Bloomington Gold Corvette Coupe 327/350 HP 4 Speed

Thanks to their short model run and well-engineered design, C2 Corvettes remain blue chip investment cars which always bring big numbers no matter how they're optioned. And, in case you haven't noticed, RK Motors Charlotte is working hard to become your one-stop-shop for every variety of America's favorite sports car. From our killer Ferrari Yellow pro-touring roadster to this rare Sunfire Yellow L79 coupe, we have a mid-year Corvette for everyone's taste and budget. And if you've been watching C2 Corvette prices lately, you know that even the small block cars are becoming hot collectibles. As a five time NCRS Top Flight Award winner, which also happens to be a magazine featured Bloomington Gold car, this awesome 1966 Sting Ray wraps a numbers matching 327 and an original Muncie 4-speed in a correct combination of black vinyl upholstery and authentic lacquer paint. Whether you're in the market for one of the coolest Corvettes ever made or just an outstanding sports car, this fully restored, investment grade centerpiece is the kind of classic that can both anchor a collection and be driven and enjoyed.

Included with the sale of this top notch, investment grade Sting Ray is both the car's original window sticker and Protect-O-Plate.

The Protect-O-Plate decodes as follows:

* STD --- Black vinyl interior
* 984 --- Sunfire Yellow exterior paint
* 194376S113957 --- The car's VIN (1: Chevrolet, 9: Corvette, 4: V8 engine, 37: Coupe, 6: 1966 model year, S: Assembled in St. Louis, Missouri, 113957: Production sequence)
* H --- 4-barrel Holley carburetor
* F0125HTH --- The car's engine stamp (F: Assembled in Flint, Michigan, 125: December 5th of 1965, HTH: 350 horsepower, 327 cubic inch V8 with a high lift cam)
* AO0201W --- The car's rear axle code (AO: 3.70 Posi-traction, 0201: February 1st of 1966, W: Assembled in Warren, Michigan)
* B --- Assembled in February of 1966
* P0208 --- The car's transmission code (P: Muncie, 0208: February 8th)

And the window sticker lists the following options and pricing:

19437 CORVETTE SPORT COUPE: $4,265

* 2M20AA: Muncie M20 4-speed transmission ($182.98)
* 2984AA: Sunfire Yellow exterior paint ($00)
* 2A01AA: Tinted glass ($15.68)
* 2U69AA: Pushbutton AM/FM radio ($197.62)
* 2T01AA: 7.75x15 two-ply gold sidewall tires ($46.41)
* 2G81FA: 3.70 Posi-traction axle ($41.82)
* 2L79AA: 350 horsepower Turbo-Fire V8 ($104.56)

TOTAL OPTIONS: $ 589.07

DESTINATION CHARGE: $26.25

TOTAL VEHICLE PRICE: $4,880.32

Assembled at GM's storied St. Louis, Missouri manufacturing facility in early 1966, this slick Top Flight C2 was delivered to Hanley Dawson Chevrolet on West Seven Mile Road in Detroit, Michigan. After spending its first decade of life tearing up Midwest asphalt, the car was eventually purchased by an avid Corvette fan and mechanical engineer as a nice, factory correct daily driver. The new owner motored around for several years in what had become a super clean survivor; but by the early 80s, time was beginning to take its toll and this proud Sting Ray slowly started falling into disrepair. By now the engineer had become immersed in Corvette culture and knew he had a never-hit classic with a rare numbers matching powertrain, a solid body and a straight frame. So the decision was made to execute a top notch, nut and bolt restoration which would rebuild the car to its showroom fresh appearance. Today, one owner later, this Sunfire Yellow show stopper is a Bloomington Gold certified award winner which is so impressive it's been documented in one of Noland Adams Corvette restoration books.

Thanks to a renewed dedication to motorsports and a heavy influence from the original Mako Shark concept car, the second generation Corvette benefits from a much more sporty and striking appearance. At the front of the car, a body-width 'egg crate' grille sits inside a show-worthy stainless border which is flanked by two chrome-detailed parking lights and topped by a mirror-like 'razor blade' bumper. Above that bumper, a red, white and black Corvette C2 cross-flag emblem is affixed in front of a chrome “Corvette String Ray” emblem which is mounted so that's its visible when the car's hood is tilted forward. Behind that hood, satin finished windshield wipers clear great looking factory tinted glass which is framed by like-new stainless trim and a chrome driver's side bowtie mirror. Below that mirror, familiar vertical heat extractors ride between correct chrome door handles, classy red, white and blue cross-flag emblems and dent-free stainless rocker moldings. And at the back of the car, a highly detailed fuel filler is centered above a second black and chrome “Corvette Sting Ray” emblem, four correct red and white tail lights, two more razor blade style bumpers and two fully integrated, stainless trimmed exhaust tips.

Tip this Corvette's hood forward and you'll find the car's original 327 cubic inch V8 which wears a correct 3858174 casting number and a matching 113957 partial VIN. Introduced as the ultimate option for Sting Ray owners who wanted to be just as quick in the corners as they were on the straightaways, Chevrolet's lightweight L79 utilizes a wide bore block, a forged steel crank, forged aluminum dome pistons and the first high performance hydraulic camshaft ever put into production car to turn a stout 11 to 1 compression ratio into 350 horsepower and 360 lb./ft. of torque. At the top of the engine, a chrome open element air filter funnels wind into a correctly dated, and fully restored, Holley list 3367 4-barrel carburetor that's complete with polished stainless fuel lines. Below that carburetor, a Winter aluminum intake perfectly complements vintage Corvette finned aluminum valve covers. At the back of the engine, a chrome-capped points distributor sends spark through metal sleeved wires which snake around correct cast iron exhaust manifolds. And at the front of the engine the car's original, rebuilt water pump circulates coolant to a correctly shrouded radiator and a stainless steel overflow tank via reproduction GM hoses and date coded tower clamps. Whoever performed the restoration on this Corvette did an excellent job of creating an award winning, reliable engine bay which is every bit as detailed as the rest of the car. Bright Chevy Orange paint covers the block from its oil pan bolt to its chrome oil tube and, as always, looks great against a satin black engine bay. Correct decals and tags are present and accounted for; and niceties such as an NOS Delco Remy voltage regulator, a reproduction Delco yellow cap battery and an authentic GM thermostat housing ensure that this pristine Corvette looks every bit as good as it runs.

Flip this small block Vette upside down and you'll find a fully restored chassis which is in good shape, and today, looks much as it did when it rolled off the showroom floor. At the center of the car a rugged Muncie M20 4-speed transmission, which wears a correct 3885010 casting number, a matching 113957 partial VIN and the P0208 build stamp decoded above, utilizes a new Centerforce II clutch and ARP fasteners to deliver the neck snapping launches and potent acceleration Duntov Corvettes are famous for. At the ends of the car, a fully restored double A-arm front and independent rear sports suspension is completely detailed down to its F41-spec transverse rear spring. And at the corners of the car, standard equipment four wheel disc brakes provide excellent cornering and quick stops. Above that rebuilt suspension original, never-hit fiberglass floor tubs, which look factory fresh in every way, are bolted to a straight and clean satin black frame. Below that suspension, power flows to the ground through standard 15 inch steel wheels which spin a fresh set of 205/75 Coker Classic gold line tires around pristine, stainless wheel covers. And everything from this Corvettes fuel tank and new KYB Gas-A-Just shocks to its Chevrolet Orange oil pan and correct, factory replacement exhaust is fully sorted and ready to hit the show field.

Swing open the curved fiberglass doors and you'll find a standard black vinyl interior which provides an excellent contrast to the car's light yellow exterior panels and looks like it's fresh off the showroom floor. The foam underneath the seat covers has seen just enough show parades to both keep its composure and feel comfortable; and the like-new carpet, which is protected by both carpeted and rubber floor mats, still features its correct jet black shading. At the front of the car, stylish aircraft-inspired gauges, which appear to be rebuilt originals, look fantastic next to the brushed metal panels on the glove box and center console. And at the sides of the car, great looking stainless trimmed door panels hold chrome handles for the cars doors and windows above perfectly placed armrests. Above the seats, a new vinyl headliner is stretched tight between new visors and a fully functioning dome light. And between the seats, the dash flows into what is commonly called a waterfall design which begins at a continuous motion clock and cascades through a correct Delco AM/FM radio to the base of a fully functional chrome shifter. In front of the driver, a nicely restored Corvette Rally wheel props glowing satin finished spokes and a slick wood rim around a pristine C2 Corvette cross flag horn button. And behind the seats, a fully carpeted storage compartment shows no signs of use at all.

Naturally, this Sunfire Yellow show queen's list of features and awards is extremely impressive:

* NCRS Top Flight Award for Excellence in Restoration and Preservation – September 1, 1984 in Kansas City, Missouri
* NCRS Top Flight Award for Excellence in Restoration and Preservation -- April 5, 1986 in Shangri, Louisiana
* NCRS Top Flight Award for Excellence in Restoration and Preservation – August 31, 1986 in Kansas City, Missouri
* NCRS Top Flight Award for Excellence in Restoration and Preservation – July 10, 1987 in Osage Beach, Missouri
* NCRS Top Flight Award for Excellence in Restoration and Preservation – May 30, 1988 in Joplin, Missouri
* NCRS Performance Verification Award for Attainment of Outstanding Mechanical Operation and Performance – August 31, 1986 in Kansas City, Missouri
* Bloomington Gold Certified on June 26, 1988
* Corvette Fever feature car for May of 1989
* Highlighted in one of Noland Adams Corvette restoration books.

Documentation for this awesome Corvette includes: the car's original window sticker, the car's original Protect-O-Plate, the car's original owner's manual, a component manual for the car's correct Delco AM/FM pushbutton radio, all six of the car's NCRS certificates, the car's Bloomington Gold certification and judging sheets, two copies of the car's feature in Corvette Fever, a 1991 trade paper ad showing the car in pristine condition, and receipts for all maintenance performed by the car's most recent owner.

Mid-year Corvettes are about as collectible as 60s muscle can get. They've always been spectacular cars to drive, and despite their relatively plentiful supply and high survival rate, they remain top-notch performers that continue to show yearly market increases. When you show up at the stoplight with a scrappy L79, you are well and truly the man; and when the time comes to make a little profit, there will always be more buyers than sellers. If you've been looking for a solid C2 Corvette that you can show with pride or keep for a while and make a nice return on, your search is over!