427/4-Speed: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Occasionally, a classic car will appear out of the ether, and it can be hard to determine its strongest attribute. That is the case with this 1966 Corvette Convertible, although many people would argue that its drivetrain combination places it a cut above the rest. It presents superbly and is looking for a new home. Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here at Hemmings. The owner has set the sale price at $120,000, although it appears that the price is negotiable. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Boot for spotting this fantastic classic for us.

The Silver Pearl Corvette has the “wow” factor in abundance, and its overall presentation is superb. The paint holds a beautiful shine, with no significant flaws or problems. It isn’t clear whether this is original or whether someone has treated the Convertible to some cosmetic restoration work at some point. I can’t spot any cracks or issues with the fiberglass, while the underside photos reveal a frame that has the occasional dusting of surface corrosion but appears to be structurally sound. Not only does the Corvette come equipped with a factory hardtop, but its Black soft-top is in excellent order. The trim and chrome sparkle in the sunlight, while the side exhaust and genuine knock-off wheels add the perfect finishing touches to the exterior of this brutal classic.

I’ve been waiting to find something to be critical of with this Corvette, and I’ve finally hit the jackpot. Someone has pulled the original radio and installed a Kenwood radio/cassette player. The quality of the fit is ordinary, at best, and that’s something that I would consider changing pretty quickly if I were to buy this classic. It isn’t a deal-breaker because it is possible to find the correct secondhand units in working order for under $500. Otherwise, the interior presentation is above average for a vehicle of this age. There is no appreciable wear on any of the upholstered surfaces, while the carpet has some light fading. There are some of the small chips and marks which are an unavoidable part of life for any car, but at least these give the impression that this is not some trailer queen but a vehicle that has been driven and enjoyed. The dash is in excellent order, while the Teakwood wheel is an attractive and desirable interior feature.

There was no slouch in the 1966 Corvette range because every engine and transmission combination offered class-leading performance figures. However, suppose you wanted your shiny new car to accelerate at around the same rate as a Saturn V rocket. In that case, you could hand over the additional (but not inconsiderable) $312.85 to have the good people at Chevrolet slot the L72 big-block under the hood. This 427ci monster pumped out an “official” 425hp which found its way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission. Performance figures were all that you might expect from a car packing that much power, with the journey down the ¼ mile taking a mere 13.5 seconds. When we look at this car, the news seems to be nothing but good. This is a numbers-matching classic, and the engine has also recently been treated to a rebuild. The Corvette runs and drives perfectly, and if you check out the video at the bottom of this article, you can see that for yourself. The V8 sounds crisp and strong, there is no evidence of any rattles or squeaks from the car on the move, and that big block accelerates like there’s no tomorrow when the owner buries the right foot.

This 1966 Corvette Convertible has so many positive attributes that it is impossible to know where to start. The knock-off wheels, side exhaust, and the Teakwood wheel are among the most desirable optional extras that you will find fitted to a Corvette of this age. However, the V8 hiding under the hood will trump the lot. It wasn’t a cheap option when the car was new, but as the years passed, it turned out to be a wise investment by those who chose to tick that box. The L72 added around 8% to the sticker price of a ’66 Corvette when it was new but will add about 50% to the value of the same car today compared to one with the standard 327 under the hood. Corvette values have ridden a rollercoaster, as has been the case with many classic cars over the past 18 months. They have been climbing since the start of the new year, and this trend shows no signs of slowing. That means that not only does this classic have the potential to be a better investment than stocks or shares, but it should be more fun to own. That sounds like a winning deal to me.