NO LONGER AVAILABLE Listing ended Nov 4, 2026
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1966 Chevrolet Corvette

$69,997

1966 Chevrolet Corvette

Vehicle Details

Make

Chevrolet

Model

Corvette

Year

1966

Mileage

49,728 miles

VIN

194676S122310

Body Type

Convertible

Transmission

Automatic

Engine

327ci V8

Description

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

Classic Chevrolet Corvette Buyer's Guide

Full guide
M
Mike Sullivan
Muscle Cars
1953–1982
~6 min read
Updated Apr 2026
Complete buyer's guide for classic Chevrolet Corvette C1, C2 and C3 (1953-1982). Birdcage rust, frame inspection, engine code identification, and current market pricing for split-windows, L88s and LT-1s.
This guide covers
✓ 10-point inspection checklist
✓ Common issues & what to avoid
✓ In-person inspection guide
✓ Market pricing by year & condition
✓ 5 FAQs answered
✓ History & fun facts

Chevrolet Corvette Market Overview

Based on 436 Chevrolet Corvette listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

436
Listed Now
$39,089
Avg. Asking Price
1931–1999
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site - Above Average
This car: $69,997
Low: $4,000 High: $299,995
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 51% ◄
Manual 32%
Condition Distribution
Excellent 16%
Good 16%
Fair 5%
Poor 1%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 436 listings →
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Classic Chevrolet Corvette Buyer's Guide

The Chevrolet Corvette has been America's sports car for over seventy years, but the classic Corvette market splits into three distinct generations, each with its own buyer profile and its own pitfalls. The C1 (1953-1962), C2 mid-year (1963-1967), and C3 shark (1968-1982) cover three decades of evolution from solid-axle straight-six convertibles to small-block legends to LT-1-powered chrome-bumper cars. Knowing which Corvette is yours, and what it actually is versus what the seller claims, is the difference between a sound investment and an expensive lesson.

What to Check Before Buying

✓
Verify dashboard VIN against trim tag and engine partial VIN , All three must agree. Engine partial VIN is on driver-side block deck near cylinder head.
✓
Demand original tank sticker for any car over $60K , Glued inside top of gas tank. Lists all original options. Gold standard for premium Corvette verification.
✓
Order NCRS Shipping Data Report ($50) , Available from National Corvette Restorers Society. Confirms original equipment from GM records.
✓
Inspect birdcage at door frames and cowl , Pull door panels, lift carpet at windshield base. Perforation = $8,000-$25,000 structural repair.
✓
Probe frame at kick-up and rear cross-member , Solid steel resists; rotten metal flakes. Frame replacement is $15,000-$30,000 if needed.
✓
Examine fiberglass under raking light , Stress cracks at body mounts, headlight buckets, rear panel. Deep cracks = impact damage or chassis flex.
✓
Check T-top seals and headliner (C3) , Water staining indicates failed seals. Leaks rot birdcage from inside.
✓
Verify Big Block valvetrain on cold start , Solid-lifter L72/L78/L88/ZL1 should tick and subside with oil pressure. Continuous noise = valve adjustment or worn lifters.
✓
Compression test all eight cylinders , Should read 145-185 PSI uniformly across the bank. Variance >15% = head gasket or ring problem.
✓
Test all electrical and pop-up headlights (C3) , Vacuum-actuated headlights commonly fail. Hidden leaks in vacuum lines drop the lights at speed.

Common Issues

Corvette "birdcage" rust is the structural killer for C2 and C3 cars. The birdcage is the steel inner structure that supports the fiberglass body, windshield frame, A-pillars, doglegs, and roof. When the birdcage rots, the body flexes, glass cracks, and door alignment goes off. Birdcage repair on a C2 or C3 is $8,000-$25,000 depending on extent. Frame rust on C1 (boxed steel) and C3 (X-frame) Corvettes is the second major concern. The kickup behind the front wheels, the rear suspension mounting points, and the rear cross-member all rot in salt-belt cars. Probe the frame with a screwdriver, solid steel resists, rotten metal flakes. Mechanical issues vary by generation. C1s commonly have weak Powerglide automatics and tired solid-lifter 283 fuelies. C2s have strong drivetrains but the leaf-spring rear suspension wears bushings and the differential carriers crack. C3s suffer from sloppy T-tops that leak, failing radiators, and worn front coil springs that sag the front end. The L88 cars (1967-1969) had aluminum heads that crack from heat cycling, a deal-breaker if not previously addressed.

What to Look For

VIN authentication is the first stop. The C1 and C2 cars used the dashboard VIN plate; the C3 added the windshield-pillar VIN starting in 1968. Cross-reference the VIN against the trim tag (riveted to the body brace under the glovebox or on the firewall depending on year) and against the engine block partial VIN. Big Block cars (1965+ 396, 1966+ 427, 1970+ 454) and Z06/L88/ZL1 specials must have all numbers matching to claim premium prices. For C2 and C3 cars, inspect the birdcage. Pull the door panels and look at the inner door structure. Lift the carpet at the windshield base and look at the inner cowl. Pull the headliner if practical and look at the roof structure on coupes. Surface rust is acceptable; perforation is structural and expensive to repair. For any high-dollar Corvette claim (L71 427/435, L88, ZL1, Z06, LT-1) demand the original tank sticker (the build sheet that was glued to the inside top of the gas tank). Tank stickers are the gold standard for verification. Cross-reference the tank sticker codes against the VIN and the engine block partial VIN. Fiberglass condition is uniquely Corvette. Look for stress cracks at the body mount points, around the headlight buckets, and at the rear panel where the bumpers attach. Surface gel-coat cracks are cosmetic; deeper structural cracks indicate impact damage or chassis flex.

Price Guide

C1 (1953-1962) Corvettes range from $45,000 for solid 1958-1962 driver-quality 283 V8 cars up to $300,000+ for documented 1957-1962 fuelie cars in concours condition. The 1953 launch year (only 300 built) is a special case, documented original 1953s sell for $200,000-$400,000. C2 (1963-1967) is the most coveted Corvette generation. The 1963 split-window coupe is the icon, $95,000-$200,000 for drivers and survivors, $300,000+ for documented L84 fuelie cars. 1965-1967 396/427 Big Blocks are $85,000-$180,000 for drivers, with documented L71 Tri-Power cars at $140,000-$280,000. The 1967 L88 is the holy grail, only 20 were built, and documented examples bring $2.5M-$5M at auction. C3 (1968-1982) is the bargain entry to Corvette ownership. Driver-quality 1968-1972 small-blocks run $22,000-$42,000. The 1970-1972 LT-1 (small-block, solid-lifter, 350-360 hp) is the underrated gem at $45,000-$85,000 for documented numbers-matching cars. 1973-1977 cars are the bargain era at $15,000-$28,000. 1978 silver anniversary and 1982 Collector Edition cars trade for $22,000-$35,000.

Did You Know?

The Corvette name was suggested by GM PR director Myron Scott, named after the small, fast warship class. GM trademarked "Corvette" in May 1953, just one month before the car's June launch. The 1963 split-window coupe was a Bill Mitchell design that survived for only one model year. Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette's chief engineer, hated the split window because it killed rearward visibility, and he successfully lobbied to remove it for the 1964 model year. The one-year-only design is now the most iconic Corvette body style ever produced. Only 20 L88 Corvettes were built for 1967, and Chevrolet deliberately under-rated the engine at 430 horsepower to keep insurance companies off the buyer's back. The L88 actually produced approximately 540 horsepower in road-going trim and was conceived purely as a homologation special for road racing: Chevrolet refused to install a heater, radio, or AM/FM in any L88, telling buyers to special-order them at the dealer if they actually wanted comfort features.

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