Vehicle Description
With all the hype surrounding big block Corvettes and their
skyrocketing values, it's easy to overlook cars like this
matching-numbers L79 1966 roadster, which delivers the same
thrilling driving experience and heart-stopping good looks, but
without the worries of putting a six-figure hole in your bank
account.
Code 988 Milano Maroon was this car's original color, but you can't
fault a guy for wanting a bright red Corvette convertible. Unlike
Milano Maroon, this car kicks in the door when it shows up and on
the Corvette's instantly-recognizable curves, red always looks
awesome. The paint is in excellent condition and really lights up
in the sun, and if you want to take it to a show it'll fit right in
except you don't have to load this one on a trailer to truly enjoy
it. Gaps are even, the fiberglass substrate is solid and devoid of
cracks, and the way the light moves over the car's Coke-bottle
shape reminds us why these are some of the most popular cars ever
built. There are a few touch-ups here and there that suggest it's
been used and loved, and it would be a crime to not put a car like
this on the road, so that's what they did. Add in bright chrome
bumpers, correct badges, and shiny rocker trim, and this Corvette
looks ready to hit the road immediately.
Inside, fresh black seat covers have been fitted, and the color
combination is timeless, elegant, and the archetypal Corvette look.
Perhaps it's a link to our motoring past, but the way the twin
cockpit Corvette interior invites you to drive is as much a part of
the motoring experience as the hum of the engine or rumble of the
exhaust. A woodgrained steering wheel feels great, transmitting the
front tires' activities directly to your fingertips, and all the
gauges show crisp markings that let you keep an eye on the engine's
status. A replacement AM/FM radio lives in the center stack,
showing off its unique vertical orientation, although the chrome
4-speed shifter arguably provides better entertainment. And if the
weather turns, you'll have a black convertible top as well as a
removable hardtop, but like most Corvette convertibles designed to
play in the sun, the hardtop will stay in the garage and the
folding top is only for emergencies.
The engine is the original, numbers-matching L79 327/350, which was
the nastiest small block you could buy in 1966. Lots of guys
learned to fear them in the lightweight Nova, and in the Corvette,
it becomes a scalpel compared to the 396's sledgehammer. Linked to
a 4-speed manual transmission, it's ideal for both laid-back
motoring and quick canyon carving where your right foot does all
the work and you can dance with the clutch and shifter. Rebuilt to
stock specifications, it looks the way you want your Corvette to
look when you tilt the hood forward, complete with finned valve
covers and chrome air cleaner. The alternator is brand new, as is
the radiator, and the little stuff like the blue stripe hoses and
tower clamps are a nice touch. The chassis is quite clean, with a
correct exhaust system, original floors, and 4-wheel disc brakes,
which became standard equipment just a few years earlier. It rolls
on a set of later Torque Thrust wheels and fat 225/70/15 BFG
radials, but the original steel wheels and hubcaps are included
with the car.
A lot big block owners will secretly admit that they'd prefer a
smooth-running L79 if they were going to drive it every day. With a
gorgeous color combination, it's a very attractive 2-seater that's
going to be hard to resist every time the sun is shining. Call
today!