Fair Warning: The listing for this 1966 Chevrolet Corvette L72 (427) here on eBay is written in ALL CAPS. Personally, if this car weren’t so interesting, I would normally skip any listing in ALL CAPS, but thanks to a case conversion tool I was able to quickly convert it to readable “Sentence Case,” i.e. what people with more than two fingers and any compassion for humanity should use. All that aside, the seller has owned this car twice and shares details from its history going back to 1978, and it appears to be a real deal L72 Mark IV big block Corvette with all the goodies you’d want for road-racing.
Originally Nassau Blue with a blue interior, this Corvette currently sports what looks like red Rustoleum, dyed black vinyl, and the same five-slot wheels the seller fitted some decades ago. For an excellent first-person account of Corvette development including the 427 cubic inch L72, take a virtual walk and read Corvette expert Doug Marion’s article on SuperChevy.com including the quote that “…nothing other than a super light 427 Cobra or a well built street rod could challenge an L72 427 Corvette on the top-end.”
Considering this car’s options included the top-dog L72, Muncie M20 four-speed, F41 suspension (obligated by the L72), and the rare J56 Brake Option, it’s highly likely this blue bullet carved up a road course before it clocked 1000 miles. If the seller’s story checks out, this car’s probably one suitcase of cash away from a nut-and-bolt restoration. Still it would be a riot to get it sorted out mechanically and enjoy it as you see it here… flared fenders, ’80s wheels, and all… at least for a while. It will draw a bigger crowd with this period-correct look than it will when “finished.”
Before publicly releasing horsepower figures for the L72, Chevrolet reduced the rating on the L72 (but nothing else) from 450 to 425. Regardless of the numbers, this is one powerful combination. Chevy’s first Corvette hit the streets in ’53. Consider that, thirteen years later Corvettes like this one had become heavy hitters in American and international racing, and you can appreciate the latitude and backing thrown into Corvette engineering in those days. What’s not to like about this potent specimen of “America’s Sports Car?”
That is NOT a big block 427 engine in the picture. Its a small block likely a 327
Your correct. Maybe the seller cant spell 327
you’re not your
The 427 isn’t currently in the car, it’s on a stand next to it. The engine that’s currently in it is a 327, the seller states so in their listing. It’s a real 427 car though and the fully rebuilt 427 that comes with it is a date code correct L72.
That’s my brothers car. He pulled the 427 out of it to put in a 427 roadster he had. The J56 brake option was only available on 427 cars.
Where did they find it.
Definitely a small block
Yep, small block.
If you wade through the all-caps “description,” it seems the owner pulled the original engine and installed it in another ‘Vette, and installed a 327. But he has another big-block motor (shown in photos) if the next owner wants to install it.
He also replaced the original front brake calipers with standard items, I think.
This looks to me like it is possibly another rare and desirable car that has had a significant percentage of its value frittered away. Nice old ‘Vette, but you’d really have to do your research to be sure. Granted, iot’s not the only one that has been treated that way, but that takes away a lot of the interest for me. It will take a hardcore ‘Vette person with lots of money to get it anywhere near “correct.”
I know the all caps text is hard to read, but if you read the seller’s ad they state that the engine that was in it when they got it back and is pictured in the car is a 327. They have a date code correct 427 L72 that they already had machined. I’m assuming it comes with both engines, but the ad isn’t really clear about that.
Agreed – I thought those valve covers were small for a 427 but I got led astray by the run-on CAPS and partial sentences like “THE ENGINE THAT IS PICTURED I BOUGHT FOR THE CAR WAS A VETTE L72… NO EXPENSE SPARED… etc.” then after that it does say “THE ENGINE IN THE CAR WAS A 63 327CI…” Never underestimate the power of a proof-reader… whether selling a car or writing about it. Sorry for the confusion folks!
Yep
Sweet car though, It WOULD be tempting to just do what it needs to run on the street and drive it that way, attend a few cruise ins and car shows and tell people you are going to back half it, install tubs and full tubular suspension, gut the interior and go all sheetmetal, rip out the dash, put in autometers.
lay out some catalogs,,, But man,,, Id let go half my projects for that sweet ride!
I won’t bother reading an all caps ad any more than I will watch a vertical video, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Presentation counts!
Maybe all caps isn’t such a bad idea. Weeds out the tire kickers.
Probably does. Weeds put buyers who would rather not trust a person who can’t put some thought into the presentation of the item they are selling, too. Maybe I’m just picky.
Definitely a digit off on the engine size.
The only reason that I would drive out to see it is to see what kind of person writes in ALL CAPS with no paragraphs.
“Bumped in the front”? That’s a ’67 front end on the car.
Ended: Nov 02, 2017 , 8:36PM
Starting bid:US $10,000.00
[ 0 bids ] This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available.
so cool, I have an over the counter BB 1978 LS6 looking for a home… if this was mine I’d go throught the mechanicals and just drive the snot out of it..super cool
Really, more concerned about grammatical errors in the posting than the posting itself?!? ALL CAPS OR NOT, THIS IS A GREAT CAR! You guys passing on a car because of the posting errors is the reason people like me find such great deals. Intellect abounds.
It has ’67 front fenders.
I’ve never seen so many people so offended by all caps. People these days are waaaaaay too sensitive. Seek help people!
I’d buy it and look to using it in historic races .He says why it has the black interior and red paint with the wrong fenders ,all part of a cars near 40 year history as far as i would be concerned, and i’d just carry it on as GM intended, entering it any sporting events i could afford. https://youtu.be/z59b6tR7a5k
That’s a 327 engine and boy what a mess
I think it’s a 283 it’s no way a rat moter! I would put a crate moter in it paint it green with orange strips like a 60’s custom. Wale tail and tub it. Why spend ten thousand on corvette parts when you can get everything you need from a jegs book? I think then it is a chick magnet ratt rod car.
ThE aLL UpPeR cAsE pRiNt IsN’t ThAt BaD gUyS!