This C2 Chevrolet Corvette rocks a black-on-black color scheme, a small-block V8, a manual gearbox, and only 570 miles on the clock. The car was restored back in 2010, but the original engine and transmission have stood their ground. Now, the C2 Corvette is looking for a new home.
Just 570 miles or 917 kilometers in 16 years. This is how far this 1966 Chevrolet Corvette has traveled since it was restored in 2010. That sort of mileage makes it the ultimate garage queen, without a doubt.
Three years after the restoration was completed, the car changed hands, and it is still with that owner. However, it won’t be for long, because the owner listed it for sale. And the C2 Corvette seems to check all the right boxes.
It is powered by a rebuilt 327-cubic-inch V8, which was the highest-output small-block engine available in 1966, but was completely outperformed by the big-block 427-cubic-inch V8, which made its debut with the 1966 model year.
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The 427-cubic-inch V8 engine produced either 390 horsepower or 425 horsepower in its top form. That was, however, the official rating. The engine was known to push out roughly 25 horsepower more. General Motors deliberately downgraded the advertised number on paper just before launch to appease insurance companies.
In the meantime, the 327 had no such issues. Although the 427 big-blocks dominated straight-line acceleration, many enthusiasts preferred the L79 small-block. The lighter 327 engine kept the Corvette’s weight balanced, meaning L79-powered cars handled backroads and sharp corners much better than the nose-heavy 427 variants.
The 327 came in two flavors: as an L75 with 300 horsepower (304 metric horsepower) and as an L79 with 350 horsepower (355 metric horsepower). According to the listing, the L79 with a four-barrel carburetor is the setup that gets this car moving. Before the engine got rebuilt, it came with the aforementioned 350 horsepower and 360 pound-feet (488 Newton meters) of torque.
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The car could rocket from zero to hero (0 to 60 mph or 0 to 97 kph) in 5.4 seconds and max out at 135 mph (217 kph). The four-speed manual transmission puts the power down through the rear wheels in typical Corvette manner. There is no info about how much the small block makes after it was rebuilt, but what we do know is that a dual exhaust system roars out all the drama of the V8.
Finished in black over black and featuring flip-up headlights and a black convertible top, the C2 with its fiberglass body rides on turbine-style aluminum wheels, shod in gold-line BFGoodrich Radial tires. Back in 1966, this car rolled off the production line wearing silver, but that changed in 2010. The ‘Vette comes with chrome bumpers and a driver-side mirror.
The car is equipped with power steering, while power-assisted four-wheel discs provide the stopping power. The C2 Corvette was the first of its kind to feature a fully independent suspension with upper and lower control arms up front and a three-link setup with a transverse leaf spring out back.
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The cabin hosts two bucket seats upholstered in black leather and sporting lap belts, along with color-coordinated door panels and carpets. Air conditioning makes traveling comfortable regardless of the weather, while an AM/FM radio provides the soundtrack on board.
The three-spoke steering wheel frames a speedometer scaled up to 160 mph (258 kph), sitting in the company of the tachometer and auxiliary gauges for fuel level, amperage, oil pressure, and water temperature. The five-digit odometer reads 570 miles. However, the true mileage of the Corvette remains unknown.
The C2 convertible is offered on dealer consignment with a clean Illinois title. The seller highlights that it was not involved in any accidents that he knows of. So, it is now in search of a new home. With five days to go, the highest bid sits at $55,000.
Back in 1966, a C2 Chevrolet Corvette with the high-performance L79 used to start at around $4,400 before options or taxes. The L79 engine cost an extra $105.35 back in the day. To get the L79, buyers also had to opt for the Muncie four-speed manual transmission, adding another $184.35 to the final price.
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Combined with delivery fees and a few common options, most L79 Corvettes walked out the door in 1966 for roughly $4,800. Adjusted for inflation, that equates to roughly $47,000 today, when the most affordable Corvette starts at $71,300.
Nowadays, such cars go for an average of $85,661, as reported by classic.com. However, models that underwent restoration but retain the original driveline, like this car does, often command over $90,000. Convertibles generally command a slight pricing premium over standard coupes.
And that is despite the fact that 1966 was the highest-selling year of the entire C2 generation, with 27,720 units sold, so you can uncheck the exclusivity box.
