1966 L-79 Chevy II"s that i remember
 

When I was in High School in 1966 a student had a maroon one with beige interior no radio 4:56 posi he would put on quite a show for us.That car sold new at Clay Chevrolet in Newton Mass. Then there was a Turquoise with beige interior one at Luby Chevrolet in 1968 in the used car lot for sale. I wonder if these cars still exist

I bought one brand new in April of 66.....Drove it on the street stock one year, Turned it into a Drag car only the second year (Best E,T, 11.82) third year I installed a big block Turbo 400 combo and again it was a street car..... Then I sold it...….So... Basically I destroyed an original L-79 Nova...….

that's ok that is what they were built for

Question for guys that owned these when new:

How were those things drivable at all in stock form? I know my ~375 hp 355 ci '65 Chevy II will spin the 225/60R15 radials at any speed in first gear, and keep them spinning all the way through second with an M20 / 3.36 combo. That's with Global west springs that have the pack biased to the front eye like Mopar springs.

I can't imagine it with a 3.73-4.56 gear and 4" tread-width 6.95x14s. The Monoleaf springs would probably hop like crazy if you did get it to hook.

They drove quite normal......Didn't have a lot of low end torque like today's LS cars...… Cam shaft technology has come a long way since then...

I remember many years ago, my Dad drove one home from the dealership that was a fresh trade on a 442. It was Red. He let my older brother take it to Ameche's (local hangout for cool cars that was a burger joint owned by then Baltimore Colt Alan Ameche) that night. The next morning my father was spewing steam out of his ears and shirt collar as the little red car was knocking its ass off. Seems older bro musta over revved it! My Dad had the shop at the dealership replace the mill with a regular old SBC and sold the car off the used car lot. The deal was, the tech got to keep the L79 for the labor involved in swapping engines. The L79 ended up going in a '57 Chevy than ran Modified Production.

That's just what people did back in those days. And to make it worst, living on SW Ontario we get snow and a good amount being 1.5hrs west of Buffalo NY. I have heard of a few L79 cars around over the years, 5 to be exact. These were/are the original owners that ordered them.

"BENSON" had a green car and used to streetrace it a lot. Had headers and 5.13's with the 7" slicks. Heard that car worked really well.

"Cominticki" heard his was yellow. It to had gears but think more in the 4.10 range.

"Bobby D" forget the color but think it was blue. He's a mechanic and did some work to it and also ran well. BUT he with headers and 4.10 he says he couldn't keep up with the Dodge 340 with hearders and gears?????

2 others are not the original owners.

66 SD Acadian. Still around, black on black. was fast with 4.88 and tunnel L79 for a while, but now all the original parts are gone. Just a SB 4 sp Acadian now. been sitting for years with this owner.

66 Nova, heard this one sold a few years ago. Original owner just used it as a car and played vary rerely with it. Just his driver pretty much. People recall the car but not much more.

'66 Post surfaced a few years back as an OG L79. Kid is making a racecar out of it and doesn't care if it's a L79 or not as supposibly has GM docs and it was from out west.

And lastly, local Napa shop owner has one. Guess he lucked out and wanted a 66 Nova. Bought this car as that and while fixing it up, found out from GM Canada it is an L79 car. Don't know if the born with motor/trans is with it anymore or not. Drives like a regular car.

Now some of these were not only driven, but also winter driven. Benson did his with the 5.13's. I have a friend who ordered his '69 L78 Nova new and his buddy bought one the same time. Buddy spec'ed 4.88 with the 4sp. Both these L78 were winter driven too. That's just what you did back then. People drove these cars and they were nothing more then a car. Hell up till a few years ago, 10 probably. Local car guy daily drove his '65 396 Vette with sidepipes and that was winter driven too. He just said "well it wont rust"..

The best was the computer guy who bought a Lambo Diablo, Orange. Drove it year round. Only on really bad days in winter he didn't drive it. He said it's AWD so it's good in the snow LOL.

1966 L79 Transmission Breakdown
 

L79 breakdown by Trans
3-Spd - 124 units
4-Spd M20 - 1054 units
4-Spd M21 - 4303 units

Total L79 units: 5481

Paul

A friend of mine has one that he bought off the used car lot at Ed Fanning Chevy in Aurora IL (where he worked as a mechanic) back in around 1971, originally an SS, Aztec bronze with black interior, now a partially finished chassised drag car that will never see the light of day again until after he's deceased :(

"Cominticki" heard his was yellow. It to had gears but think more in the 4.10 range.

That name rings a bell, the Mechanic/Sales Person at County Garage (Ayr Ontario) nick name was “Cominticki” or ”Ticki” his real name is Bill Kulmatycky. Lynn Stager found him for me and we chatted one night. He remembered Al, my car, and replacing the short block under warranty. Same guy?? He is still into performance, Corvettes I think.

Ryan W31