1966

[Paul Ceasrine]

1966, the factories attacked the stock classes.
A/S,,,,, B/S,,,,,C/S,,,,,D/S,,,,,E/S,,,,,F/S,,,,,G/S
A/S
* 66' Chevy II Nova SS 327/350 HP
* 66' Plymouth Belvedere 426/425HP
* 66' Dodge Coronet 426/425HP
* 66' Dodge Charger 426/425 HP
* 66' Ford Fairlane 500 427/410 HP
B/S
* 66' Chevelle Malibu SS 396/375 HP
* 66' Chevrolet Biscayne 427/425 HP
* 66' Ford Galaxie 500 427/410 HP
* 66' Ford Fairlane (Station Wagon) 427/410 HP
C/S
* 66' Pontiac GTO 389/360 HP (Tri-Carb)
* 66' Pontiac Catalina Coupe 421/376 HP (Tri-Carb)
* 66' Oldsmobile 4-4-2 400/360 HP (Tri-Carb)
* 66' Oldsmobile Cutlass 330/320 HP
* 66' Mercury Cyclone GT 390/335 HP
* 66' Ford Fairlane GT 390/335 HP
* 66' Ford Mustang (Hardtop) 289/271 HP (K-Code)
* 66 Chevrolet Impala Sports Coupe 427/390 HP
* 66' Chevelle Malibu SS (convertible) 396/360 HP
* 66' Chevelle Malibu SS 396/325 HP
* 66' Chevrolet Biscayne (Station Wagon) 427/425 HP
D/S
* 66 Ford Mustang (Fastback) 289/271 HP (K-Code)
* 66' Dodge Dart 273/275 HP (D-Dart)
* 66' Plymouth Satellite 383/325 HP
* 66' Plymouth Sport Fury 440/365 HP
* 66' Dodge Coronet 383/325 HP
* 66' Dodge Polara (w/Police Pursuit Package) 440/365 HP
* 66' Chevy II Nova SS 327/275 HP
* 66' Chevelle Malibu SS (convertible) 396/325 HP
* 66' Chevrolet BelAir (3-Seat Station wagon) 427/390 HP
* 66' Buick GS 401/325 HP
* 66' Ford Fairlane GT (convertible) 390/335 HP
* 66' Ford Fairlane 500 XL 390/315 HP
* 66' Pontiac Catalina 2 + 2 Coupe 421/376 HP (Tri-Carb)
* 66 Pontiac Grand Prix 421/356 HP (Tri-Carb)
* 66' Pontiac GTO (convertible) 389/335 HP
E/S
* 66' Chevrolet BelAir 396/325 HP
* 66' Chevelle Malibu 327/275 HP
* 66' Dodge Charger 383/325 HP
* 66' Ford Galaxie 500 390/315 HP
* 66' Ford Fairlane 500 (convertible) 390/315 HP
* 66' Ford Fairlane 500 390/275 (Hi-Perf. 2 barrel)
* 66' Mercury Comet 390/275 HP (Hi-Perf. 2 barrel)
* 66' Pontiac Tempest Sport 326/285 HP
* 66' Pontiac Catalina Coupe 421/338 HP
F/S
* 66' Buick Skylark 340/260 HP
* 66' Buick Wildcat 425/340 HP
* 66' Plymouth Valiant 273/235 HP
* 66' Ford Mustang (Hardtop) 289/225 HP
* 66' Mercury Cyclone 390/275 HP (Hi-Perf. 2-barrel)
* 66' Pontiac Grand Prix 389/333 HP
* 66' Pontiac Lemans (convertible) 326/285 HP
* 66' Chevelle Malibu (convertible) 327/275 HP
* 66' Chevrolet Impala (convertible) 396/325 HP
G/S
* 66' Plymouth Barracuda 273/235 HP
* 66' Dodge Dart GT 273/235 HP
* 66' Ford Mustang (Fastback) 289/225 HP
* 66' Chevy II Nova 283/220 HP
* 66' Chevrolet Biscayne 327/275 HP
* 66' Chevrolet BelAir (Station Wagon) 396/325 HP
* 66' Oldsmobile F-85 330/250 HP
* 66' Ford Fairlane 500 (convertible) 390/275 HP (Hi-Perf. 2-barrel)
* 66' Mercury Cyclone GT (convertible) 390/275 HP (Hi-Perf. 2-barrel)
* 66' Pontiac Catalina 389/290 HP (Hi-Perf 2-barrel)

Anybody have one of these Performance Cars??

Note; At the end of the year, advertisers were using the song
'I'm So Glad' by Cream, to describe the years performance cars.
PC

[W J]

Paul, you forgot a big one.....Those 1966 Plymouth Valiant w/273 Commando 235 hp cars. 2dr post, 2 dr hdtp, Convertible..... E and F stockers....I don't think the convertible could make "G", but not positive about that. Loved those single rectangular "box-type" resonator extensions. Slick little cars, for sure....BTW, make sure you pack your own 'chute if you're jumping at Orange, Ma. Dragstrip...... WJ

[W J]

Oops....Paul, don't forget the little Formula "S" '66 Barracuda's w/273 Commando power as well.....another one w/box-style stainless steel/chrome resonator tip....they were a dead giveaway if you pulled up behind one.....can't remember what stock class the 'Cuda cars got thrown into.....some of these 273 Mopars put many of the larger-motored GM or FoMoCo cars on the trailer back then....WJ

[Paul Ceasrine]

WJ,
As you know, I had my share of 273 Commando's.
I think it went like this.
In 1965, the 273/235 HP (#2712 lb.) Valiants were classed in D/S, and the heavier Cuda's were classed in F/S.
In 1966, NHRA upped the weight/breaks, and the 65' Valiants were classed in E/S, and the newer 66' Valiants were classed in F/S, and the
Cuda's (either 65' or 66') were classed in G/S with the 65'/66' 289/225HP Mustang (fastbacks) and 66' Chevy II's 283/220 HP cars.
The 65' Valiants (2712 lbs.) were about 100 lbs. lighter than the 66' Valiant (2808 lbs.) cars
By the way, I had several of those rectangular-tipped chrome-ended resonators, including (2) new ones in a Chrysler box, that I got for free from
the parts manager at Meadowland-Plymouth. I threw them out.
Now I hear there worth a small fortune.
Last time a made a jump, my wife packed my parachute.
'I HIT THE GROUND LIKE A DART!!
PC

[Run to Rund]

A 66 442 W30 won C/S at Indy. I have two of them. Tri Carbs, Outside Air Induction, battery in trunk.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Yes,
They were the dominant force.
Odd, the 66' Oldsmobile Cutlass 330/320 HP fell into the same class.
Don't see too many of those around.
PC