1966 Chevrolet El Camino 396/325 - SOLD

[Jmcdonald]

interesting information on your rationale for not including disc brakes. I just stumbled onto something on a Corvette forum the other day that mentioned that a Corvette got dual master cylinders if it got the power option (added to disc brakes 65-66?)... since I think the dual master cylinders became standard on all GM cars in 67, whether they were power or not. In addition to the 2 66 396 El Caminos I've had, I also had a 66 SS396, all of which had Power Steering, but only one had Power Brakes... obviously no dual master cylinders. I've also had 3 67 Corvettes, none of which had Power Brakes, but all of which had dual master cylinders because it was standard. Hopefully I learn something new every day :-)

Interesting history you shared on the exhaust too. I know that lots of 65 Chevrolets came with resonators, and I think 66 also. I had a 65 L79 Malibu SS convertible that I bought in 66... exhaust had been modified to exit straight out under the bumper... so I don't know if that one had resonators originally. None of the 3 Chevelle/El Camino 396s I owned had the original exhaust and I've always wondered if they originally had resonators. I'm curious where you stumbled onto that information on the station wagon/El Camino exhaust. I've never seen mention of it before... and obviously I scour the forums for this trivia like you do :-)

And I'm curious about the color of the carpet you installed. My 66 SS396 had Fawn interior.... buckets, no console... and for some reason I think the carpet was a darker color, like the bottom of the door panels. A couple years ago I stumbled onto some pics of it on the internet... but unfortunately it seems the current owner had replaced the carpet... with a lighter color. http://nor-cal.chevelles.net/cars_davidschmidt.htm

And I share your dilemma with the dash top clock. My 65 L79 and one of my 66 Elkys had them... and I love the way they look, but it would be painful to punch holes in a new dash pad. I think I'd just pass the clock along to the next owner... in a box :-)

I'm loving all your pics !!!