Editor’s Note: We love these C2 Corvettes. In fact, I almost purchased a 1965 Corvette Convertible with the trusty 327ci/300-horse V-8 that this 1966 Corvette Convertible sports. Thanks to RM Auctions for permitting Monterey Car Week to run these photos and the informative article on a car that RM Auctions will be bringing up for bid at the March 14, 2015 RM Auctions event on Amelia Island, Florida. Good luck to all those interested Corvette enthusiasts, who will be bidding!
Photo Credit: Travis Massey ©2015 Courtesy of RM Auctions
300 bhp, 327 cu. in. OHV V-8 engine with a single Holley four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent suspension, and hydraulic front and rear disc brakes. Wheelbase: 98 in.
- Multiple-award winner, including a NCRS Top Flight and a Bloomington Gold Blue Ribbon
- Finished in one-year-only Mosport Green; very well-optioned
- Complete matching-numbers example
Chevrolet’s second-generation Corvette took the world by storm upon its introduction for the 1963 model year. It was dubbed the “Sting Ray,” for its distinctive shark-like styling, apart from its tried-and-true V-8 engine, and it was completely different from the Corvettes that preceded it. It is both shorter and lighter than the car it replaced, as it boasted a new ladder-type chassis frame and was the first American production car ever fitted with an independent rear suspension. Chevrolet also offered both coupe and convertible body styles for the Corvette with this all-new car, giving enthusiasts the choice between the security and comfort of a coupe or the open-air thrill of a convertible.
Like previous years, the 1966 Corvette remained largely unchanged, save for a few interior and exterior details. The seat pattern changed slightly to decrease wear, backup lights were now standard and integrated into the rear bumper, and Holly carburetors were offered as standard on all engine options. This would also be Chevrolet’s most successful year with the second-generation Corvette, as over 27,720 were produced, with 17,762 being convertibles.
The Corvette Convertible offered here was built in April 1966 and fitted with the base 327-cubic inch, 300-brake horsepower V-8 engine, which was mated to a four-speed manual transmission. It was finished in Mosport Green—a color that would only be available for 1966—over a matching Green vinyl interior and tan convertible top, and it was very well optioned from the factory, as it was equipped with a hardtop, aluminum “knock-off” wheels, complete ignition shielding, a teakwood steering wheel, power windows, a power antenna, and a factory-tinted windshield.
Following a full restoration to its original configuration, this Corvette has seen numerous accolades at many Corvette events around the country. It is a beautiful restoration that has earned the prestigious Triple Crown award for achieving a Blue Ribbon at Bloomington Gold, Top Flight certification by the NCRS, and the Gold Spinner Award at Chevy Vettefest. Once such a Corvette has received these highest awards, there is no doubt to its authenticity and the proper numbers in the engine and drivetrain. The car was purchased by its current owner in March 2011, and the restoration has held up very well, with the Corvette remaining in immaculate condition and ready for more shows or the open road.
The Corvette is perhaps the most iconic American car ever built, and it has always been the gold standard of American sports cars. It is ideal for highway cruising, still quick enough to win the occasional stop-light drag race, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest post-war American car designs, and it will never go out of style, especially second-generation ones.
This Corvette is in truly remarkable condition, and it has excelled at the country’s most rigorous and prestigious Corvette concours events. It would definitely please the most discerning of collectors.
