By: Patrick Smith

   Fans of the 1966 Chevelle SS often wonder why there are two versions of SS rear coves. At a large Chevelle meet, or if you read a lot of magazines, you'll encounter both types of rear cove panels. Some 1966 SS models have a black painted cove with the SS 396 emblem on passenger side. There often is a ribbed silver trim panel just above the rear bumper as well.  On most 1966 Chevelle SS cars, the rear cove is painted body color and has no ribbed trim panel above the bumper. What was going on? Which one is correct?
  

You don't have to paint your car black to have a black cove. Current theory is black painted coves were on early production 1966 SS Chevelles and that body color coves entered production a little later in year. Variations in the timing of the changeover at each plant is best researched by comparing cars from the same plant and time period as yours.

    Before the Chevelle was actually mass produced, the company had to make brochures available to show off the product at dealers. These were made using early pre production cars. In the earliest version of the brochures, Chevelle SS models were used with painted black coves. However by the time the first revision brochure was released, the picture changed to an SS with body color cove and different equipment tires. Some cars came from the factories with black painted coves but these were early production units. The Atlanta plant certainly made Chevelle SS cars that way. This technique was phased out and body color coves were introduced sometime during the calendar year.

    Technically, both versions were made but it is believed that black painted coves were early cars only. Some complications to this issue includes dealers painted body color cars black in the cove to enhance saleability. It was a smarter looking vehicle prepared this way and Chevrolet concurred by releasing the 1967 model that way with a center SS 396 emblem. It is not known exactly when each plant switched from black to body color coves. This kind of detail is best determined using your date code and checking with similar cars from the same plant and time frame. A good forum may have discussions available to help out with research.Another interesting detail includes the actual Chevelle rear cove letters. They aren't the same as the ones used on the 300 Deluxe. The Malibu had its own set of letters and are pn#4227111.
             *Article copyright 2013 by Patrick Smith. Images by PHS MEDIA.