Found On Jack Stands: 1966 Corvette Convertible

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We can only imagine how astonished the seller was to find this ’66 Corvette on jack stands in long term storage. A find like this can unleash a wave of emotions ranging from a racing heart, to sheer thrill of finding such a machine. Currently this Corvette wears a yellow and green paint scheme, but the factory color of this ‘Vette is the 1966 only Mosport green. Only 2,311 Mosport green Corvettes were built. This ‘Vette looks to be in solid shape, and could easily be a restoration project, or enjoyed as it is. This ’66 is offered at $36,000. Find it here on craigslist out of Houston, Texas. Reader Pat L found this great find, so thanks are in order. Thanks Pat L!

Under the hood lies a 327 cubic inch V8 and a 4 speed manual transmission! A great combination for this 66. The engine and bay are clean and orderly, with nothing standing out as damaged or aged. The engine looks particularly clean, and even the exhaust manifolds are lightly covered in surface rust. Obviously living out its days stored in a warm and dry climate has been good for this Corvette. The current 327 apparently is not the original engine, but is described as a “period correct” engine. The rest of the drive train it thought to be original to this Corvette.

Inside is a lovely original dark green interior. The carpet has faded, making for a rather unpleasant color, but the rest of this interior is grand. The coloring of the seats, the door panels, and the dash, are great and match nicely. The driver seat looks to be one of the most comfortable seats in the world, like a nicely broken in leather recliner. Upon sitting in this seat you see a beautiful steering wheel and gauge cluster in front of you with no evidence of damage or age. Despite the faded carpet, this interior looks inviting and comfortable, likely great for a drive in movie.

Covered in a pale yellow, we prefer the lovely and interesting Mosport green. Although we can’t fault this color too much, as the body of this Corvette looks clean and crack free. The paint looks to be in nice shape with a lovely shine breaking through the dust that developed during storage. So with a nice appearance, packing side pipes and knock-offs, we can envision this being enjoyed as is, at least for a little while.  The only real issue we see with this ‘Vette is a split rear window, and that it is not being driven. Otherwise it would appear that this ‘Vette needs fresh fluids, tires, and a good looking over.  What would you do with this 1966 Corvette?

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Comments

  1. RayT

    Isn’t that hood only for big-block ’66 ‘Vettes? I’m no expert, but I’ve only seen the bulged/scooped hoods on 427s and Kustoms.

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    • neweport pagnell

      That’s a ’67 BB hood.

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    • JohnD

      That hood is a 67-only Big Block hood. Seems past the money for a car needing mostly everything . . . Paint, mechanicals, etc., etc.

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    • Rick N in Wis

      Nope, that’s NOT a standard Chev issue hood for a big block (BB) 1966 427 CID-I have a L72-1966 Corvette Coupe with a 427 CID, 450 HP, 4 speed with nitrous oxide injection in to the 2 carbs. So nope, not a standard hood. Also a custom hood like this depreciates the value of an original value 1966. Hope this helps-still like seeing all these barn finds. Also the “asking price” on this yellow ’66 Vette is way high, considering the condition. Rick N in Wisconsin

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  2. Rock OnMember

    I don’t care how many Pintos Pat L. submits, I would still take this find over all of them!!!

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  3. RicK

    The Buyer (not the Seller) was definitely the one that was astonished to see it sitting in storage on jack stands, Pretty sure the Seller had already seen it that way. Unless of course there’s more to the story that we haven’t heard . . .

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    • Steven Visek

      I imagine they were the Buyer and is now the Flipper….I mean Seller.

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  4. Rock OnMember

    Back before television and internet car auctions, Corvettes were just cars and not investments. People would customize them with triple tail lights, side pipes, Hurst shifters and big block hoods. Not a deal breaker.

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    • leiniedude leiniedudeMember

      I agree Rock On. I like the Stinger hood. Probably a boneyard buy back in the day. Who knows, maybe wrecked front end replaced with a big block car front clip. I have owned my base 1972 for 17 years now and have often thought about putting an LT1 hood on her. The money thing has always stopped me.

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  5. redwagon

    should be advertised in green bay, wisconsin. someone there would pick it up in a heartbeat with those colors.

    go! pack! go!

    or so i am told.

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  6. don

    drive it like you stole it, then restore it. but in the mean time what a time

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  7. Joe M

    I don’t think some like this is ever misplaced and forgot about. Cool car though. Green? Maybe change the color.

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  8. Wm Lawrence

    Houston, Texas – Warm dry climate! Bwahahahahahahahaha!

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  9. erikj

    vey nice, even though the color has changed,still a nice example.
    I would simply sort things out,should be not a lot of cash andhave some fun with it. decide later where you want to go with it, Great barn find.

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  10. gbvette62

    I think it looks like a pretty decent 66, but I do think the price is a little strong for a wrong motor and color car. As others have said, the hood is a 67 big block, not a 66, but if it’s a real GM hood it’s worth $1500-$2000. It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but if the knock-offs are real Kelsey-Hayes wheels, and not repros, they’re worth at least $7500. If the hood and wheels are both real GM, it would be a lot easier to justify the asking price.

    From the trim tag, the car has an AO Smith body, so the side pipes can’t be original to it, but they still look good!

    I love the 66 Mosport Green, though personally I prefer the black or saddle interior, to the dark green.

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  11. Alan (Michigan)

    I’m glad that others sorted out stuff like the hood and side pipes before I opened BF to read for today. The first thing I thought was “Wow, a Big Block! What a find!”…. just based on seeing the first photo. Eh, nope. Yes a nice car, even if overpriced by a bit, but somehow I am still feeling that twinge of disappointment over the 100 Cubic Inches of engine that is not there…..

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  12. Darren

    If this was indeed an original BB Vette and the BB went missing that really hurt the value. Still an amazing find!

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  13. Tim W

    Hey gbVette62, Silly question maybe, but what is an AO Smith body?

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    • gbvette62

      From 64-67, Corvette bodies were manufactured in 2 different factories, the Corvette plant in St. Louis and at AO Smith’s factory in Michigan. Bodies assembled at St. Louis can be identified by an “S” proceeding the body number on the trim tag. An “A” proceeds the body number on bodies made by AO Smith, and shipped to St. Louis.

      Side pipes were only installed on cars with St. Louis bodies.

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  14. Tim W

    Thanks GB. Had never heard that. Is it the same A.O. Smith that makes water heaters?

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    • gbvette62

      I don’t really know, but it’s possible? AO Smith was also known as, or was part, of Dow-Smith and later was purchased by Rockwell Industries.

      To clarify, AO Smith molded all of the Corvette fiberglass body panels in Ionia MI. Initially, they shipped the panels to St. Louis where they were assembled into complete bodies. The high demand for 63’s, and the time required to assemble the bodies, was causing delays in production. This caused GM to look for other solutions, the result of which was to contract with AO Smith to assemble bodies, as well as mold the panels. About half of all Corvettes built between mid 64 and the end of production in 67, came with AO Smith bodies. The AO Smith bodies arrived at St Louis painted, and with all glass and exterior moldings installed.

      Side pipes were only installed on cars with St. Louis made bodies, because there were modifications that needed to be made to the body structure (birdcage). I assume it was just easier to do these modifications at St. Louis.

      AO Smith also made all of the Corvette frames for GM.

      If you scroll down this link, you’ll find pictures of AO Smith bodies, loaded on rail cars for shipment to St. Louis.

      http://www.thecoralsnake.com/Corvette.htm

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  15. 427vette

    One other point to add to gb’s post is that in 1967 A.O Smith only made small block bodies, as they could not get the painting of the hood stinger correct for the big block cars. That is one easy way to see if a 67 BB car is real or fake. If it doesn’t have a St Louis body, odds are it’s a fake

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  16. Tim W

    Great link GB. Very interesting history. The wealth of information on Barn Finds never ceases to amaze me. Thanks fellas

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  17. Third gen

    Change the fluids. Tune up. update dist. New tires and wheels some nice cragers. Shine her up and drop the hammer and drive it like u stole it. its ment to be driven

    Like 0

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