FEATURE: Miss 66 - Jenna Stroud’s Glorious 66 Impala

Octane Fix Online Issue 15

66 IMPALA JENNA STROUD’SMiss 66 glorious

This is what I love about the car scene. The funny way you bump into people and instantly become friends, thanks to our love of old cars that leave us stranded on the side of the road.

I’ve always liked the oldscool Impala’s. The long sleek bodies with sharp swage lines and the rear quarters throwing a hint back to the wing era with an accentuated bull nose swage. The roof lines seaming low due to the big deep guards taking away its full height. So when you see one with its bonnet up on the side of the road, you just have to stop to offer assistance. I’m not sure how many years ago that was now, but Jenna and her Impala have been rocking around the car show scene for years and we finally got to photograph MISS 66 properly at Beach Hop last year. It’s easy to see the love Jenna has for these big ole American rides. The instant smile when she sits behind that steering wheel gives it away for sure. MISS 66 is Jenna’s first classic car, but she is no stranger to the classic car scene. Having been raised around these cars as a kid with her dad, brother and uncles all into the scene, the rumble of a V8 fully entrenched itself into her mindset for sure. Jenna’s owned a pretty cool selection of cars over the years, but the desire for an Impala was too strong to be ignored, so the hunt was on. What seemed to be a hard hunt has certainly scored her a model out of the bag here. A right-hand drive, full restoration with the factory 283ci Turbo Fire engine still in the bay, reupholstered custom interior and a glorious red paint finish to top it all off matching up the custom interior, was certainly worth hunting. The Glorious Red paint is truly amazing with the changing light and simply glows with the big 20 inch chrome wheels. The combination fully stepping it into the custom and show scene, yet totally ready to just hit the road and go cruising /partying with mates. Thanks to the upgraded brakes, power steering and twin exhaust, this isn’t just a show piece! The subs and amps in the boot feeding the sounds to the speakers up front providing the party, but only as a change from the awesome rumbling V8 sound from the twin exhaust system.

These Fourth Generation Impala’s were like the junior Cadillac of the day. With a roomy interior and luxury trim of the time, they were an extremely popular automobile. With very little upgrades for the generation from 1965 through to 1970, the subtle upgrades were really only noticed by the tail-light changes giving the build year away. The chrome belt-line trims were added to these 66 models due to customer complaints about parking lot door dings in the smooth panels of the earlier models, so even back then, these big-bodied cars were hard to park anywhere but definitely worth owning anyway! Jenna and MISS 66 are simply as one now after all these years, so even sitting on the side of the road with a bonnet up wouldn’t even phase this girl from her beloved 66! MAKE/MODEL: 1966 Chevrolet Impala – 4 door

COLOUR: Glorious Red

ENGINE: Factory 283ci Chevrolet V8

TRANSMISSION: Automatic transmission

DIFF:

All factory running gear

SUSPENSION: “Bumpys” hahaha - lowered springs

BRAKES: Disc brakes up front with factory rear drums

WHEELS/TYRES: 20 inch chromes

INTERIOR: Pretty and now old

STEREO: It’s an old head-unit that doesn’t even have bluetooth but does have a good doof-doof

Check out our video coverage on our YouTube channel

What else are you into Jenna? Travel, good times and making memories

So how long have you owned the car? 12+ years

Where did you find it, import or around NZ? Found it in Rotorua via TradeMe

What made you pick this car? It was love at first sight! I had my heart set on a 64 pillarless but I couldn’t seem to find one. The 66’s were not my thing but when I saw this 66 I feel in love!

It was out of my price-range but it sat on my watchlist and each time it was relisted the price dropped, so I just called the guy and it was mine! I remember picking it up on Valentine’s Day.

Did you buy the car as is or build it? I brought it as is, the guy had just reconditioned it from chassis up!

Any other cool cars in the shed? Daily Range Rover - Evoque

What other cool cars have you owned? Everything from ya Mazda Wagon, Hilux Ute, STI, EVOs to a bagged Mercedes, HSV Holden to KE30 13b Rota

Any you wish you still owned? The SS Holden would have to be my favourite – No problems

What cars are on the wish list? Dream car would be a Lincoln Continental

Favourite style of car ie. Coupe or wagon etc? Sedans, more room for activities HAHAHAHAHA

What do you love about the car scene the most? The cars

Anyone you would you like to thank for helping with the car? Everyone for helping me when it broke down you know who you are. Oh and also the random people that always stopped to help as well