1966 Chevrolet Corvette L72 427/425hp Coupe

1966 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Description

Not everything is, or should be, a trailer queen. Sometimes, a vintage Corvette is meant drive the road. And I don't mean politely. This genuine '66 Chevrolet Corvette 427 L72 Coupe is one such animal. The broad-brush strokes are all present and accounted for. The automobile is finished in the factory Pearl Silver over Silver Interior. The numbers matching 425 horsepower Chevrolet Big block V8 11.0:1 compression engine, 4 speed manual transmission, 4-wheel disc brakes, side exit exhaust, aluminum knock-off wheels, and Coker Classic Redline Wheels round out the package.
The motor has been professionally built and tastefully upgraded with all the right "go fast" parts, factory Winters aluminum intake manifold, Merlin World heads, Stewart Racing high flow water pump, and 6-blade fan. The original heads and 5-blade fan are safely packaged and stored.
The car was born trimmed in "426" Silver vinyl. The seats are now tailored in silver leather. The Teakwood steering wheel, AM/FM radio, power antenna, and Corvette embroidered floor mats complete the cabin experience.

EXTERIOR: Finished in Silver Pearl code "986", the exterior paint appears in very good condition, showing bright and glossy. The paint is smooth but shows several minor imperfections from use upon close inspection. Imperfections present upon close inspection include chips, cracked paint on the hood and rear deck lid, and or minor scratches. The lenses and all the badging appear to be in very good condition. The fiberglass body is in very good condition. I did not see any signs of accident damage anywhere on this exterior. Side exit exhaust pipes are OEM, but not factory original to the car, and are in excellent condition. Overall the entire exterior is in very good condition.

ENGINE BAY: The 427 engine and engine bay appear to be largely factory original and in good condition, showing normal signs of being driven. The wiring and hoses appear to be in very good condition. The intake manifold should be finished bare, but is painted orange. The engine block is believed to be original, is numbers matching VIN stamped, casting code and date code correct for the car. ENGINE PAD: T10081P 6104772 ENGINE CAST: 3869942 The exhaust manifolds are practical fit, but not casting code correct for the 1966 model year. The original heads, water pump and fan blade have been removed from the engine and are included with the car.

INTERIOR: The interior of this L72 Vette is really nice, bearing an even patina of a car that is well cared for and seasonally driven since 2001. The correct 6500 rpm Redline tachometer is in place along with the correct 80 psi oil gauge. These gauges were only used on the 427 big block Corvettes in 1966. The dash bezel and the upholstery show light wear from regular use. Upon close inspection, you will find a hairline crack on the passenger side of the dash pad and as well as a small bubbling cluster in the silver dye on the same. The door panels show chipped paint and minor wear but look nice from a short distance away. The headliner and carpet show signs of regular use such as light soiling. The original OEM glass is clean and free of imperfections. Overall the entire interior is in very good condition requiring only minimal reconditioning to be deemed "show worthy". Then again, this beast doesn't belong on a golf course green, it belongs on the highway.

CHASSIS: The chassis appears original. The frame and floors are painted black to protect the bare fiberglass from driving in the elements. The tires and factory aluminum wheels appear in excellent condition. The spare and jack are not present. The side exhaust system is in fine condition. The chrome bumpers are in fine condition. The sway bar bushings appear new indicating that this chassis has been maintained. The complete chassis shows dust, grease and dirt that is associated with a driven vehicle. Overall the entire chassis is in very good condition.

SUMMARY: If you are looking for a car that is prepared to be NCRS or Bloomington Concours Judged, this one would require some investment to make it award worthy. If you are looking for a solid driver that is largely original, but also enhanced in all the right places, then you are looking at the right car. This car stands tall enough to be an imposing presence on the road or any cruise-in. It also shows enough patina to make putting your foot into it a guilt free experience. This Corvette is meant to be been driven and enjoyed. The Bowtie Boys built 5528 of the L72 code 427 big blocks in 1966. This Corvette is a perfect example of a seasonally driven vehicle. It looks perfect from a short distance away but shows imperfections upon closer inspection. Then again, at 100 miles per hour, who will notice?