It is the stuff of dreams for classic car enthusiasts. Finding a beautifully restored vehicle is one thing, but finding an original one-owner survivor that is completely unmolested and in immaculate condition is a whole different matter. That is what is on offer with this 1966 Corvette, and a massive thank you has to go out to Barn Finder Pat L for referring it to us. The Corvette’s original owner has recently passed away, and the car is now being offered for sale to settle her estate. Located in Riverside, California, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here on craigslist. The seller has set the price for this beauty at $59,000.
The 1966 Corvette was already a stunning car, but it was enough to set your pulse racing when it was finished in a shade like Rally Red. That is what graces the flawless fiberglass flanks of this car, and the impact is something special. The original owner was a lady of good taste, and the fact that she retained from new until she recently passed away at the age of 81 suggests that she adored this classic. The vehicle has been garage kept under a cover for the past few years, and with the cover removed, what we find is a car that would turn heads wherever it goes. It has never undergone any form of restoration work, and that makes the shine on the original paint all the more impressive. The seller doesn’t mention any rust issues, and if the Corvette has spent its life in California, there’s a good chance that the frame and birdcage have remained structurally sound. The chrome and the original hardtop look factory fresh, while there are no issues with the glass. Interestingly, the ‘Vette does feature its original soft-top. This has never been raised, as the deceased owner only ever drove this classic with the hardtop attached. That makes the choice of a Convertible seem like a strange one to make, but if she paid her money and retained the car in this state for more than five decades, who are we to argue?
As is the case with most classic cars, neglect or abuse will usually become evident when you start to examine the interior. For this Corvette, the news is generally pretty good. The carpet might have some slight fading, but it has little in the way of wear. There is some wear on the trim just behind the shifter and some on the Teakwood wheel, but the rest of the trim and upholstery is close to factory-fresh. The listing indicates an odometer reading of 68,000 miles, and if this is accurate, it would seem to be supported by the interior’s condition. The seller holds a good collection of documentation for this classic, including the original title.
It appears that the original owner was seeking a compromise between performance and an effortless driving experience when she ordered this Corvette. She chose to equip it with the L79 version of the venerable 327ci V8 that pumped out 350hp. This motor was a popular choice among buyers, with 27% ticking that box on the Order Sheet. However, this car is also equipped with the 2-speed Powerglide transmission, which wasn’t nearly as popular. A mere 2,401 buyers selected this option, which equated to around 8½% of all Corvette sales for that model year. This combination didn’t make this the fastest version offered by Chevrolet in 1966, but a ¼-mile ET of a neat 15 seconds was not what you would class as slow. It is no surprise to learn that it is claimed to be fully numbers-matching. The seller doesn’t indicate how well the ‘Vette runs or drives, but if the overall presentation is any guide, the news should be pretty positive.
Survivor-grade cars like this 1966 Corvette don’t come along every day, especially ones this well preserved. It ticks so many of the right boxes for enthusiasts, but some will lament the original owner’s choice of the Powerglide transmission. Yes, it will blunt the car’s performance, but it is an integral part of this classic’s ownership history, and I believe that it should never be changed. The person who buys this car will have quite a story to tell, and it makes me wonder whether its buyer will retain the ‘Vette for a further 55-years. That would make it a genuine two-owner vehicle by the time it clocks up a century, which would be quite an achievement. The chances of this happening are pretty slim, but stranger things have happened. Would you like to be the one to achieve that feat?
Unreal! If this is true I am surprised it is not being sold at a large auction.
Not every family has a resident gear head among them to know about auctions. I’m just glad that they didn’t go down to their local Chevrolet dealer and give the car away for $20,000 – $25,000.
Anyone getting ready to complain about the Powerglide? Save your breath.
exactly and everything I’d have ever wanted in a stingray that I’d enjoy driving until the day I day
I am not a Corvette expert. Could you get a powerglide with an L-79 in 1996?
Shouldn’t there be a “Corvette” logo on the front driver’s side of the car?
You may not be a Corvette expert, but you are 100% correct. You could not get the Powerglide with the 350 horse L-79, but then that’s not an L-79, at least not with a cast iron intake and the low redline tach. Looks like a 327/300, which was available with the Powerglide, that someone’s added the high horse, finned aluminum valve covers too (a pretty common mod).
And yes, the left front corner of the hood should have a “Corvette Stingray” emblem on it. So obviously some of the car has been repainted, if not all of it.
I’m no expert either but that sure doesn’t look like an L-79 to me, and I don’t think it was available with the Powerglide. Should have an aluminum intake and Holley carb. Looks like the 300hp version to me…
Literally a LOL find (Little Old Lady).
Yep, and I’m SIDMH (Sad I Didn’t Marry Her)
What’s not to like, other than maybe the price? Gorgeous car, I can even live with a Power Glide.
The good thing about this beauty having a Powerglide is that if it had a stick, it would go for 20K more…I have always loved 60’s Chevys with red/red….
very, very nice but a auto vette is not in my wheelhouse for fun cars.
This is not the original paint that’s for sure, perhaps the little old lady from Pasadena had it painted before she past hence the stingray logo missing from the hood.
Most Definately… you could NOT get an Automatic with the L79… looks to me
like this is the basic 300 Hp engine… and Yep.. its been painted… Barn Finds
kind of missed some on this car.. oh well
BF can’t know everything! Thats where you guys come in. Not surprising that the car might have bumped a few things in fifty five years and been repainted in parts.
Still if its a one owner little old lady car, that makes up a lot for the slushbox imho. And of course its RESALE RED!
The Craigslist add has been removed from what I can tell. If it is 100% original and a survivor it is worth much more than that.
Let’s see- this for $59,000 or yesterday’s Frankenvette for $10K less.
I know which I’d want.
It needs redlines. They would be an improvement over the whitewalls.
Love it just as it is!
What a find, even 30 years ago. Red on red C2s are not that plentiful. Yeah, it’s a Powerglide, but I have owned three 60s Chevys with a Powerglide. Probably about the best automatic ever built. I changed the fluid and filter in about 10 minutes, because then GM actually made cars easy to work on with a drain plug. You can’t even check the automatic trans fluid in most new cars. Anyway, I never had an issue with more than 250,000 miles on one of them. As mentioned CORRECTLY, GM did not offer the L79 with Powerglide. The engine photo shows a cast iron intake. L79 had unpainted aluminum intake. Powerglide also did not require K19, A.I.R., as California Corvettes got K19 in 1966, the start of pollution control. This car is worth far more to me than any over restored one full of Chinese junk repo parts that do not fit and are made like trash. I am jealous of the new owner.
This at near 60K USD, the Hemi at 75K USD, and throw in a Mustang, and you still ain’t near the two mill Aussie for the GTHO.
I know which way I’d go!
I can’t imagine the difference in performance between 300 hp and 350 hp on this beautiful car.