Bags & Buckets: 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS Station Wagon – Sold?

November 30, 2021 Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

Savvy Chevrolet Impala fans likely read this post’s title and are likely ready to comment, “Chevrolet never made a ’66 Impala SS station wagon.” and they would be correct. As the popularity of vintage station wagons continues to rise, one trend we are finding more and more is “What if?” customs. The builders of these rides leverage the wide range of readily available restoration parts to build a performance version of a station wagon domestic manufacturers never offered.  Our latest example is this 1966 Impala station wagon originally listed in November 2021 on Craigslist in Visalia, California (Fresno) trimmed out to replicate an SS version originally available originally in two-door form.

Featuring an SS bucket seat and console interior combined with a “bagged’ air suspension system, the seller (and we assume builder) of this unique 1966 Chevrolet Impala station wagon currently has their creation listed for $24,000.  Comparing that price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms the private seller has their Impala priced one large above this guide’s #1 “Concours” appraisal of $23,000 for a stock example.  Similarly, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask is seven hundred dollars above this guide’s #1 “Excellent appraisal of $23,300 for a stock Impala wagon.

Chevrolet introduced a redesigned fourth-generation Impala line for 1965.  As expected, the 1966 Impala received only a minor facelift from its predecessor that included a revised horizontal bar grille upfront and new triple rectangular taillights replacing the triple round lights that had been the norm throughout the decade to that point. Designers added chrome beltline strips in response to complaints about parking lot door dings on the clean-lined ’65 models. The standard column-shift three-speed manual was now fully synchronized, and a new 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine replaced the previous 230-cubic-inch six while the 195-horsepower 283-cubic-inch Turbo Fire V-8 remained the base V-8 engine. Optional engines included a 275-horsepower 327-cubic-inch Turbo Fire V-8, the 396-cubic-inch Turbo-Jet V-8 rated at 325 horsepower, or two new 427-cubic-inch Turbo Jet V8s of 390 horsepower with 10.5 to 1 compression ratio and hydraulic lifters or the high-performance version rated at 425 horsepower with 11 to 1 compression ratio and solid lifters. A four-speed manual transmission was offered with all V8 engines, while the two-speed Powerglide was the only automatic transmission offered with the six-cylinder engine and 283 and 327-cubic-inch Turbo Fire V8s, and the three-speed Turbo Hydramatic was limited to the 396 and 390-horsepower version of the 427 V-8.

Inside “SS” Impala versions were new “Strato-bucket” front seats with thinner and higher seatbacks and a center console with an optional gauge package available. Sales of the 1966 Impala SS dropped by more than 50% to around 117,000 units. This was mainly due to the sport/performance car market switching from full-sized models to intermediates (including Chevrolet’s own Chevelle SS396 and Pontiac GTO), along with the emerging market for the even smaller pony car market created by the Ford Mustang in 1964 Chevrolet responded to with the Camaro for 1967.

This unique 1966 Chevrolet Impala commercial currently featured on the Cars & Stripes YouTube channel takes the “Exploded View” concept to a whole new level:

We love the attention to detail put into making this subtle custom Impala SS. We only wish the seller also had provided a picture of the car’s air suspension system design along with the car dropped to the ground.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“Up for sale is a very unique CLONED Super Sport Wagon with Super Sport front bucket seats and console. Comes with a 350 V8 and 350 automatic transmission. PS, PB, tilt wheel, power rear window, roof rack, and pioneer stereo radio system. It is air bagged front and rear. New paint and custom leather interior with SS bucket seats and console. All stainless and chrome are in good condition as are the tires. The floor pan is original and solid with virtually no rust. Gauges all work but fuel is inaccurate. Glass is in good condition but the windshield has a crack on the driver’s side which does not obscure visibility. It is a California car and has a clean title in my name and currently licensed. Runs and drives well, a must-see. Priced at $24,000.00. All reasonable CASH offers considered. Not interested in trade. Calls only NO TEXTS or EMAILS will be answered. “

Show or go: what would you do with this 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS Wagon?  Comment below and let us know!