It is no wonder that when Chevrolet recently unveiled the 2014 Corvette, they chose to bring back the Sting Ray name. The Corvette Sting Ray of the 1960s had something of a dual personality. With its adept handling, it was easy to drive fast and was manageable for everyday use, in keeping with the MG-beater it had once intended to be. Yet, as the available V-8s grew ever larger and the options list grew ever hotter, with more and more go-fast goodies available, the Corvette also began to take on an element of musclecar. By the mid-1960s, there were few American production cars that could take on the Bow Tie’s best on road or track, establishing a proud heritage of streetable high performance that the Corvette carries forward proudly to this day.

This outstanding 1966 Corvette Sting Ray Convertible is finished in Sunfire Yellow over Black leather, and represents the 1966 model which was the first year the Corvette was offered with the legendary 427-cid big-block engine. This Corvette is reported as being built on May 18, 1966. According to the owner, the engine code "IP" indicates it is a 425 horsepower engine backed up by a four-speed manual transmission. This is the same 427 engine that was rated at 450 horsepower when the 1966 model was introduced. This Corvette is also believed to have its correct drivetrain with the factory sidemount exhaust option (code N14), teakwood steering wheel (N32) and Posi-traction rear axle (G81). This Sting Ray sits “just right”, plus it rides and drives great on reproduction knock-off style alloy wheels and whitewall radial tires. The optional matching color auxiliary hardtop is included as well (C07). Disc brakes at all four corners were standard equipment for the second year. In 1966 only 5,258 cars left the factory with this brutish powerplant at an up-charge of $312.85. This Corvette is ready to be shown, driven and enjoyed.