Four Speed Project – 1966 Chevrolet Corvette

Sometimes the gap between owning a Corvette and driving it down the road proves insurmountable. This 1966 Chevrolet Corvette in Mason, Ohio gained fuel and brake system parts that normally indicate an effort to make a long-parked vehicle drive without a complete restoration in mind, but it remains non-operable. The mostly-primer C2 (second generation Corvette) comes to market here on eBay where at least two bidders show an interest in moving this project from paperweight to pavement, pledging over $10,000 so far. Despite a laissez faire description, the seller awaits a larger number to meet the auction Reserve.

A nondescript Chevy smallblock rests in the engine compartment, topped with what looks like an Edelbrock carburetor, the evolution of the Carter lineage. The General Motors HEI distributor found its way to most corporate V8s in 1975, but they can be retrofitted to earlier engines. The listing pays no respect to the V8’s parts, vintage, or whether it rotates, so assume the worst.

The Corvette’s fiberglass body may not rust, but the steel “birdcage” structure beneath and within certainly can. The listing shows a tarpaulin covered in parts, and the seller suggests more may be found and included when it’s sold. A new gas tank checks one item off the punch list.

The dashboard and “new” glove box come with the sale. The removable hard top is a good find on a convertible Sting Ray, though it would be great to know the condition of the soft top mechanism. An “as is” description certainly begs “as is” bidding.

This Sagniaw four-speed manual transmission, casting 6281886, hails from 1969 to ’71 according to Shoppok. Setting aside the boatload of unanswered questions on the ’66, I’d give it a look in the right circumstances. Sometimes we see cars like the re-listed four or more times with no change in condition, description details, or Reserve, then they disappear. eBay reaches a huge audience, broad enough to indicate the market price on a vehicle like this. Your best chance to sell a classic is with a properly-composed first listing. Jilted bidders will mentally check out after a try or two, and then you’re selling to the second tier. Regardless of the auction outcome, we hope this sidelined ‘Vette gets into the wind soon. It would be a shame to see it turn up here in another 2+ years with no changes. What’s your top dollar on this four-speed project ‘Vette?