Vintage Cars: 66 Impala Bel Air 2dr Coupe, 66 impala, impala ss

Question
I am interested in verifying if this car has it's original engine/trans. Are there any corresponding numbers on the motor to the vin. It has "factory air", was this an option that was offered by the factory?  FYI it's unrestored, rust in the rockers & heals of the fenders, original interior (bad shape) and still has all of the original factory sheetmetal.  

Answer
Chris,

First, by your description, I can't really tell if the car is a hardtop or sedan  (hardtop has no window frames and no "B" pillar).  

This makes a huge difference in how much I would recommend you spend on restoring the car.

Big Chevy's from say 64 up do not have as much collector appeal as older versions.  Big cars in general right now don't get what say a Chevelle would get.  But that makes them somewhat of a bargain, and they are very satisfying cars to drive and just enjoy.  I don't recommend investing a lot in a high dollar restoration unless it is a very hi-performance version (427 in your case, or at least 396 and preferably with a four-speed on the floor).

But to your questions:

Factory air was available for sure in all the big car model lines.  It will have outlets built into the dash, not added to it.

As to numbers, here is a helpful site:

http://tinyurl.com/3bmcyb

here is another more specifically about engines with a lot of info, keep reading and clicking through to the next page!

http://tinyurl.com/2ufmpu

Here is a site with specific tranny info:

http://tinyurl.com/3a645w

One other bit of advice, if this is a small engine, auto tranny car that is a sedan and a low line car (Biscayne etc) and not an Impala or Impala SS, then remember it will probably cost as much if not more to restore than a desireable hardtop with a big engine.

Also, unless you are just looking for a car to work on it is always cheaper to buy someone else's completed car that is ready to go (or very close to being done) than to restore one yourself, and especially to pay someone else to restore.

Of course if the car is a something special to you (the car of your dreams, no matter what body style etc) then go for it.

You should be able to get most parts for any 66 full size Chevy either new or used, they made a lot of them, and many still exist.

Don