Member: Bill Snyder

Car: 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle 300

Bill Snyder's 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle 300

As many others, when I was 17 and had just gotten my license, I wanted a 60’s car. As I was looking through the papers in our local area, I found an advertisement for a 1966 Chevelle; there were very few details given, however, there was sufficient to get my interest. My father and I went to look at the Chevelle and were amazed by what we saw. The car, with only 28,000 miles on the odometer, was just like new The only problem was that it had a straight 6 and four doors. I decided though that something like this was too good to overlook!

The owner explained that he had bought it from the original owners’ children in 1985; the Chevelle had only been 16,000 miles in its first nineteen years! The original owner had bought it at the local dealership in Trenton, ON and passed away shortly after. Since his wife didn’t drive, it sat in the garage for around 17 years. When she passed away, the children decided to sell the car and asked the neighbour, the gentleman I bought it from, to help get it started. Not only did he help get it started but he also bought the Chevelle. He drove the car for 7 years, however, had decided to sell it because he was running out of secure winter storage. After hearing all about the car and doing a little inspection a deal was made and the Chevelle was on its way to a new home; I was to become the third owner of the ’66 Chevelle 300 four door sedan.

I bought the car in 1991 and drove it for my last year in high school. I then joined the Canadian Forces and left the car with my parents. They took it with them when they moved to Calgary AB and stored it in their garage for me. I drove it during the summer whenever I came home on holidays. Then in 2002, I drove it to Fernie BC to use it in my wedding. Just last summer, in 2005, I had it shipped back out to Trenton, ON, where I am now living.

The car is in excellent shape, and I have only done minor repairs to it. Sold without a radio, I found an original ‘66 Delco AM radio and installed it. The car has been repainted, and most rubber parts have been replaced, but other than that it’s original. I took it to its first ever car show in Oshawa this summer. It was well received, but I heard comments from some people about how it’s unfortunate it has such a small engine. I think they miss the point. This is a car people never see anymore, a throwback to the sixties family life.

I plan on enjoying the car during the summers for the foreseeable future. Cruising in Southern Ontario and visiting a few car shows every year. I feel very fortunate to have a car like this, and being my first car and wedding car, I have no intentions of letting it go anytime soon. Currently it’s stored in my garage for the winter; the current mileage being just over 31,000 miles.

Bill’s ’66 Chevelle is equipped with the following


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