Vehicle Description
1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
Combining the racing-style chassis of the defunct Corvette SS
concept with a new, highly-styled fiberglass body gave the original
Sting Ray concept model the sleek, muscular style of a classic
muscle car. Built to take on the soon-to-be-banned
manufacturer-sponsored professional racing circuit, and although
certainly capable on the track, (at least enough to take a Sports
Car Club of America National Championship in 1960), the Sting Ray
concept was eventually retired from racing and significantly
modified with the addition of a passenger's seat, among other
things, and displayed as a show car. Also driven by Mitchell as his
personal car on weekends, this model had a lasting and profound
effect on the design and styling of future Corvette models to come
- starting with the C2 model line in 1963 through 1967, which
actually bore the Sting Ray nameplate. This line boasted the
now-classic muscle car look of peaked fenders, a short tail, and a
long nose.
For consignment, a nicely restored C2 Sting Ray drop topwhich still
maintains its luster today. With its sharklike pointed nose, hood
stinger, peaked fenders, and snubbed rear, one can easily see the
similarity to the ocean predator from which it is aptly named. With
its numbers matching 300hp engine, correct manual transmission and
Sunfire Yellow paint, 1966 never looked so good.
Exterior
One look at this roadster's silky Sunfire yellow aesthetics, of
which a mere 2,339 out of a total production of 27,720,
(approximately 11.8 percent), of Sting Rays came with this color
for the 1966 model year, is sure to make even the most jaded blue
oval aficionados stop and take notice. At the front of the car,
bullet-style marker lights, show worthy split bumpers, and a red,
white and black cross-flag emblem cage a stainless egg crate
grille. Behind that grille, a new-for-1966 "Corvette STING RAY"
emblem adorns a sculpted stinger bump up for the hood. At the sides
of that hood, shark gill-esque simple heat extractors ride between
ornate fender emblems, dent-free rocker trim, (rockers are sans
side pipes for this car), and a fixed position antenna on the bump
up rear quarter edge. On the way back to that antenna, a chrome
mirror reflects fresh stainless trim, which traces factory-tinted
glass under the white canvas convertible top with a plastic rear
window. A convertible year round or go with the Sunfire Yellow
hardtop, (in need of new seals), to go out in inclementweather with
this beauty. Me personally, I want to let the sunshine in and go
topless! Moving to the back of the sports car, 2-tone tail lights
illuminate a chrome-trimmed fuel filler and second "Corvette STING
RAY" emblem above a chrome-trimmed tag bracket, two more show
worthy split bumpers, and just below dual rear exit exhaust pipes
which peek through chrome bezels in the rear roll pan. 15-inch
turbine style wheels with knockoff hubs are wrapped in skinny
yellow stripe 205/75R15's on all 4 corners. Overall this car is an
excellent presentation. Paint is the deep end of the pool, and hard
to find any faults on it other than a few touch ups and minor
inclusions.
Interior
With its iconic double brow dash, which presents in very good
condition, nice and clean in the instrument front, and center
console, all is looking good, and has all panels showing straight
as arrows and very clean. It's all correct here even the vertically
mounted AM/FM radio, and chromed shifter and above the radio a
chronograph clock with several chromed pulls surrounding it.
Buckets, like the door panels are black vinyl and are also in good
low back bomber style condition, with inner tuck and roll stitching
and smooth outer bolsters. These seats have simple black lap only
seat belts. Some chrome trimmings are on for the sides and cover
the hinge to access the rear storage and delineate the front from
the backs of the chairs. The carpeting is a beautiful black and
very clean and above floats the double brow dash, black fronted on
the driver's side with several circular gauges and a few chromed
pulls and knobs. This driver's side of the dash is the wood rimmed
steering wheel with 3 pristine shiny spokes and a center horn ring.
On the other side below the second eyebrow, is a black rimmed
glovebox with a silver door panel insert. All this is hooded by a
crack free fade free padded dash top in deep dark black. Speaking
of doors, their panels are pristine and original looking with shiny
knobbed actuator, a turn knob for the lock and chromed window
cranks, along with some thin chromed trimming.
Drivetrain
All numbers matching here for the GM orange/red painted block and
valve coverings for this base 300hp 327ci, (3858174 casting
number), topped by a single 4-barrel carb underneath a shiny
chromed open sided air cleaner covering. A very clean dual
reservoir master cylinder for the brakes and we note powersteering
within these confines. Muncie provides a 4-speed manual
transmission strapped on back, (also codes correctly for this year
but the VIN stamping is very hard to discern so we'll call it
correct). A 3.36 posi rear axle takes this rated at 300hp mill's
power to the road.
Undercarriage
Nearly showroom with just slight patina and solid framing, floor
pans and rockers all unremarkable. This car sports disc brakes on
all 4 corners, and rail like handling is from front independent
coil springs, and rear sports independent suspension with a frame
mounted differential unit, double universal jointed tubular axles,
and a transverse multi leaf spring. Stock style dual exhaust is in
charge of the exhale and exits through round cut outs in the rear
valance.
Drive-Ability
Our consignor states he had had a multitude of enjoyable
experiences with this car, and when you get behind the wood rimmed
wheel, one can definitely see why. It fired right up and those 327
cubes had limitless power to put on the asphalt. Handling is on the
rails, and braking was bias free for the panic stop. No faults or
frowns were noted and the power steering makes those low speed
turns a breeze.
Beautiful design, excellent fiberglass and supple vinyl along with
a powerful 327ci numbers matching mill, and we have a yellow streak
in our midst that can put plenty of trophies on your mantle, as
well as a smile on your face. Plenty of important options on this
car add plenty of value, and it's a way back machine for sure
gracing our Hallowed Halls!
194676S127249
1-Chevrolet
94-Corvette
67-Convertible
6-1966
S-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
127249-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
L13-July 13th
STYLE 66 467-1966 Corvette Convertible
BODY A8560-AO Smith Body #
TRIM STD-Black Vinyl
PAINT 984-Sunfire Yellow
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.