1966 muscle cars took a huge step up in performance over 1965 muscle cars.
Thanks to NASCAR, 1966 was the year when the Hemi hit the streets.
Following a highly successful year in 1964 when the Gen II 426 Hemi took 26 checked flags in stock car racing, the revolutionary engine was banned from the races.
Two years later, Chrysler attempted to pacify race officials by offering its second-gen Hemi to the public.
Of course, this involved doing a bit of detuning, but it wouldn’t be long before the engine found its way into nearly every model Dodge and Plymouth built.
Table of Contents
The Hemi Shakes Things Up
The introduction of the Hemi to Main Street U.S.A. hit the muscle car world by storm.
Dubbed “the most powerful sedan ever, bar none” by Car and Driver, most street Hemis could make 500 horsepower or better.
When put in a Mopar B-body, the early machines could manage 14-flat sprints down the quarter-mile. With the right tires and exhaust, this time could easily be brought down to the low 13s and even the 12s.
Despite the enthusiasm behind it, there were some drawbacks to the Hemi. Most importantly, the price of the engine alone was prohibitive for many consumers.
Once all of the “mandatory options,” such as an 11-inch clutch, 11-inch drum brakes, and stiffer shocks were thrown in, the cost combined with the Dodge B-body’s less-than-thrilling appearance resulted in slow sales throughout the Hemi’s career.
The Dodge Charger Offers an Innovative Interior
While the first Charger was little more than a Coronet with trendy hideaway headlights and a fastback roof, the new 1966 Dodge Charger did offer some features that were unlike anything that had been seen on the market up to that time.
The Charger included standard bucket seats and a console that ran the length of the passenger compartment and split the rear seats into twin buckets as well. The rear seats also folded down, providing additional space as the interior back panel opened up into the trunk.
Engine choices for this Dodge Muscle Car included a 361 cu in V8, a four-barrel 383, and the coveted Hemi.
Get The Top 50 Fastest Muscle Cars chart. Includes year, model, engine, 1/4 mile times, and more—absolutely free!
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.The GTO Comes Into its Own
Meanwhile, Pontiac made plans to take its muscle cars to the next level in 1966.
Rather than offering the 1966 Pontiac GTO as an option package, the Pontiac GTO achieved full-fledged model status with a base 335-horse 389 CID V8.
The new model also offered an optional heavy-duty three-speed and two four-speeds, both with Hurst sticks. While bucket seats remained standard, this was the first year when the optional bench seat became available.
It was also in 1966 when Pontiac introduced the new Tri-Power engine that became the 5th-fastest muscle car of 1966. This XS-code 389 package came with a functional hood, a stronger cam, and stiffened valve springs.
Mandatory options included an M21 close-ratio four-speed, metallic brake linings, a heavy-duty fan and a 4.33:1 limited-slip differential.
With the Hemi brought to the streets and Pontiac making the GTO an official model, it was clearer than ever that manufacturers were committed to producing muscle cars.
The Complete List of 1966 Muscle Cars
| Year | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Buick | Gran Sport |
| 1966 | Buick | Wildcat GS |
| 1966 | Buick | Riviera GS |
| 1966 | Buick | Skylark |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | Bel Air |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | Biscayne |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | Caprice |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | Corvette |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | Malibu SS |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | Chevelle SS |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | Nova SS |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | Impala SS |
| 1966 | Chevrolet | El Camino |
| 1966 | Dodge | Charger |
| 1966 | Dodge | Coronet |
| 1966 | Ford | Mustang GT |
| 1966 | Ford | Fairlane GT/GTA |
| 1966 | Ford | 427 Fairlane |
| 1966 | Ford | Galaxie |
| 1966 | Ford | Falcon |
| 1966 | Ford | Ranchero |
| 1966 | Mercury | Cyclone |
| 1966 | Mercury | Comet |
| 1966 | Oldsmobile | 442 |
| 1966 | Plymouth | Barracuda Formula S |
| 1966 | Plymouth | Belevdere I/II |
| 1966 | Plymouth | Fury |
| 1966 | Plymouth | Satellite |
| 1966 | Pontiac | GTO |
| 1966 | Pontiac | Bonneville |
| 1966 | Pontiac | Catalina |
| 1966 | Pontiac | Grand Prix |
| 1966 | Pontiac | 2+2 |
| 1966 | Royal Pontiac | Bobcat GTO |
| 1966 | Royal Pontiac | Bobcat 2+2 |
| 1966 | Shelby | GT350 |
| 1966 | Shelby | Cobra |
Well, there you have the complete list of 1966 muscle cars. If you liked this article, be sure to check out our list of 1967 muscle cars and subscribe to see more content like this!
Ryan Wheaton
Ryan has owned muscle cars since 1986 and currently owns a 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye. He combines passion and experience to create engaging content for fellow muscle car enthusiasts. In 2018, he founded Muscle Cars Illustrated, authoring hundreds of articles on tips, history, and trends in the muscle car industry. He attends national car shows, auctions, and museums to stay current with the latest developments in the muscle car industry.
Get exclusive muscle car content, giveaways, and a FREE Report on 10 of the most powerful muscle cars ever made right to your inbox—absolutely free!
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.