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Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray 427 Convertible - money, power and muscle

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Created on November 7, 2022

Text:

Paul Krüger

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

37

Archiv

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Bruno von Rotz

37

Archiv

13

The color "Milano Maroon" was the second most popular paint finish in 1966 after "Nassau Blue".

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Even if safety comes first - the open headlights disrupt the line a little.

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With its eyes open, however, the Corvette looks much friendlier.

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Rear axle with an unusually wide track for the sixties.

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Thanks to the independent rear suspension, the Sting Ray sits well on the road. Nevertheless, the big block slowly pushed the chassis to its limits.

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The high fender edges make it easier to estimate the dimensions.

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With the headlights closed, the Sting Ray always looks a bit like it's sleepwalking.

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Concentration: 624 Newton meters require a sensitive throttle foot at the exit of the bend

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With an American car, every cross-country journey becomes a little road movie.

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The roar of the V8 echoes far across the autumnal fields.

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Is the Coupé really more beautiful? Around two thirds of all Corvette buyers opted for the Convertible in 1966.

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The wide "power hump" already gives you an idea: at least 395 hp is approaching in the rear-view mirror

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On purpose? Somehow the Corvette looks a bit like a Corvair from the front.

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There is not even room for the aerial between the tank and the spare wheel. It cannot be retracted any further.

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Instead of black, the interior was also available in light brown in combination with dark red paint.

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Untypically for Americans, the steering wheel rim is not made of plastic, but of real teak wood - 47.40 dollars

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The cupped steering wheel stretches out towards the driver in an old-fashioned way. Of course, the modern rubber floor mat doesn't belong here.

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For the 1965 model year, the playful, cupped instruments gave way to these much simpler, two-dimensional counterparts.

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The symmetrical dashboard with the two large round arches echoes the soft top box of the first Corvette to a certain extent.

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Unbelievable but true: Chevrolet changed the design of the gas cap every year.

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For the 1966 model year, the Corvette lettering became narrower and the "Sting Ray" moved to the center below it.

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Reversing lights were introduced for the first time in 1966. The following year, it was positioned centrally above the license plate and the inner rear light became red again.

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The redesigned lettering can also be found on the glove compartment

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The 427 was also called "Turbo-Jet" with 395 hp. An indication of the engine output can only be found on the air filter.

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The air vents on the hood are even real. After all, the V8 wants to breathe.

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Not only at the rear: in 1966, the Corvette also bore lettering on the hood for the first time.

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Flag lore: for 1967 the angle of the masts was widened and the cloth curved more strongly.

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Corvettes with 6.5 and seven-liter engines can be recognized by the widened scoop on the hood.

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The Corvette has had the three vertical air vents since 1965 and the alloy wheels have been optional since 1964.

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Only four percent of all Corvette buyers in 1966 ordered the Kelsey-Hayes alloy wheels for 316 dollars.

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The "side-mounted exhaust system" for 131.65 dollars was about four times as popular as the alloy wheels.

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The National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) also attaches great importance to details such as correct exterior mirrors.

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You wouldn't really see much behind you in this rear-view mirror even without 431 hp.

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The interplay of curves and edges in the Corvette bodywork is inspiring. Larry Shinoda has created a masterpiece.

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An American must also shine under the hood. The ignition shield housing is located behind the air filter.

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From this perspective, even the mighty seven-liter turbo jet looks small and manageable. However, its additional weight of around 100 kilograms is noticeable.

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The orange color of the block and valve cover clashes somewhat with the dark red paint, but is true to the original.

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A 1965 Sting Ray Convertible in a contemporary advertising photo. It has the standard wheel covers with six spokes and imitation center lock.

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A 1965 Sting Ray Convertible with 327 small-block, recognizable by the slim hood bulge without widening

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The hardtop with the large panoramic windshield was an optional extra for 236.75 dollars. Almost exactly a third of all Corvette buyers ordered it in 1965.

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A Sting Ray Sport Coupe from 1965, recognizable by the air vents behind the door. They were considered ineffective and therefore disappeared the following year.

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Sectional drawing of the 1965 model, with the focus of course on the new disc brakes.

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Rear view of a 1966 Sport Coupe without air vents behind the door. Interestingly, all four rear lights are dark here.

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The new hubcaps for 1966 only had five spokes, but still had the imitation wing nut. This Sport Coupe has a 427 Turbo-Jet under the hood.

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The same car from diagonally behind. Here the inner rear lights are bright. The almost endlessly long aerial is remarkable.

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The air filter gives it away: this contemporary photo of the 427 shows the 390 HP version.

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You could be quite proud of a Sting Ray Sport Coupe, even - or especially? - with a small block.

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For the 1967 model year, the Corvette was given an opening with five smaller air vents behind the front wheel. Also new were the alloy wheels with five-bolt mounting and small chrome cap.

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This 1967 Sting Ray at the Geneva Motor Show was labeled as a "Competition" model. Possibly one of only 20 L88s?

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The 1967 Sport Coupe from different angles. The new, rectangular reversing light above the license plate can be seen at the bottom.

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Summary

While Chevrolet had disproved the preconception that American cars could only drive fast in a straight line with the Corvette Sting Ray in 1963, they worked diligently from 1965 onwards to restore it. With the introduction of the big-block models with up to seven liters of displacement and over 400 hp, the Corvette poached in the territory of the Shelby Cobra, but at the expense of maneuverability. This article tells the story of the 396 and 427 Turbo-Jet and describes the driving impressions of a 1966 model with 431 hp.

This article contains the following chapters

Small touch-ups for 1965
The porcupine
Seven liters and the first understatements
Faster than the Italians
Discreet is different
Frighteningly fast
Advantage for the small block

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

What has happened so far: Chevrolet wrapped the old six-cylinder in a sleek plastic body in 1953 and went for a swim with the two-seater called the "Corvette". Zora Arkus-Duntov recognized the potential of the pretty but lame roadster and gradually turned it into a serious sports car with a V8 and fuel injection. In 1963, Larry Shinoda finally transformed the rounded road cruiser of the fifties into a real sports car. Our last article on the Corvette Sting Ray ended with just a short chapter on the most powerful models of the last two model years. It would have taken us too far away from the 1964 model with small block. However, as the article in question is only just over three months old and is therefore certainly still fresh in our readers' minds, we don't want to bore them with repetitions. Instead, we will continue where we left off last time: with the Corvette Sting Ray with a seven-liter engine. It first appeared in 1966 - and so our story begins in the fall of 1964.

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