Rectangular taillamps
Triple rectangular taillamps replace the round ones.3one source
Class of '66 · Chevrolet Impala · 1966 body · fourth generation
1966Chevrolet Impala
A facelift with rectangular taillamps, the Caprice now its own series, and two new 427s, at 390 and 425 hp.
The year in brief
The 1966 got a revised grille, triple rectangular taillamps in place of the round ones, and chrome beltline strips against parking-lot door dings.3one source
The Caprice became a series of its own, so the sport sedan with the Caprice option of 1965 was no longer an Impala.4one source
Wikipedia calls the Impala the second-best-selling convertible in the United States in 1966, with 38,000 sold.3one source
The story of the year
The 427 arrives
GM's 1966 table lists two 427s, the 390-hp L36 and the 425-hp L72, above the 325-hp 396.2one source
A new 250-cubic-inch six replaced the 230 as the standard engine.3one source
How to spot a 1966
What tells it apart from a 1965.
Beltline strip
A chrome strip runs along the beltline.3one source
Revised grille
The grille has horizontal bars.3one source
Production1one source
About 775,100 cars, by group of models; ≈ marks our arithmetic on rounded totals.
Every trim line
| Body | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
| All bodies, six | Impala | ≈33,100 |
| Group total | ≈33,100 | |
| All bodies, V8 | Impala | ≈621,800 |
| Group total | ≈621,800 | |
| Sport coupe and convertible, six | Impala Super Sport | ≈900 |
| Group total | ≈900 | |
| Sport coupe and convertible, V8 | Impala Super Sport | ≈119,300 |
| Group total | ≈119,300 | |
| Total | ≈775,100 | |
Over-Drive's sheet: rounded totals by series and engine, not by body, without the wagons and without the Caprice, now a series of its own. The total is our sum of its four Impala and Super Sport lines (about 775,100).
Engines2one source
7 engines. Chevrolet's regular production option number from GM's own lists: numbers in 1961–62, letter codes from 1963; «Std.» is a standard engine. The VIN shows only six or V8.
Gross ratings and option codes from GM's 1966 engine table.
Price when new2one source
Base retail prices in 1966 dollars, before options.
Manufacturer's suggested retail prices from GM's price list of March 16, 1966, without taxes, options or destination charge. Over-Drive's sheet has the same figures.
Colors2one source
15 factory colors. The color names come from one source2one source; the swatches are approximate screen colors, not paint matches.
Tuxedo BlackAA
Ermine WhiteCC
Mist BlueDD
Danube BlueEE
Marina BlueFF
Willow GreenHH
Artesian TurquoiseKK
Tropic TurquoiseLL
Aztec BronzeMM
Madeira MaroonNN
Regal RedRR
Sandalwood TanTT
Cameo BeigeVV
Chateau SlateWW
Lemonwood YellowYY
GM's list of solid exterior colors and RPO codes for the 1966 Impala and Impala Super Sport. Two-tones are left out. No source we have gives the number of cars per color.
Reading the VIN2one source
A 1966 VIN has 13 characters. Type one in, and the decoder reads it against the code tables on this page.
164376F1000262one source · An example built from GM's code tables, not a real car's VIN: a 1966 Impala V8 sport coupe, after GM's own example of a Biscayne (154696F100026).
The code table
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet |
| 63 · 64 · 67 · 68 | Series: 63 Impala, six; 64 Impala, V8; 67 Impala Super Sport, six; 68 Impala Super Sport, V8 |
| 35 · 37 · 39 · 45 · 67 · 69 | Body: 35 4-door station wagon, 2 seats; 37 2-door sport coupe (hardtop); 39 4-door sport sedan (hardtop); 45 4-door station wagon, 3 seats; 67 2-door convertible; 69 4-door sedan |
| 6 | Model year (1966) |
| A · C · D · F · G · J · L · N · R · S · T · Y | Assembly plant (GM's list for all Chevrolet passenger cars, «only basic designations shown») |
| 100001 → | Unit number, counted at each plant for all series together |
Where to find it: Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.2one source
Questions about the 1966
How many 1966 Chevrolet Impalas were made?
About 775,100 by the count we use: ≈33,100 all bodies, sixs, ≈621,800 all bodies, v8s, ≈900 sport coupe and convertible, sixs, ≈119,300 sport coupe and convertible, v8s. The sources disagree on the total; the ruling on this page explains which figure we show and why.1sources disagree
How can you tell a 1966 Impala from a 1965?
Three signs, each explained under «How to spot» on this page: rectangular taillamps; beltline strip; revised grille.3one source
What engines did the 1966 Chevrolet Impala have?
Seven engines, from the 250 cu in six to the 427 cu in V8. The engine table on this page gives every code and rating, and the rulings cover the disputed ones.2one source
How much did a 1966 Chevrolet Impala cost new?
Base retail prices, before options: 4-door sedan, six $2,678; 4-door sedan, V8 $2,783; Sport coupe, V8 $2,789; Sport sedan, V8 $2,852; Convertible, V8 $3,041; Super Sport coupe, V8 $2,947; Super Sport convertible, V8 $3,199.2one source
What colors did the 1966 Chevrolet Impala come in?
General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) lists 15 factory colors.2one source
Where is the VIN on a 1966 Chevrolet Impala?
Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.2one source
Where the sources disagree
Every conflict we found for 1966, and how we settled it. All rulings.
Open
1966 Super Sport production
Our ruling: Unresolved. Over-Drive's rounded lines add to about 120,200, Wikipedia gives about 117,000 without a source; both put the drop from 1965's 243,114 above 50 percent.
What each source says (2)
- 900 with the six and 119,300 with a V8, rounded (120,200 in all, our sum)1one source
- Sales dropped by more than 50% to around 117,0003one source
Sources
- 1966 Chevrolet Full Size Car Production Figures Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-12
- 1966 Chevrolet Passenger Car – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-12
- Chevrolet Impala (fourth generation) Wikipedia · read 2026-10-12
- 1966 Chevrolet Full Size Cars Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-12
Keep going
Three more years.
1964Chevrolet ImpalaThe last of the third generation: the Super Sport became its own series, the taillights sat in a body-colored panel, and the 409 topped out at 425 hp.About 889,600 built (disputed)1965Chevrolet ImpalaThe new body: rounded sides, curved side glass, a semi-fastback sport coupe and the new 396, and, by Wikipedia's account, more than a million sold.About 1,046,500 built
1967Chevrolet ImpalaThe coke-bottle restyle: bulging fenders, a fastback sport coupe, the 385-hp 427, and the car from Supernatural.About 651,700 builtSee the whole fourth generation.
Dimensions, production year by year and every ruling, 1965–1970.