No Reserve Project: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette was mostly a carryover from the previous model in terms of outward appearance, with the more significant change being under the hood, as big block buyers now got 427 cubic inches instead of the previous year’s 396. Unfortunately, not very many mechanical matters are of much concern here anymore, as this 1966 Corvette is missing its engine, transmission, shifter, and clutch. However, it is a convertible and the frame is said to be solid, so this one may be a decent choice if you’re looking for a roller on which to build the C2 of your dreams.
Kudos to the seller for being aware that his ‘Vette needs a lot of work, and he’s very forthcoming in giving the paint quality a 1 on a 10 scale. The good news here is that the body actually looks pretty good overall, with the panel fit remaining decent for the most part as well. The original color here was Nassau Blue Metallic, so the future owner may want to return the finish to code 976 when it’s time. However, the seller also suggests that this one’s a Restomod candidate, so any color you like is on the table if this route is chosen.
Most of the interior all seems to still be there, with the gauges appearing to remain in satisfactory condition as far as appearance goes, though it’s unknown whether or not they are all functional. The driver’s seat is mentioned as having some surface rust on the frame, with the passenger’s adjusting rails said to be corroded and in need of replacement. No canvas is present, and while some of the convertible top bows are disconnected, the seller says none are deteriorated or bent.
The VIN doesn’t help identify which V8 this ’66 was originally equipped with, but the seller suspects it was a factory 327 car, even though he also states that there now appears to be a big block differential in place. Even though this one needs a thorough restoration, the interest here seems high, as the no-reserve auction began at $14,000 and is already up to $25,500. If you’re ready to get in on the action, this 1966 Chevrolet Corvette convertible is located in Springfield, Nebraska, and can be found here on eBay. What direction would you head in if taking this C2 on as a project?
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Comments
Electro-mod this. Never gonna be a #’s matching C2 anyhow. Just blast ZZ Top / Van Halen / Led Zep / etc. and no one will miss the sound of the ICE.
The seller has a large quantity of Corvette parts listed on eBay. He either came across a large stash of C2 parts or has been selling on another platform.
If this car were mine I’d upgrade the brakes fix the upholstery, install a mid-60’s small block with vintage speed equipment a 4spd and drive it, basically make it what you’d see roaming the streets in the late-60’s to mid-70’s. Too many C2’s are restored to stock or built into high end restomods which are then tucked away into a garage only to come out for the occasional cars and coffee. A driver that’s a bit rough around the edges is the most economical way to get into one of these and is probably the most fun.
Steve R
If the hood is original, it’s a small block car.
Had the opportunity to buy a stolen / stripped / recovered 1965, Chevy dealer had dropped in a 283-2bbl, found a Corvette transmission, no idea what the rear end was other than it was a Posi. No hard top, but new canvas top. $1,500 at the time. $25k in this condition is nuts.
Pretty sure that’s a 300 hp tach.
This is a good project car body looks in good shape if you could get it for around 30k and did most of the work have fun.
Looks like it has the transistor ignition option which means it didn’t have the base 327/300hp engine. Since it has a big block rear end in it might have come with one of the 427 engine options, or the 327/350hp. Someone more knowledgeable than me might be able to look at it and tell which engine it came with. No matter what it was originally it’s going to take a lot of money and work to bring it back to life.
What Steve R said to a T. Restoring this thing to NCRS Top Flight is a total waste of money and time.
In the late 70s a friend of mine had one that looked a lot like this. One of the fastest cars I’ve ever had the privilege to ride in. Probably seemed even faster because the speedometer was broken so you couldn’t really tell how fast you were going.
“What direction would you head in if taking this C2 on as a project?”
As far as possible from the wreckage, as quickly as possible.
I’m a Corvette sort of a fella, and at where the bids are now, someone wants it much more than me. It definitely has some redeeming features such as factory side exhaust and knock offs. (I’m not sure why the seller mentions that they are “obviously not original” unless he has the original build sheet, because they appear to be OEM and were an option on any ’66 Vette.) I agree with John R that the tach is for a 300 horse 327 and not an L-79. I also doubt that this was ever a big block car. One of the biggest red flags for me was the mention of rusty seat rails. That indicates that either water got into the interior, or it was stored somewhere with high humidity. I wouldn’t buy it for anything even approaching the current bid and I definitely would want to take a really close look at the frame a under structure at any price.