1966 Chevrolet Corvette

Chevrolet engineers developed the 427 cubic inch big block as a direct response to the Shelby Cobras dominance on the racetrack. The result was an engine capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 152 miles per hour, numbers that finally gave Corvette the firepower to answer the Cobra on equal terms. 1966 was the first year the 427 appeared in the Corvette, and total production reached 27,720 units, a new record for the nameplate, with only 5,258 of those carrying the 427 badge. This one is finished in black over black leather with a four speed manual transmission, and it carries the 427 badging on the fenders the way a car like this was born to wear it.

Under the hood is the 427 cubic inch V8 backed by a four speed manual. The engine was replaced in 2003 and fitted with an electronic ignition upgrade that improves reliability and cold-start performance without altering the character of the car. An auxiliary radiator fan with both a manual switch and a thermostat control has been added, giving the owner direct management of engine temperature in any condition. The four speed puts every bit of what the big block produces directly in your hands, which is exactly the way a 1966 Corvette was meant to be experienced.

Inside, the black leather interior is clean and well kept with power windows, which were a notable factory option on the C2 and add a level of convenience most buyers specified when given the choice. The teak steering wheel is a period-correct detail that gives the cockpit a handmade, personal feel that suits the car perfectly. The seats were recovered in 2009 and remain in good shape.

The C2 Corvette generation, built from 1963 through 1967, is widely regarded by historians and collectors as the most beautiful Corvette ever produced. The body was styled by Larry Shinoda under the direction of Bill Mitchell, designed around wind tunnel testing at a time when that approach was still unusual for an American production car. A black 427 coupe with a four speed manual is the specification that defines what the C2 was built to be, and examples in this configuration are among the most sought-after of the entire generation.

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