For Sale: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette in Bradenton, Florida

1966 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible �€" 327/350hp, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, Factory A/C, Sunfire Yellow Why This Car Is Special The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray is widely regarded as the high point of the C2 generation, which ran from 1963 through 1967. By 1966, Chevrolet had refined the Sting Ray into a car that balanced performance, comfort, and style better than any previous Corvette. The split rear window of 1963 was gone. The body lines were cleaner and more resolved. And the engine lineup had grown to include some of the most capable small- and big-block V8s Chevrolet ever offered in a production car. Chevrolet built 27,720 Corvettes for the 1966 model year, split between coupe and convertible body styles. Of those, 17,762 were convertibles �€" making the open-top version the more popular choice by a significant margin. The convertible body style also tends to command the most attention among collectors today, because it captures the open-road character that defined the Sting Ray experience. This particular 1966 Corvette Sting Ray carries the 327 cubic inch V8 in its 350 horsepower configuration, which was Chevrolet's RPO L79 engine �€" one of the most respected small-block Corvette engines of the era. The VIN structure on this car confirms it was assembled at the St. Louis plant and is a genuine 1966 model year convertible. It wears Sunfire Yellow paint over a black vinyl interior, a color and trim combination that is visually direct and historically appropriate for the period. The car has been equipped with a meaningful list of factory options including air conditioning, 4-wheel disc brakes, and side exit exhaust �€" features that would have significantly increased the original sticker price and added real-world usability and performance. This is not a trailer queen or an over-restored show car. It presents as a solid, well-optioned 1966 Corvette Sting Ray convertible that is ready to be driven and enjoyed. Features List - 327ci / 350hp V8 (RPO L79 specification) - 2-Speed Powerglide Automatic Transmission - Factory Air Conditioning - 4-Wheel Disc Brakes - Hideaway Headlights - Side Exit Exhaust - Black Convertible Top with Glass Rear Window - Bucket Seats - Center Console - Tachometer - Analog Dash Clock - AM/FM Radio (Delco) - Black Carpet - Seat Belts - Chrome Bumpers - Corvette Steel Wheels - Michelin Tires - Independent Rear Suspension Mechanical The 327 cubic inch small-block V8 in 350 horsepower trim was one of four engine choices available to 1966 Corvette buyers, sitting between the base 300hp 327 and the big-block 427 options. In RPO L79 form, this engine used a higher compression ratio and a more aggressive hydraulic camshaft to produce power that felt stronger than the rated numbers suggested. It was a free-revving, responsive engine that paired well with a wide variety of driving situations �€" comfortable at highway speeds but capable of serious acceleration when called upon. Period road tests placed 0-60 times in the mid-six-second range for L79-equipped Corvettes, which was genuinely fast for a street car in 1966. The transmission is the 2-Speed Powerglide automatic. This is worth a direct comment for buyers who may be accustomed to thinking of automatics as compromises. In the mid-1960s, many drag racers actually preferred the Powerglide for its simplicity, strength, and instant lockup. For a street-driven Corvette, it delivers smooth, effortless power delivery and makes the car accessible to a wider range of drivers without sacrificing the character of the engine. The 4-wheel disc brake system is one of the most important mechanical features on this car. Disc brakes were optional on the 1966 Corvette, and buyers who checked that box paid a substantial premium for it. Compared to the drum brake setup on base Corvettes of the same era, the disc system provides dramatically better stopping power and fade resistance �€" a difference that is immediately noticeable in real driving conditions. Thi