NCRS Top Flight Corvette Sting Ray Roadster 427 4 Speed

If you're into cars you know that every automotive manufacturer has its holy grail. These are the no-miss models that showcase the talent, technical prowess and intestinal fortitude of their parent corporations; and because of that uncompromised vision and brash purity of form, they're also the kind of cars that will ALWAYS be in demand. The Mopar guys have spent years elevating their Viper and Hemicuda into the stratospheres of both price and performance. Over at Ford, the highly versatile Mustang has always kept the flame of domestic performance lit, even in the darkest of times. And at GM, it's all about America's first, oldest and best sport car: the Corvette. When it comes to Corvettes, big block C2s remain premier blue chip investment cars that bring big numbers and stir big interest. And whether you're in the market for one of the coolest Corvettes ever made or just an outstanding sports car, this highly original NCRS Top Flight Sting Ray is the kind of classic that can anchor a collection and win major awards!

Included with the sale of this top notch Sting Ray is both the car's tank sticker and Protect-O-Plate.

The Protect-O-Plate decodes as follows:

* STD --- Black vinyl interior
* 988 --- Marlboro Maroon Metallic exterior paint
* 194677S121877 --- The car's VIN (1: Chevrolet, 9: Corvette, 4: V8 engine, 67: Convertible, 7: 1967 model year, S: Assembled in St. Louis, Missouri, 121877: Production sequence)
* H --- Holley carburetors
* T0608JCH --- The car's engine stamp (T: Assembled in Tonawanda, New York, 0608: June 8th of 1967, JCH: 400 horsepower, 427 cubic inch V8 that's mated to a 4-speed manual transmission)
* FA0614W --- The car's rear axle code (FA: 3.70 Posi-traction, 0614: June 14th of 1966, W: Assembled in Warren, Michigan)
* T --- Unknown
* P7H14 --- The car's transmission code (P: Muncie, 7: 1967 model year, H14: Assembled on June 14th)

And the tank sticker lists the following equipment:

* Standard black trim
* 390 horsepower Turbojet V8
* Transistor ignition
* 3.70 Posi-traction rear end
* 4-speed close ratio transmission
* 7.75x15 two ply red stripe tires
* Black convertible top
* AM/FM pushbutton radio
* Tinted windshield
* 390 to 400 horsepower conversion
* Dual side pipes
* Power steering
* Aluminum bolt on wheels

Assembled at GM's storied St. Louis, Missouri manufacturing facility in the summer of 1967, this slick Top Flight C2 was delivered to Service Chevrolet on North Broadway in Ada, Oklahoma. After tearing up Midwest asphalt for a little over a decade, the car was purchased by an avid Corvette collector who restored it into a 'ropes and red carpet' show queen. And its next 32 years would be spent touring a variety of proud owner's garages, and maintaining spectacular condition via several complete restorations. In 2008, well after it was Top Flight certified, this razor-sharp roadster was subjected to yet another frame-off freshening which included minor body touch ups, new Sikkens paint and a skilled Corvette restorer who actually worked at GM's St. Louis plant during the 1967 model year. And today, it stands proud as a Marlboro Maroon Metallic show stopper that combines old school American muscle with timeless style and world class craftsmanship!

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 than its predecessor. At the front of the car, a body-width stainless grille sits inside of show worthy stainless trim which is bordered by two bullet-style parking lights and a mirror-like chrome bumper. Above that bumper, a red, white and black Corvette C2 cross flag emblem rides in front of a 1967-exclusive stinger hood which has been detailed with chrome trim, a gloss black stripe and black inlayed “427” emblems. Behind that hood, NOS windshield wipers clear factory-tint glass which is framed by bright stainless trim, a pristine chrome driver's mirror and a correct black top. Below that glass, 1967-exclusive heat extractors hang in front of familiar chrome door handles, dent-free stainless rocker spears and polished side pipes that are complete with traditional, finned heat shields. Behind those side pipes a chrome trimmed, center mounted Corvette fuel filler rides above a fresh black and chrome “Corvette Sting Ray” emblem. And at the back of the car, two centered reverse lamps hang between four traditional Corvette tail lights, a chrome trimmed tag bracket and two pristine razor blade bumpers.

Tip this roadster's wet-look hood and you'll find the car's original 427 cubic inch Tri-Power V8 which wears a 1967-exclusive 3904351 casting number, a matching 121877 partial VIN and the T0608JC build stamp decoded above. As the ultimate option for Sting Ray owners who wanted to dominate the track on Saturday and cruise the strip on Sunday, this professionally rebuilt L68 utilizes large-port heads, Ross pistons, a forged steel crank, ARP fasteners and a high performance hydraulic camshaft to turn stout 10.25 to 1 compression into 400 horsepower and 460 lb./ft. of torque. At the top of the engine a correctly decaled air cleaner, which is complete with a reusable K&N filter, funnels wind into three Holley 2-barrel carburetors that are piped to fresh stainless fuel lines and bolted to a correct aluminum intake. At the back of the engine, an authentic transistor ignition shoots spark through braided and date coded plug wires that snake around correctly restored exhaust manifolds. And at the front of the engine, a factory aluminum radiator circulates coolant around reproduction GM hoses, familiar tower clamps and a correct fan shroud. 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 oil pan to just below attractive sand cast Corvette valve covers and, as always, looks great against the satin black engine bay. Correct tags and decals are present and accounted for, and niceties such as authentic V-belts, a reproduction Delco Energizer battery and the car's original clutch fan ensure this 'all GM' Corvette runs every bit as good as it looks!

Flip this big block drop top upside down and you'll find a fully restored chassis that's 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 M21 4-speed transmission, which wears a correct 3885010 casting number, a matching 121877 partial VIN and the P7H14 build stamp decoded above, utilizes a correct Posi-traction rear end and stout 3.70 gears 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 suspension is completely detailed down to its correct power steering system and transverse rear spring. And at the corners of the car, standard issue power 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 red lines around finned and red detailed wheel covers. And everything from this Corvette's fresh AC oil canister and new aluminum flywheel to its correctly painted tire carrier and correctly chambered side pipes is fully-sorted and ready to hit the show field!

Unpin the lightweight fiberglass doors and you'll find a standard black vinyl interior which looks rich and inviting next to the car's topless maroon body. The foam underneath the seat covers has seen just enough low speed boulevard passes to both keep its composure and feel comfortable; and the like-new carpet, which is protected by color-keyed floor mats, still features a bright, fade-free sheen. At the front of the car stylish aircraft-inspired gauges, which appear to be rebuilt originals, look fantastic next to brushed metal accents 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 doors and windows above perfectly placed armrests. Between the seats, the dash flows into what is commonly called a waterfall design which begins at an original, fully-functional clock and cascades through an original, fully-functional AM/FM radio to the base of a correct 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 displays virtually no signs of use at all.

As I mentioned earlier, this first class roadster is a Top Flight certified national award winner. Its major honors include:
* NCRS Top Flight Award for Excellence in Restoration and Preservation – May 14, 1983 in Nashville, Tennessee
* NCRS Top Flight Award for Excellence in Restoration and Preservation -- May 2, 1992 in Atlanta, Georgia

Included with the sale of this awesome Corvette is the original tank sticker outlined above, the original Protect-O-Plate outlined above, the car's original owner's manual and warranty booklet, the two Top Flight awards outlined above, receipts and photos from the car's most recent post Top Flight restoration, an itemized parts list from that restoration, a reproduction window sticker, and the car's original Chevy Orange valve covers.

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 big block C2, 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 Sting Ray that you can show with pride or keep for a while and make a nice return on, your search is over!