One of the most important characteristics of a classic car’s design aesthetic has nothing to do with its body style or brightwork – it’s the footwear. From wide whitewalls to thin whitewalls to raised-white-letter all-terrains, tires have evolved just like vehicles themselves. One type of tire that was popular in the 1960s was the “redline” sidewall, as shown on today’s featured car.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1966 Chevrolet Caprice two-door hardtop listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Clarkston, Michigan. (Click the link to view the listing)
“52,000 original miles, beautiful factory Artesian Turquoise Metallic paint, beautiful original black interior,” the listing states.
This car has been upgraded with a set of period-correct BFGoodrich Silvertown redline tires on 15-inch American Racing Torque Thrust wheels. The redline tire trend began first making its way into automotive style beginning with the 1964 Pontiac GTO and the Corvette, presumably because red conveys sportiness and speed.
The full-sized Caprice model had a life span that lasted between 1965 to 1996. The name was initially applied as an option package for the Impala four-door hardtop in 1965 that included cosmetic updates like black accents for the front grille, bodyside striping, and unique badging. Chassis engineering was changed, too, courtesy of a heavier frame and unique suspension.
The following year, the Caprice became a standalone model as the top-line Chevrolet, and it was offered in various body styles including a two-door hardtop, a four-door hardtop, and a station wagon. This two-door hardtop has a “formal” roofline and receives power comes from a 327cid V8 with a four-barrel carburetor. Performance equipment includes GM double-hump heads and a dual exhaust, while a Powerglide automatic transmission and a 10-bolt rear end put the power to the pavement.
As for the redline tires, they were phased out of popularity by the early 1970s, but thankfully some tire manufacturers like BFGoodrich still make them for vintage muscle car applications, such as this.
“Documented ownership, original build sheet, collector quality,” the listing concludes. The car looks as clean in the underbody photos as it does on the body itself.
The selling dealer is asking $28,900 for this clean Caprice, complete with its fashionable footwear.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
