Frame Off Restored Corvette Sting Ray 427/425 4 Speed

No matter what you collect or why, there's no denying that the mid-year Corvettes (1963-67) remain blue chip investments. When your stock portfolio is riding a roller coaster, you can pretty much count on these cars to retain their value year after year, and big block cars like this luscious Rally Red 1966 coupe with its numbers-matching 427/425, are probably safer than T-bills at this point. Fully restored and loaded with options, this is the kind of car that anchors a collection or fulfills lifelong dreams. If you've been longing for a mid-year 'Vette, this one deserves your careful consideration.

As the restoration photos clearly show, this car was subject to a comprehensive frame-off restoration that addressed every single aspect of its cosmetic and mechanical well-being. The fiberglass substrate was stripped bare and rebuilt, and as anyone who has seen one of these cars after 50 years can attest, there's a lot more to it than just primer and paint. To achieve the quality of this car requires hours and hours of laborious hand sanding to get everything straight, and a careful touch to avoid removing detail, simply because the fiberglass is so easy to sand. That crisp line that encircles the entire car is tough to get right, but on this one it's laser-straight and sharp. Gaps are excellent and the fit of the doors and hood are exemplary. The two-stage urethane replicates the original Rally Red, but delivers a deep shine that is immune to fading, something Corvette engineers probably wished for in 1966. If anything, this Corvette may be too nice, but you won't care after you see it in person.

Detailing is what makes any car stand apart from its peers, and this one has gorgeous chrome, especially the slender bumpers that are almost completely wave-free. The stainless around the windows has been professionally buffed, and all the emblems are so crisp that they look like they just popped out of the molds. The tinted glass, including the impossible to replace rear window, is crystal clear with no signs of age or delamination, and all the lenses are new.

Tilt the hood forward and you'll find the original, numbers-matching L72 427 cubic inch V8, which was the top motor in 1966. The engine bay is brilliantly detailed, from the Chevy Orange on the block, heads, and valve covers (chrome valve covers on big blocks wouldn't arrive until the following year), to the wonderfully restored exhaust manifolds. Little things like the hold-downs for the valve covers, the spark plug wires, and even the hoses and clamps, are exact reproduction items. And it's all carefully assembled to show-winning standards. On the road, there's simply nothing like a big block Corvette with side pipes, and the sound this one makes is enough to make grown men go weak in the knees. Whatever you want to do with it—show or drive—you'll be impressed with the quality of the workmanship in this one. Someone definitely invested a ton of time to get it right.

The M21 close-ratio 4-speed Muncie behind the engine is also the one installed at the factory driving a Positraction rear end. As a frame-off restoration, the chassis is completely detailed to show standards, beginning with the satin black finish on the frame itself, and extending to the beautifully finished fiberglass floors. Note how much extra room there is under there on a car with side pipes like this one, and how neatly everything fits together. The front and rear suspensions have been fully rebuilt with correct hardware and shocks, while the 4-wheel disc brakes were a big step forward in the mid'60s. Today it shows some signs of road use, but a weekend of detailing would get it ready for show again. Gorgeous knock-off alloys wear reproduction redline radials, which transform the car's handling.

Black vinyl was the standard interior in 1966, but the results are anything but ordinary. Showing just slight signs of road use since the restoration was complete, the seats remain in excellent condition with no splits or tears, and the door panels are like new. Fresh black carpets were installed during the restoration, as well as a new headliner, and both are excellent. Most notably, this car carries an incredibly rare teakwood steering wheel on a telescoping steering column, as well as optional power windows, making the interior a wonderful place to do business. Everything works, from the clock to the original AM radio, leaving you with nothing to do except enjoy.

In case you're having any doubts about the quality of this car, you'll be happy to see that it also comes with a large album of restoration photos.

Why not take a break from the stock market and invest in something that does more than just sit there? Slide behind the wheel of this Corvette, hammer some gears, and listen to the sweet music of those side pipes, all while your investment appreciates. Fully documented and beautifully restored, this '65 L72 is a safe place to park some cash, and there aren't many cars that look better in red than this one. Give us a call today!