Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Original 427: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Don’t be fooled because a lot has changed since the owner snapped this shot of this 1966 Corvette Convertible. It has been treated to a full-blown restoration, and the result of this hard work is a classic car that has been returned to its stunning best. However, the owner has decided that the Corvette must go to a new home, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Springfield, New Hampshire, and while the bidding has reached $55,055, the reserve hasn’t been met.

When the owner purchased the Corvette, it had been sitting for many years. He felt that it deserved to be restored properly, so he undertook a frame-off process. The frame was media-blasted, and a coat of POR-15 was applied. The owner then fitted with all new fuel and brake lines. He gel-coated the fiberglass panels, applied epoxy primer, and then laid on the car’s original Rally Red paint. He chose to use acrylic lacquer and applied a clear-coat over this. The result is nothing short of stunning.

There it is in all its glory. The panels look perfect, while the paint offers a pleasing shine. The chrome and trim sparkle beautifully, and as you’ve seen from the previous photo, there are no rust issues. The owner has fitted the Corvette with a new black soft-top, along with a set of reproduction knock-off wheels with gold-line tires. He topped it off by fitting a new windshield which has been etch-logoed and dated. He says that he was trying to return the car to as close to factory original as possible, but he has compromised in a few areas.

One area where the owner hasn’t compromised is this Corvette’s drivetrain. It remains numbers-matching and includes a 427ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, and power steering. With 390hp on tap, the Corvette was a fast car when it was new. This beauty would have stormed the ¼ mile in 13.7 seconds back in 1966, and it seems that it could probably repeat the same sorts of numbers today. The owner had the 427 professionally rebuilt, but he didn’t stop there. The transmission was sent to a specialist shop for similar treatment, while a third company rebuilt the original rear end and trailing ams. The owner had to reach a few compromises, but this was for the sake of reliability. He chose to fit a more modern power steering pump after having multiple issues with the original, and he also treated the Corvette to a new wiring harness. Otherwise, all of the ancillaries and the radiator are original, and he has had them all restored. He says that the car runs and drives perfectly, and he believes that it is capable of lighting the tires in the first three gears. He quickly adds that he has never tried this as the gold-line tires are too expensive to treat in that way!

The interior is as spotless as you might expect in a recently restored classic, and the buyer won’t need to spend a dime in there. Once again, the owner has compromised in a couple of spots, but this was for reliability. He replaced the original clock with a reproduction quartz unit, which isn’t a bad move when you consider how many of those factory ones fail. He also slotted a more modern radio into the dash with an iPod jack. He has complemented this with a set of the best speakers that he could conceal in the kick panels, so the new owner can have tunes on the move if they don’t like the song being played by the big-block. Otherwise, the upholstery, carpet, and dash all look spotlessly clean.

It seems that this 1966 Corvette Convertible needs little more than a new owner who will appreciate the work that the current owner has performed. It isn’t 100% original, but any changes have been subtle and have been made to offer a reliable and enjoyable classic motoring experience. It remains a numbers-matching vehicle, which is the most vital attribute to consider with any classic of this type. There have already been 38 bids submitted at the time of writing, and I suspect that there will be more to come. When you look at the transformation that the owner has made, would you consider joining the bidding party?

Comments

  1. Avatar jwzg

    Oh my…just in time for an early-summer, cross-country run.

    GLWTA

    Like 7
  2. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Are those original style knock-off wheels? Nice! Smart compromises, good job restoring this classic.

    GLWTA

    Like 10
  3. Avatar Mikefromthehammer

    You know what, Route 66 would be pretty groovy this time of year.

    Like 9
  4. Avatar its1969ok

    All that work yet the hood and headlight housings are askew.

    Like 7
    • Avatar Bc

      You right . I worked on corvettes 30 years and l would have never let one leave looking like that . I had a 1966 427 matching number car but had to sell it when my wife got pregnant back in 1976 .

      Like 1
    • Avatar John Ballard

      Probably a home garage restoration given the fit issues and use of lacquer without a booth.But why clear coat solid lacquer?

      Like 3
      • Avatar Lowell Peterson

        Proper clear with a sun screen will preserve the crappy lacquer.

        Like 0
  5. Avatar Frank Sumatra

    Great looking car and nice restoration. I think this might go for $70,000. I would look for a 2010 ZR1 if I had $70K to spend.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Peter M Hollosi

    To the owner: Thank goodness for you, Citizen! Beautiful!

    Like 5
  7. Avatar stillrunners

    Like….

    Like 1
  8. Avatar Scott

    Nice car, unfortunately Chevrolet didn’t keep records of big block cars until 1967. Unless of course this car is NCRS or Bloomington gold certified, then it should be easily worth in the six-figure category.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Daniel Kane

    I know where there is a 1967 427Corvette Convert. sitting out in the open rotting away. There is also, I believe, a 1967 Corvette 427 burned out, and a 1955 steel bodied Chevy gasser with a 427. All are located on the same property in Northern California.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Glenn C. Schwass Member

    That should go north of 100k? It doesn’t get done better than that. I wonder what he had to put into it…

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to Nevadahalfrack Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.