Vehicle 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?