1966 Corvette Convertible L79 350HP 4 Speed Orig Engine Numbers Matching 2 Tops
1966 Chevrolet Corvette
History:
Back in February of 1966, a 25 year old School Teacher & Coach in the Swissvale Area school district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania walked into Bauman Chevroletin Wilkinsburg, Pa . On the showroom floor sat all Winter a Nassau Blue with Bright Blue interior Corvette convertible. At the time Mr. Jenkins was driving an old family hand me down car and needed something new and reliable so he could be at school on time.He had done his research and homework like any teacher would before entering the dealership. The window sticker he remembers was about $4950.00. The Corvette was nicely equipped with an L79 327/350hp with 4 speed M21 CL Ratio Transmission,Positract Rear Axle with a 3:70, White Convertible top as well as Auxiliary Hard Top,775X15X4 WSW Tires and AM/FM Radio.As confident as any 25 year old was back then, he offered the salesman Mr. Chrise $4400.00 for the Corvette. Mr. Chrise took one look at him and said "take a walk kid".Mr. Jenkinsleft the showroomangry that the salesman laughed and dismissed his offer.
Two weeks later on March 10th 1966 ( Exactly 50 years this month) unsuccessful at his first attempt to purchase the car and doing more research, as well as being angry at the salesman Mr. Chrise for telling him to take a walk, he went back to Bauman Chevrolet and offered Mr. Chrise $4200.00. Mr. Jenkins followed up by saying "take my offer to the manager"The sales manager told the Mr. Chrise to take his offer since spring was a week away and the car had been floor planned all winter.
Mr. Jenkins loved his new Corvette. He told me he always babied it except for that one time he had taken it up to 130mph just to see if he could. Mr. Jenkins saved his Original Corvette Order, Original Dealer Sales Brochure, Chevrolet Motor Division Congratulations letter on his new purchase, Protect-O-Plate,Owner 'sGuide and bag, Dealer Envelope, AM/FMOperating Instructions and Pocket Guide, Aluminum Wheel Maintenance card. Also included in his documentation was his original Temporary Registration Certificate and a copy of his Original Title along with all his Corvette News magazines from 1966 -1981.
By 1981 Mr. Jenkins was the Principle ofthe Shaler Area Int High School in Glenshaw, Pa. Mr. Haraczy the school shop teacherwanted to buy his Corvette. By that time Mr. Jenkins had two daughters and needed a larger car to drive. A deal was struck and the car was sold on July 3rd, 1981. Mr. Jenkins stated when he sold the Corvette it still retained its original engine, transmission and rear.
Soon after the purchase of the Corvette Mr. Haraczy removed the body from the Corvette and spent the next3 years restoring the Car.Pictures, receipts, restoration costsand GM parts box labels have remained with the car and are part of the documentation in the binder.
1984 after body off restoration completed by Mr Haraczy. Added Repro Knock Off Wheels with Bias Plys Gold Lines. GM Side Exhaust .
Mr. Haraczy sold the Corvette in 1987 to it's third owner who only kept the Corvette for four short months.
The fourth ownerpurchased the Corvette on 6/19/1987 and kept the car until 8/17/1994
The fifth owner purchased the Corvette on 8/19/1994 and kept thecar until 8/11/2015
The sixth owner was a Corvette shop/ Corvette dealer that serviced and maintainedthe Corvette for 20 years for the fifth owner. He bought the Corvetteand broughtitto Corvette Carlisle on 8/28/2015 where I purchased it.
Binder includes all previous owners title copy, registrations, news paper classified carad of Corvette for sale, service receipts, bill of sales, inspection stickers and more.
For the past 49 years fromthe original owner to all thesubsequentowners,theCorvette remained in the surrounding suburb area ofPittsburgh, Pennsylvania where the car was purchased new at Bauman Chevrolet.
The Journey South:
After I purchased the Corvette and shipped it to Florida. I began making a list of things to do to the Corvette that needed addressing for NCRS judgingand completedas follows:
Chassis:
I replaced all 4 calipers, brake pads and hoses from CSSB.The master cylinder was sent to White Post for rebuilding. I replace master cylinder brake line to junction block. Flush brakesystem and use Silicone brake fluid. Remove front suspension, replace front springs from Yogi's, lower control arm bushings.Purchase correct head markingbolts and washers, clean, detail & paint suspension parts, paint shocks gray, new steering damper shock.
Clean bottom of body & wheel wells and frame.Clean rear suspension. Paint rear shocks gray and replace lower shock bushings, rear spring bolt and bushings. Replace Transmission tunnel heat shield. ChangeTransmission fluid.Drop spare tire tub and detail.Detail correct spare KH rim andnewbias ply gold line tire. Replace side pipe rear mounting bushings.Replace all front & rear bumper bolts, radiator mounting bolts, and other incorrect bolts with correct bolts from LI Corvette. Install Gold Line radial tires on Reproduction Knock Off Wheels.
Engine Compartment:
Clean and detail engine & compartment. Replace all hoses with correct reproduction GM logo and part number hoses. Replace upper and lowers hose clamps with correct dated tower clamps. Flush coolant system. Replace water pump. Replace fan belts with correct dated reproduction. Replace fuel pump, hose and clamps with correct A/C Delco. Rebuild Holley carburetor. Install correct NON R black distributer cap and dated Packard spark plug wires. A/C Delco Spark plugs. Detail intake and exhaust manifolds. Purchase correct oil filter canister with silk screen. Replace all non correct bolts ie. intake, exhaust with french locks, hood bolts, etc. Replace clutch rod boot,spring ring battery cables, install correct engine decals, correct A/C air filter element etc. Original correct dated horns.
Interior:
Replace carpeting with correct Al Knoch set, new clear floor mats. Send seatbelts to Charlie Santorelli@ StingRay Sity /Seat Belt Sity for restoration and correct original tags. He is the "Master".Remove all interior trim and clean. New sill plates. Remove gauge cluster and wash lenses and reinstall with 1 candle power German instrument cluster bulbs. You can actually no see the gauges now at night. Send clock to Karl Burl for service the correct movement NOT quartz. Clean original dash pads and console. New shifter boot. L/S door panel is repro R/S is original. replace. Install correct screws where needed. Re-chromesoft top latches on windshield. NOS screws. Etc.Remove soft top frame, debone, clean and paint. Install new Al Knoch dated black convertible top and new weather stripping from Corvette Rubber.Clean, detail Hardtopand install new Al Knoch headliner.
Body:
All original GM body panel appears to be no hit body. New repro gas cap lid. Install real gas cap.install correctgas tank filler drain hose with spring exit behind bumper. Replace rubber fuel hoses with correct clamps. Install NOS wiper blades and holders. Prime and service washer system. All Correct original glass. Very nice bumper chrome. Install tail light wicks for judging. replace correct grille screws, wiper grille screws, rear valance screws etc.4 Original T-3 headlights. Install correct headlight bezel screws.Paint is still very nice for 33 years old Lacquer. Most people think its original paint especially since doors, deck lid, under hood still retain original weather strips and paint. Left fender top and under emblem has some bubbles. All Key locks are matching and working. Glove box lock works with match key for spare tire carrier.
Original Vin & Trim Tags
Documentation & Provenance :Five Inch Binder filled with the following:
Photo Copy of Original Sales Order,Photocopy Of Original Window Sticker,Original Congratulations Letter from Chevrolet Motor Division,Original Shipper Copy ( Corvette Order), Original Dealer Brochure, Original Temporary Registration, Copy Of Original Title, Original Protect-O -Plate, Original Owners Manual, Original Manual Bag, Original Dealer Maintenance Folio with Dealer name and Mr. Jenkins name, Original Am/Fm instructions. All the Corvette News Magazines that Mr. Jenkins kept and stayed with the car and all owners for the last 50 Years!!!!
Complete Owner History back to original owner with title copies for the subsequent 5 owners till present, Organized Five Inch Binder with tabs for each owners receipts, Bills of sales, Registrations, Inspection renewals, Inspection stickers, Photos of restoration, Restoration receipts, Repair receipts, Yearly inspection receipts, News paper ad with Corvette for sale, Insurance cards, Finance agreement contracts, Hand written notes for yearly total on amount spent on Corvette, GM parts box labels, other parts box labels, picture & date of odometer turning 100,000 miles. Appraisals and more.
I've been in contact with Mr. Jenkins the original owner. The amount of complete paperwork that is with this Corvette is amazing. What's more amazing is that it stayed with the car throughout its life.
You can go out and buy an Orphan Corvette,lose sleep not really knowing what you really bought and spend the rest of your ownership running ads looking for previous and original owners in the NCRS Driveline , Hemmings, even attempting title searches when most states purge records after 5-6 years and NEVER find your cars history. This adds tremendous value over a non documented car.
Binder with all documentation.
Original Corvette Order Shipper Copy laminated for protection.
Photo copy of original buyers order dated 3/10/1966
Photocopy of the original window sticker.
The original Protect-o-Plate.
The Original Temporary Registration Certificate laminated.
Photocopy of original title laminated.
Chevrolet Congratulation Letter.
Original owners manual, POP, radio card, bag, maintenance folio envelope.
NCRS Shipping Data Report
Corvette News magazines and other magazinesfrom original ownerhas been transferred withcar to every subsequent owner.
Factory Options:
Nassau Blue976AA
Bright Blue Interior 414BK
327/350 L79
4 Speed Transmission CL Ratio
Positraction 3.70: 1
Auxiliary Hard Top
Convert Top White
AM/FM Radio
775x15x2 PLY WSW
Options Added:
Added Option GM Factory Side Exhaust
Added Option Repro Knock Off WheelsMounted onCoker 775X15X2 PLY GSW
Add Option Real Teak Wood Steering Wheel
Numbers:
Block Casting 3858174
Casting Date: J255Mon Oct 25, 1965
Original engine block Assembly Date: F1103HTWed Nov 3rd 1965
Serial Suffix 6105554
Body Build Date C12Nov 12, 1965
Carburetor Holley 3884505-DA33672101
Intake 3890490Dated 10 20 65
Exhaust Manifold 38465593747042
Alternator1100693 37A 5J 23
Expansion Tank 3155416-65
All Original Glass with correct codes
Dated Black Soft Top 9 65
Rear End 3.70:1 AO 11 4 65
Distributor 1111156
Bell Housing 3858403
Transmission 38808536S105554
Radiator 31555316
Original dash pads, Original paint on dash, original cluster & dash knobs, Original working AM/FM Radio, All gauges work including lighter.
Detailed steering column, all gauge lenses cleaned.
Repro L/S door panel. Original door knobs, handlesand cranks. New sill plates.
Mint Interior. Real Teak Wood Steering Wheel, Original paint on center console, radio side panels& kick panel J moldings. Mint restored seat belts. New pedal pads.
Seat Belts Restored by Charlie Santorelli. Seat Cover, foam, jute have been redone. Very nice seat chrome and original seat backs.
Correct dated tags.
Glove box light works. All correct glove box screws,rubber bumpersand liner.
Original door weather strips and glue with original paint.
R/S door panel original with dateinkstamp on back Oct 05 65. Door ink stamped Oct 12 AM. Original knobs Correct working door locks.
Original paint under deck lid. New carpeting.
Original paint on rear convertible top side panels. Detailed convertible top frame, New Al Knoch dated top. Nice originalchrome latches
Original weather strips and glue.
Excellent fit on new Al Knochdatedconvertible top.
Original glass, New weather strips on top. Drivers side glass fit to top. New rear window track felt and upper vent window corner rubber.
Original upper surround dimple.
Original upper surround view through grille. No Hit Front End. Original rubber and staples and blackout.
L/S upper surround and hood hinge.
Original under hood black out, weather strip and Blue edge paint.
Dated reproduction fan belts. Correct pulley and fan.
4 original T3 headlights. Headlights motors rebuilt open & close fast.
Front bumper chrome, nice original grille, headlight buckets & hood gaps.
Tiny paint bubbles on upper fender. Lacquer is 33 years old.
Tiny bubbles on L/S fender above bonding strip.
Nice chrome, Tail lights with correct wicks.
All options are in working order. This car is being sold in "AS IS WHERE IS CONDITION WITH NO WARRANTIES IMPLIED". Buyer is responsible for all shipping, Taxes, Duties and Insurance coverage. I have the right to end the auction early if someone shows up with a fist full of cash. Please check with your wife prior to bidding. You are enteringinto a legal andenforceable contract. Please don't drink and bid. Trust me I've had someone do this before. I canprovide references. Pleaseemail questions or you can call me @ 954 494 3153 Dave. $1000.00 Paypal Deposit within24hrs and payment in full within5 days. Balance to be paid for inthe form of Cash In Person or Wire Transfer. All funds must clear before title and car leave. I will contact your bank to verify funds.I'm a private collector with over 30 years of collecting. I'm an NCRS member.
- Condition: Used
- Make: Chevrolet
- Model: Corvette
- Type: Convertible
- Trim: L79 Convertible
- Year: 1966
- Mileage: 106,799
- VIN: 194676S1055554
- Color: Blue
- Engine size: 327/350HP
- Number of cylinders: 8
- Fuel: Gasoline
- Transmission: Manual
- Drive type: RWD
- Interior color: Blue
- Vehicle Title: Clear Want to buy? Contact seller!