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Back in December of 2020, we introduced you to a gorgeous car that, thanks to the folks at Dream Giveaway, you could have parked in your garage. The 427-powered ’66 Impala is a gorgeous piece of machinery, and you can read the full article about the car by clicking here. If you didn’t take that original opportunity to find out how to win the car and actually enter the sweepstakes, time is running out. When October 26, 2021 rolls around, the sweepstakes will end. Will the winning name be yours? You don’t have a chance if you don’t enter.

When this factory-hot-rodded luxo-cruiser was delivered to the dealership, there was no doubt what was in store for the ride. Not only did the original purchaser get the big 427-inch engine, but behind that is a close-ratio M21 four-speed, 3.31:1 Positraction axle, and F41 Special Suspension. The order sheet did not specify the inclusion of power steering, power brakes, A/C, power windows, and all the other niceties you would expect to find in an Impala. This car doesn’t even have the Super Sport moniker. It’s simply “just an Impala” — if such a statement can be made.

In the days before the L88 and LS6, this was Chevrolet’s king rat. It exceeded the previous generation’s 409 big-block in both displacement and horsepower. At the beginning of the 1966 model year (September 1965), Chevrolet assigned the L72 a horsepower rating of 450. At the time, this was a monumental number that would not be equaled again until the arrival of the iconic LS6 454 in 1970.

I actually had the opportunity to drive this piece of Chevrolet history, and let me tell you, it drives as well as it looks. This isn’t a car you just ride in. This is a car you drive. As soon as I pulled out of the Dream Giveaway garage, the available horsepower was immediately apparent. Inside that cast-iron block is a generous sprinkling of goodies like four-bolt mains, forged-steel crankshaft, and connecting rods, forged pistons squeezing an 11:1 compression ratio, and a “mild” camshaft with .597-inch lift. Feeding the fire is an aluminum intake and a Holley 800-cfm carburetor. Traveling gear-to-gear is as effortless as can be expected with a 50-plus-year-old car.

Typically, one would expect an upscale ride like an Impala to feature an automatic transmission. Not this one. Shifting the four-speed is something any true gearhead can appreciate, and the operation of the clutch during gear changes was effortless. My leg never got tired while driving in St. Petersburg, Florida, traffic. I would like to say the temperature gauge never got out of the “normal” range, but alas, there is only a warning light. The only gauge — other than the speedometer — is the in-dash tach.

This very rare and well-documented four-speed Impala is one of only 1,800 full-sized Chevrolets built in 1966 with the L72 427/425 horsepower engine. It is also one of the very few to have survived the years of service it delivered while retaining the original powerplant and 12-bolt rearend. The car was restored many years ago and is still a stunning example of Chevrolet’s history. This upscale, Regal Red factory hot rod is fitted with a red cloth bench seat interior fitted with seat belts, tinted glass, a tilt steering column, and AM/FM radio. It has been featured in three national magazines and has won many awards, one of which is an AACA Championship, three Super Chevy awards, and a Best in Show. It is well documented, with the original factory window sticker, owner’s manual, warranty booklet, and sales brochures.

As I said, the sweepstakes is coming to an end, so you need to act now. You can own this red rocket simply by checking out the Dream Giveaway Garage website. If you’re ready to make this gorgeous Impala yours, here’s how you can do it. While tickets are only $3.00 apiece, we want to help you increase your chances of winning. In fact, you can click here to buy your tickets. Also, if our Chevy Hardcore readers use the promo code CHEVY when placing their order, Dream Giveaway will give you double the tickets. That means you can double the number of actual tickets you get if your donation is $25.00 or more! What are you waiting for? The clock starts ticking today.

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