What is the difference between a 1966 and a 1967 Chevelle?

Both years belong to the first generation, both use the body introduced for 1966, and both sold the SS 396 as a separate series with a 138 VIN. From ten feet away they look alike. The differences are in the details and under the skin.

Side by side

• Styling: 1967 brought a facelift with a new rear end, and backup lights became standard.
• Brakes: front discs became available on all 1967 models, along with a dual-circuit master cylinder and a warning light. The 1966 option list offered sintered-metallic drum linings instead.
• Steering column: a collapsible column became standard safety equipment for 1967.
• Automatic transmission: a 1966 SS 396 automatic is a two-speed Powerglide. For 1967 the three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 was offered with the SS 396.
• SS 396 engines: 325 hp standard in both years. The middle option was 360 hp in 1966 and 350 hp in 1967. The 375 hp engine was listed both years, but in 1967 it came back late and 612 were sold.
• SS 396 production: 72,272 for 1966 and 63,006 for 1967.

What stayed the same

The SS 396 came only as a sport coupe (VIN 13817) or convertible (13867) in both years, with a bench seat and three-speed manual as standard and buckets and a four-speed optional. There was no six-cylinder SS in either year. The background is in the 1966 SS 396 debut and the 1967 model year story.

Which one to buy

For driving, the 1967 has the edge: disc brakes, the dual-circuit system and the better automatic are things you notice on the road. For choice, the 1966 has it, because more SS 396 cars were built. Prices are close. At public auction the two years sell close together, and condition matters more than the year.

Compare what is on offer on the 1966 and 1967 pages, and see the 1967 SS 396 value page for more on prices.