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Plain-looking 1966 Chevy Bel Air Is Actually a Big-Block Sleeper

Introduced in 1949, the Chevy Bel Air went through all sorts of big changes over the years. A top-trim model in 1957, it was slotted just above the base Biscayne in 1966. It looked rather plain too, but it also had big sleeper potential with the right engine under the hood.
1966 Chevrolet Bel Air sleeper 5 photos
Photo: Craiglist/Barn Finds
1966 Chevrolet Bel Air1966 Chevrolet Bel Air1966 Chevrolet Bel Air1966 Chevrolet Bel Air
The 1966 model came with a lazy 4.1-liter inline-six rated at 155 horsepower in base trim, but Chevrolet also offered a couple of potent big-block V8s. Top of the line was the mighty 7.0-liter, good for 390 or 425 horsepower, but the 6.5-liter V8 was nothing to sneeze at. Available with either 325 or 340 horsepower, it enabled the Bel Air to unexpectedly smoke Mustangs, Camaros, and Barracudas in drag races.

This cream-painted two-door sedan with dog dish wheels is the perfect example of how deceiving the 1966 Chevy Bel Air can be. It looks as plain as they get on the outside, with the rather boring color and the dog dish rims suggesting a mundane family car. But look under the hood and you'll learn why this isn't your grandfather's Bel Air.

The impressively clean engine with the orange-painted block is a 396, the aforementioned 6.5-liter V8, one of the largest and most powerful mills fitted in the mid-1960s Bel Air. It's worth noting though that this isn't the car's original 396. Or at least that's what Barn Finds suggests based on the fact that the ad doesn't mention any documentation or matching numbers.

The listing also says the engine cranks out around 400 horsepower, which is notably more than the original 6.5-liter V8s fitted in the 1966 Bel Air. It mates to a three-speed automatic gearbox, so you don't get to row your own, but the aggressive 4.10:1 rear axle won't leave you disappointed during off-the-line sprints.

The lack of an original engine is a bit of letdown, but the swap is really clean. And based on how good this Bel Air looks inside and out, we're probably looking at a thoroughly restored car. It features a lightly colored upholstery with dark grey inserts, a bench-seat layout in the front, and clean, original carpeting. The car is listed at $31,500, which isn't bad for a thoroughly restored classic with a 400-horsepower engine swap.
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About the author: Ciprian Florea
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Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
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