In 1966, Chevrolet’s full-sized cars; Impala, Bel Air and Biscayne, were now second-tier cars, as the Caprice would become the new top-of-the-line full-sized model. While this might have removed the Impala’s luxury image, it opened the door for bigger and better things. Styling changes saw the removal of those famous round taillights, as new, large rectangular lenses replaced them.

While some buyers wanted the big comfortable Chevrolet, they might not have wanted all of the accessories of the upscale versions. That’s where the Biscayne came in. Chevrolet might have made the high-performance 427ci engine available in its full-size cars, but they didn’t actually figure that the combination would equal drag racing hierarchy. Not unnoticed by many racers was the fact that the base-model Biscayne two-door sedan was nearly 150 pounds lighter than the Caprice and Impala. When a two-door Biscayne post car was equipped with the L72 427ci engine, it was both lighter and more rigid than an Impala hardtop.

The Biscayne that is the focus of our attention is about to come up for sale at the August 2015, Mecum auction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. According to the paperwork that comes with the car, John Enlund III traded his 1965 Tri Power GTO for the Biscayne at Larson Chevrolet of Superior, Wisconsin. This Tuxedo Black-on-Red 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne came from the factory with the top engine available, the L72 427ci engine with 425 horsepower. In true musclecar fashion, a Muncie M21 four-speed transmission, and a 12-bolt Posi rear with 4.56 gears finish the drivetrain.

In 1966, getting the L72 engine required the installation of dual-upper trailing arms and the F41 special suspension, both of which are on this car. In June of 1967, John sold the car to 20-year-old Leroy Levens. Unfortunately, Leroy blew the engine at the drag strip, and then procured a service replacement block. He rebuilt the engine and kept the car for years. After restoring the Biscayne using NOS parts, in 1986, Leroy sold it to Joseph Fasano of New Jersey. Joseph painstakingly detailed the car to match factory standards, using many properly-dated components.

In 2013, Joseph sold the car to its current owner, who invested an untold amount of money and time refreshing its all-original sheet metal and Tuxedo Black lacquer. This resulted in the car winning an AACA National Champion Award in April 2014 at Charlotte, North Carolina. The car has been driven a documented 29,000 miles. One of only 11 believed to exist today, this well-known multiple-award winner comes with documentation that includes the original invoice, full owner history, dealer and restoration paperwork, photographs, and a certificate from the Antique Automobile Club of America.