was a burgundy 1966 Impala Super Sport convertible 283 power glide. That car was so beautiful I looked past the less than muscle power trane and paid the asking price, $800 just so I could be the fortunate one to be cruising that garage kept gem many time a day from Wollaston Beach to Paragon Park then we'd all fill the back row at Neponsit Drive in, the tail end of American Graffitti before they all closed down
Very nice 1966 Chevrolet Caprice Hardtop Coupe. The only thing that was lacking on this luxury Caprice was A/C I'm quite surprised that was not ordered on this top of the line model. I remember the following year my mother bought a 1967 Caprice 4 door hardtop with a vinyl top, 327 C.I. engine, & automatic trans. along with A/C this was my favourite Caprice of the 60' as far as body styles, & you got love the roof line of the Caprice 2 doors well into the 80's IMHO.
My brother and sister in law bought a 1966 with the 427 / 390hp auto transmission…thing was awesome I ended up with it in 1974! I won a lot of drag races with that thing
My father's friend had one of these in burgundy, black top and interior 4spd and a 396 😊
My parents bought a used 65 white Caprice in 1966, with the oh so comfortable blue satin interior and had the 327 engine. That car was a looker with the spinner hubcaps. It was a great drive in movie car with being so comfortable. My dad later traded it in for a blue with black vinyl top 1969 Chevelle Malibu. Good times growing up back then. Love the white 66 story with the 4 speed.
I agree, 1966 had alot of nice cars from the big 3, and the lesser mfrs. chevy and Ford were neck & neck thruout this era. The Caprice gave Buick & Caddy competition.
I just want a car from the 60s. A Caprice or something like that would be great. But I'd be happy with a stripped down economy car. I just love the styling and simplicity of the mechanicals of the 60s cars and trucks. The 70s were pretty good. Although the safety standards and economy goals hampered them a bit. A lot of 80s cars are okay too. They lack the power and build quality of the 60s. But the styling wasn't too bad. Actually pretty good on the B-Body and G-Body cars. But the best car from the 70s or 80s can't compare to a 60s car. They're just the best in my opinion.
I was the second owner of a '66 Caprice, which I got in 1967. Gold with a black vinyl roof and a fawn interior. 327 with 275 HP. Great car, but blew the engine at 97,000 miles. Got a rebuilt 327 installed. Put another 10000 miles on it, and traded tin on a 1973 Cutlass Supreme.
My aunt and uncle had one new. Dark green with a black vinyl roof and black interior coupe. Had a 396. They sold it to my cousin in early 70s. By that time they had switched to Oldsmobiles. It was a nice car and didn't rust. Nice video.
Outstanding once again with the homerun content, Adam! Bravo!!!~
When I was in high school, one of the girls I worked with after school her parents had a 66 Caprice with the 427/390, turbo 400, EVERY OPTION THEY OFFERED that year including buckets and I wanted to buy it, but they promised the car to their daughter. For a fleeting moment I thought about marrying her, just to be able to use the car. But, calmer heads prevailed and I didn't. Sigh.
Interesting tidbit: when the Caprice option came out on the '65 sedan, they were all white with a black top and a silver blue interior for the first few thousand made. It also featured additional foam in the seats, over and above the Impalas. And as you said stiffer framing. And as you said, the '66 Coupe was an absolutely gorgeous car! Another great video down memory lane. Thank you so much!
In 1975 after wrecking a 65' 2+2 421 Pontiac, I bought a parts chaser Caprice wagon from Frank's Esso in Bloomingdale, NJ for $200. It had a 2bbl 327, PowerGlide, 3.07 open rear end, PW, PB, AC and power rear tailgate window and a roof rack. It was a somewhat faded ice blue color. It had hardly any rust for a 9 year old NJ car. I was 17 and used it to go to school 20 miles away. I spun a main bearing one snowy morning going to school and was able to make it the 10 miles back to the house. That was a Wednesday. On Saturday my dad asked me how much I had set aside from my afterschool job. I said $200. We went to a friend of his who I knew had a cool 66' Vette. While he and my dad went in for a beer I went into the garage to look at the Vette. It had a new 427 in it and the factory installed 327 was sitting against a wall on roll around platform. Everything was clean as a whistle. My dad and his friend came into the garage and were looking at the car talking about why he changed engines. i ended up buying the 327 for $200, complete, it had 28,000 miles on it. It was a 327/375HP engine. It went into the wagon that afternoon and by Sunday noon it was driving around the block. Put a Turbo 400 behind it. It was one hell of a sleeper. I buffed it out and waxed it, put F70-14 tires on it with bottle cap hub caps from an old police car. It had duals with Mopar Hemi mufflers. My dad was a big Mopar guy and always had parts in our garage. So for cleaning the garage I got the mufflers. It had the same color interior as this feature car. The rear luggage tub had drain holes drilled in the lower corners and painted so that the melting ice from the "beverages" could get out. Beautiful car and I was I still had it.
Oh you got a helluva score on that 327… nice. Reminds me of my first car, a special order 68 Malibu with an L-79 327, 4 speed and 4:10… even had the “roll-tach” above the column. I went Mopar and sold it and a 67 Malibu for $500 each. Oh to have that to do over. Still love Mopar best but appreciate all Muscle.
If it was a '66 327, it would have been a 300 HP or a 350 HP. The 375 HP - fuel injected - engine ceased when fuel injection was no longer an option. After 1965, no fuel injection.
@@wagonmaster1974 As a 17 year old it was what I was told. You know either way it was a phenomenal engine and it ran like a striped ape.
This is so familiar; my neighbor had a 66 Impala 2D with 386/4sp. The only one I was ever familiar with; he was an older farmer, in a community of farmers who typically didn’t buy cars like that. He only had 2 kids though, so there’s that. Enjoyed your presentation!
The best car I ever owned, 396 4sp SS. It was white until I put black hood and trunk strips with crushed glass and lots of clear.
The great thing about the US car industry during the 1960's is that there were EIGHT distinct car companies, arranged in an obvious pecking order. From top To bottom, you had Cadillac & Lincoln, Buick and Mercury, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Chevrolet and Ford and AMC. GM and Ford Motors Co were modeled more like the music industry - each brand was a unique "artist' and the Big 3 acted as distributors.
I turned 16 in 1973 and my aunt and uncle both were executives within GM they had bought one of the 1966 caprice's that was built to be a show cars but was never used at the car shows,2 door black with red buckets with the full console and gauge package,the car had a/c,power windows,and every other option,didn't have the 396 it had a 327/275hp engine with a power glide,had the wire wheel hub caps,which I still have those,,kept it a couple years sold it and bought a 1970 hemi road runner,
Coincidentally, the '65s and '67s, were always my favourite Bow Ties.
Once again Adam spends time and energy videoing the lowly chevrolet and the run of the mill ferrari next to it sits ignored. Love it!
I also prefer the styling of the '65 Chevy over the '66 - especially those beautiful taillights on the '65's! I never understood why Chevy (in most years) didn't give the Caprice its own grill - looking from the front, you didn't know if it was a Belair/Biscayne or a Caprice. My parents had a '71 Caprice and that was one of the few years it had its own grill design. Ford was also guilty of that with their Custom500/Galaxie500/LTD series. That evening orchid is a nice color but I don't recall seeing very many in that color back then, probably because in a certain light I remember it having a "pinkish" hue to it and I imagine men (especially back then) didn't want to drive around in a pink car.
I really love this show. I remember my father coming home, with a 66 Caprice. It was yellow, black vinyl top black interior with the button tuck. 327 under the hood. Double black pinstripes painted on. Those full dome wheel covers. Just a gorgeous car. I'm pretty sure it was a turbo hydramatic 3-speed. On the column. As I got older and got my own car out of 67 Cutlass Supreme. Although that was a mid-sized I think it was probably close in size to the Caprice. Anyway I enjoyed the video.
Excellent video Adam. Thank you.