1966 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

In today's episode of "cars I'd trade my mother to own" is this 1966 Corvette roadster. With a thundering 427 under the hood, a gorgeous Milano Maroon paint job, and a track record of reliability, this is the Corvette you've always dreamed of owning, and it's surprisingly affordable.

The engine is the real draw here, but let's take a step back and examine that gorgeous roadster body first. The body tag says it was originally Nassau Blue, but when it was restored a few years ago, it received a coat of elegant and supremely shiny Milano Maroon. A lot of Corvette guys look for authentic "defects" in a finish to gauge a car, but let me tell you that "imperfect perfection" is overrated. When you dream of your ideal Corvette, do you dream of visible bonding strips, wavy fiberglass, and cut-out marks that look like they were done with a hatchet? Or do you picture your car looking like this one, with an impossibly glossy finish, arrow-straight bodywork, and two-stage paint that's surely worlds better than the original stuff? There's also a big block hood and side pipes to make a statement, plus beautifully restored brightwork, including bumpers shiny and clear enough to use as mirrors.

This Corvette was built to drive (and has successfully finished two Power Tour cross-country trips), but you wouldn't know it has been driven by looking inside. The black buckets show very minor signs of use, but it's still quite fresh overall. New carpets and door panels add to the factory look and there's a big Hurst cue ball shifter in the middle, connected to a 4-speed gearbox underneath. Factory gauges look great and shockingly, the clock is fully functional, but with that expensive engine up front, the restorer also added a set of Auto Meter gauges in the glove box to keep a much more accurate eye on it. A trick AM/FM stereo radio was installed, but it fits the way the original did using the vertical orientation that makes replacement radios virtually impossible to find. Overhead there's a black convertible top, and an optional hardtop is available at extra cost (please contact us for details).

For horsepower in a Corvette, no other engine matches the 427's combination of brute power and a willingness to rev. The engine is a suffix code correct IP block which decodes to a 1966 Corvette 427 425HP. It was upgraded with a solid lifter roller camshaft, aluminum intake, and an electronic ignition system so it really cackles and barks like you'd hope it would. A few chrome items brighten up the engine bay, and with Chevy Orange paint on the block, it still looks right. Headers feed those brilliant-sounding side pipes and with power disc brakes all around, stopping power is impressive. New urethane bushings in the suspension sharpen up its reflexes a bit and there's a clever removable hitch out back, which was used on Power Tours for a hitch-mounted trunk to improve luggage capacity. Handsome Rally wheels with fat 225/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials complete the look on what is already a great-looking 'Vette.

Reliable and gorgeous, this Corvette is a proven performer without altering the basic goodness of the original recipe. If you've been looking for the ultimate road-going Corvette, few can compare to this. Call today!