1966 marked the first year that the 427 cubic-inch V8 was available in the Chevrolet Corvette, which could be had as an L30 version rated at 390 horsepower, or a buyer could opt for the L72 which offered 425 horses. While the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette offered for sale here on eBay is a factory 427 example, the original motor is long gone, and if you base your first impression of the car solely on body patina it would be easy to form a quick love/hate relationship with the vehicle. There are a lot of good things going for this ‘Vette though, and if you’ve been in the market for a C2 project this one may be worth a look. It’s located in Robins, Iowa, with the present bid sitting at $57,100.
The story goes that this 1966 Corvette is a California black plate car, and until recently had been inside a hangar since 1977. It’s said to be very dry and rust-free, and it originally left the factory as a Rally Red vehicle, one of 3,366 produced in that color for ’66. While it’s still wearing some red, it’s kind of hard to describe the impression the body makes now, although the seller thinks it has a great look as-is but I guess that depends on what kind of visual the driver is going for. The car does have period-correct knockoff wheels plus a new set of redline tires.
In place of the original 427, the car now has a 6.2 LS3 out of an SS Camaro, which has a claimed 20,000 miles on it, and there were no frame or body modifications made to accommodate the motor. The car runs and drives and the seller says it’s extremely powerful, and he posted a short video of the engine sound coming out of the tailpipes. The car is also equipped with a Muncie 4-Speed, and even though the rear-end is stamped AZ which is 66 427 4-Speed with 3.53 gears, the seller believes it actually has 4.54 gears in place because he says the car is such a beast! There’s also a set of ceramic long tube headers plus a new dual exhaust system.
The Corvette presents a lot differently from the inside, with a really nice-looking interior that features new Al Knoch leather seats, new armrests, door panels, headliner, and carpet. The dashboard certainly looks decent for a driver-quality car, and though the gauges outwardly appear to be in good shape there’s no word on whether they are all functioning or not. If you’re loving everything you see here and want the car today, there’s also a buy-it-now option, and just since I began writing this posting that price has been lowered from $74,995 to $69,995 as of now. What are your thoughts on this 1966 Chevrolet Corvette? Are you digging the patina like it is, or thinking it’s screaming for a new paint job?
I love imagining the Corvette purists clutching their pearls and dropping their monocles when they see cars like this. :). I gotta say I’m totally torn on the question of paint or not. Either way, it’s closer to “affordable” than just about any other running driving C2 that I’ve seen in a while.
Just finish primering it and make it Dennis Hopper / King Of The Mountain tribute car out of it .
That’s the movie that made the mid-year Corvette coupe my dream car and I’ve never wanted a shiny once since.
That’s a cool looking Vette. I would clean the body .. then shot it with clear paint. And enjoy it. When was the last time you see a very fast Corvette that was multicolored? 🐻🇺🇸
Drive it! Park it at the gathering, open the hood and watch the purist types cringe. Would put the interior together get a six speed in it and enjoy route 66 or similar roads. Just put some anti- theft items on board.
Nice camo job.
Seems to be an awful lot of blue for as car that was originally red. I guess someone could have painted it the blue at some point in its past…
I bet the blue paint came when they did the 6 taillight mod.
Somehow patina on a fiberglass car just doesn’t do it for me the way it does on steel bodies. I’d def paint, or at least primer it, then drive the hell out of it.
You beat me to it Bud Lee,King of Mt.
No mention of the frame and birdcage, but since its supposedly been inside since 77, might be ok. And I’m with you, Ken, this one would drive the snooty purists nuts!!! Red Primer would be the bomb, or tint the primer to your liking and finish off the Corvette people! Good luck I guess its what these are bringing, but 57 large and hasnt hit reserve is a lot of coin.
Cheers
GPC
All kinds of potential here.
Me? Love to see this one Burnt Orange, something like this.
Sweet
that’s a great color !!!
If I was in the market for a C2, I’d look at the blue convertible before this one.
starting with a proper paint job, it will take some time and money to make this one right.
Big thing for me though is I hate the 6 taillight treatment. To me they always look like they were cobbled together and that’s not what this car needed.
not my corvette but if i had a c2 it would have 6 taillights, & flared fenders & painted black , but to each his own tastes i suppose.
I’m curious about the disdain for “Purists”. What is that all about?
I agree if a car, any car is near perfect then leave it alone. If the car was a jack up the radiator cap type vehicle. Then go for it! The owner did install a GM motor and not Coyote or Hemi motor.
When I had my Pantera and would attend club functions. A few members would be upset that owners would not leave them stock. Pantera was a different car most upgraded them.
Frank, I’ve been an NCRS member this time since 2000, previously from around 1980 to 1990. I’ve learned a lot over the years from many fine NCRS members, but I’ve also been chastised for changing interior colors in my driver. Being a purist is fine as long as the purist respects someone’s right to do whatever they want with their car. Happy motoring my friend.
Frank, I’ve been a Corvette guy since 1970. Spend a little time at an NCRS event and you’ll know what people are talking about.
@Old Beach- The point of NCRS is to present the car for judging as close to factory/dealer prep standards at the time it was built. I don’t understand what your point is.
Any other car this botched up would max out at five grand
Why in the world would someone want to leave this car looking like a junkyard refugee? It could be beautiful again with the proper investment of time. Money? Do all the body prep yourself. That’s where a lot of the time, and therefore money, of a paint job goes. After it’s painted, color sand and polish it yourself. Time consuming, sure, but imagine how satisfying it would be to be able to look at the finished car and think to yourself, “I did that”.
Or you could be lazy and leave it as-is or blow a couple of coats of semigloss clear or primer on it and call it done. Frankly, I would be embarrassed to call that completed. Keep your “patina ” for ordinary cars like Mustangs and Chargers, but show Corvettes the respect a real sports car, a real CLASSIC, deserves.
If it is doing 3000 rpm at 60 mph or got 4.11gears ,
The addition of the third tail light, and the rear wheel well treatment is gauche. Those need to be returned to stock, and or at least do a better treatment on the rear fenders. A nice shiny paint job would be a must. I’m probably going to piss some folks off but, those rusty patinas on otherwise nice car bodies to me only scream “I’m too lazy to put a decent paint job on my car”.
Amen and Hallelujah, my brother! Finally, someone who gets it about “patina “! A rusty looking body on a fiberglass-bodied Corvette? Absolutely ridiculous! I once saw a 1955 Chevy Cameo Carrier pickup painted in a fake patina effect, and that truck had fiberglass bed sides. All what they call “patina” is, is a laziness to do the job right. Go back to the 1940’s through the 1970’s. No self-respecting hot rodder would drive his car any longer than he absolutely had to in primer. Showing rust? That hooptie never even left the garage. Why people are so enamored with that look nowadays is completely beyond me! (And don’t even get me started on those abominations called “rat rods”!)
In reality, really here, how does a fiberglass body have a real ” patina”?
Seems someone had an idea, or vision if you will, started towards that vision, realize there’s more effort involved then though, and decided to get lazy. Or lost interest. Leave the so.called real patina to old beater/sleeper trucks where it belongs. My 2 cents
I would leave it just as it is and drive it. Wouldn’t have to worry about scratching the paint.
If you parked a C2 anywhere that someone had the opportunity to scratch the paint and go unnoticed, your biggest worry will be recovering it after its been stolen.
My 66 coupe has plenty of patina, has the hood stinger painted (not “correct” for a 66), but interior and under hood 95% original and decent appearing. At car shows, people pass over the beautifully restored Corvettes and flock around this “ratty” car. The next caretaker can spend the $$$ to repaint it. Meanwhile I’ll drive the wheels off it and not worry about rock chips or door dings. I’ve owned it since 1978, most of the patina was on it then. When I bought it, it was my intention to restore the paint but I’ve grown to love it as is. I do have shiny collector cars but this one is probably the most fun to use and enjoy.
Amen!
That thing cool, battle scarred look to it. I wouldn’t change a thing!
“That thing has”