Corvette Timeline Tales: September 2, 1965 – Production of the ’66 Corvette Begins

Published on September 2, 2015September 2, 2015 by Scott

The Mark IV Chevy Big-Block Becomes a 427!

2-1966-Corvette-TN

Dateline: 9.2.15 – The year 1966 was a banner year for Corvettes for several reasons. It was the best sales year for the short, five-year run of the C2 Sting Ray with 27,720 cars built, and convertibles outsold coupes -17,762 convertibles (64%) and 9,958 coupes (36%). This was back in the days when convertible Corvettes actually cost LESS than coupes. The coupe’s base price was $4,295, while the convertible’s base price was $211 less, at $4,084. My, how things have changed! Not only was 1966 the best sales year of the C2 Corvettes, it was the best year ever for Corvettes to that date. The car had come a long way from its breakout year in 1956 when 3,467 Corvettes were sold.

427_Turbo_Jet But the big news was under the hood. The Mark IV big-block arrived mid-year in ’65 as a 396 and the 327 Rochester Fuelie was phased out. For 1966, the Mark-IV big-block was opened up to its intended size, the magical 427-cubic-inches. Continue reading “

Corvette Timeline Tales: September 2, 1965 – Production of the ’66 Corvette Begins” →

C3 Corvette Wednesday, Check Out 1968 to 1982 Corvettes – Reasonably Priced!

Published on August 26, 2015August 27, 2015 by Scott

K. Scott Teeters Corvette art prints are available in our Amazon store!

Wednesday, the third day of the week is our day to honor the third generation Corvettes. Vettes from 1968 to 1982 are also referred to as “Shark” Corvettes because they were styled after the awesome 1965-1966 Mako Shark II show car.

If you are looking for an entry level Corvette, the newer C3 Corvettes can be purchased at very reasonable prices for several reasons. First, Chevrolet sold STACKS of them. Sales of the 1976 to 1981 Corvettes were astonishing with each year selling OVER 40,000 cars per year! The only ever year to experience similar sales was the first year of the C4 Corvette, 1984. Continue reading “

C3 Corvette Wednesday, Check Out 1968 to 1982 Corvettes – Reasonably Priced!” →

Illustrated Corvette Series No. 172 – 1967 L89 427 Corvette Corvette

Published on July 28, 2011July 30, 2011 by Scott

Dateline: 7.28.2011
Was This The Best C2 Sting Ray?

In March of ‘65 GM’s styling VP, Bill Mitchell blew everyone away with his Mako Shark II concept car. The new shark just had to be the next Corvette. Management was so excited, they tried to get the rebodied Sting Ray completed as a ‘67 model – a totally unrealistic goal. When it was obvious that the new design wouldn’t make it in time to be a ‘67 model, stylists were tasked to give the existing Sting Ray one last pass.

The stylists came back with subtle changes that made the ‘67 Corvette totally unique. Most obvious was the new five-louver front fender vents and the 15×6-inch steel rally wheels with their beauty rings and caps, the backup light was relocated just above the license plates, and a closer look revealed that the fender badges were gone. Since ‘65, big-block Vettes could easily be spotted by the domed hood. Big-block ‘67 Corvettes received the new “Stinger” hood scoop, which is arguably the most popular performance car hood scoop of all time. While not functional, except for the L88 racing version, it just flat-out looks great! The interior had slightly revised seat patterns and door panels, the passenger-side dash grab bar was gone and a center-mounted parking brake added. The suspension and drive train was unchanged, however, the Kelsey-Hayes knock-off cast-aluminum wheels were redesigned for a regular 5-lug pattern. Knock-offs and spinners were deemed unsafe by the government.

The big news was under the hood. Two small-blocks were available, the base 300-HP engine and the $105, 350-HP L79 327. But it was the selection of big-blocks that made jaws drop. With five 427s to choose from, the question was, “how much horsepower would you like and how much money do you have?” Continue reading “Illustrated Corvette Series No. 172 – 1967 L89 427 Corvette Corvette” →

1969 Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette – Part 2 of 3

Published on December 20, 2010May 25, 2011 by Scott

Joel Rosen Builds A Grand Touring Corvette

The term “GT” is arguably one of the most misused automotive designations. The term is an abbreviation for “grand touring.” A GT car is a road-going, lightweight, semi-luxurious coupe built on a high-performance chassis, for long trips, you need a car with plenty of power, a strong chassis, and loads of creature comforts to make the journey pleasant. Most high-priced European car companies all offered GT cars for their affluent customers.

In the ‘60s, Detroit carmakers started to use the GT term on pony and mid-size cars. Many enthusiasts wanted more and sought the help of specialty shops to build a package car. The original Shelby Mustangs were turn-key supercars. But at a small shop in Baldwin, New York, Joel Rosen was making his own machines called the Baldwin-Motion SS and Phase III Supercars.

You can catch Part 1 HERE.

Part 3 is HERE.

Continue reading “1969 Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette – Part 2 of 3” →