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 top which 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 inclement weather 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 power steering 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.