Readers Ride: Mark Bernhardt's Insane 1966 Chevelle Super Sport
1966 Chevelle Super Sport
We recently linked up with a Facebook friend, Mark Bernhardt, and discussed his incredible Resto project: his amazing 1966 Chevelle SS.
RM: So Mark, why was the Chevelle SS your pick over other American classics?
MB: “The ’66 Chevelle has always been my favorite body style. The fall 2003 issue of Super Chevy’s Chevelle magazine had a red ’66 in it with a Viper motor & a T56 six-speed—that’s what made me finally start looking to buy one.”
RM: So how did you find the Chevelle?
MB: “I found the car in Hemmings Motor News, got on the guy’s website and emailed him a couple times. He sent me pics of the car and the VIN tag/stamped numbers on the block, heads, tranny, etc. Found a carrier and had it shipped from Georgia to Cali. It’s a true 138 Super Sport. I bought it in ’05 and started a full frame-off restoration/build on her. The passenger fender and door skin is all that’s left—it was pretty rotted out. I’m just finishing it up; got about 500 miles on it now.”
RM: Wait, you bought it in ’05 and you’re just now finishing it up?
MB: “Yeah, it took me 10 years, but I pretty much built a new car from the ground up. I’m the 3rd owner; the previous 2 owners lived right by the original dealership Welborn Chevrolet in Rome, Georgia. The car hadn’t been on the road since 1986 and just sat there and rusted through.”
RM: That’s a long time!
MB: “You’re telling me! I bought the car in Jan ’05 and started it for the first time in April of 2015. It then took a few more months until I finally drove it in Aug ’15. I only have a couple things left to finish: stereo / windshield-wiper motor / tail pipes out of mufflers / upholster trunk. Wants: billet hood hinges / clear heat & UV-reducing window tint “air80” or “air90” / maybe someday Vintage Air.”
RM: How was the engine?
MB: “It had the original block, heads and Muncie 4-speed, so I had them all cleaned up. Bored it out to a 402 and put a big Erson cam in it. Ported & polished the heads, roller rockers, hyd lifters, roller cam. The block had a crack in it and a spun bearing. All the lines were seized, so I pushed it up in the garage and started tearing it apart.”
RM: It must feel amazing to drive it after all that time?
MB: “Indeed it does.”
RM: Who did all the work?
MB: “This was my first restoration/build. I did everything myself at home in the garage with the exception of the bodywork and paint. Also Dave’s Performance in Fresno did the machining on the motor. Dave’s a great guy; I got to go down and watch him bore it out and help put one of the heads back together.”
RM: What tips or recommendations do you have for other guys wanting to do a similar build?
MB: “Tip 1: Have an idea/goal or drawing of the finished product & work towards that.
Tip 2: Buy your parts as you need them and after researching they’ll work with your existing parts.
Tip 3: measure twice, cut once & if all else fails read the directions or watch YouTube—lol! No, seriously though, building a car is a big project and it can get overwhelming quick. Break it into small projects and set goals for those.”
To see more of this incredible car check out its social-media pages on Facebook: Bernhardt Super Sport 66 and Instagram: Super_Sport_66
More Images from the Resto
