1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe with its 327

There's all sorts of rare, when it comes to Corvettes, but one of the features most enthusiasts have likely never encountered in C2 models is the standard three-speed manual transmission, which backs the reportedly numbers-matching 327 V-8 in this Sunfire Yellow 1966 Chevrolet Corvette. In 1966, only two percent of the Corvette's total production left the St. Louis plant with the three-speed, as nearly 90 percent of the cars were equipped with one of the optional four-speed gearboxes and another 8 percent or so were ordered with an automatic. This unrestored 1966 Chevrolet Corvette was said to be warehoused with 90 other cars for 30 years, before the collection was liquidated a few years ago. The seller acquired it and made roadworthy to take to shows. - - the engine is the car's original 327-cu.in. V-8 and it was rebuilt seven years ago. There are about 3,000 miles on the engine since the rebuild and it is said to start easily, without smoke, and run well. There are no reported leaks with it or the original three-speed manual gearbox. It reportedly shifts great. Wearing what is believed to be the original Sunfire Yellow paint, this Corvette has the patina of an unrestored C2, with some cracks and nicks in the finish, and a chip or two in the fiberglass, but no apparent swirl marks and a reasonable shine from the apparently 55-year-old lacquer. Additionally, the glass and seals are reported to be in good condition, with no cracks or scratches in the glass and solid seals, without cracks or missing pieces. Additionally, all of the lighting is said to work normally and the only deviation from stock is the addition of Rally wheels in place of the original steel wheels and wheel covers. - Inside, the Corvette's cabin appears mostly original, with its black vinyl seating surfaces that appear to be in good condition. - the carpet was replaced about six years ago, but most of the other components are believed to be original and show wear commensurate with the car's age. There is a chip out of the right-hand corner of the dash pad and much of the trim shows age-related wear.- the heater works, along with the gauges, but the odometer does not. The 41,307 miles showing is not correct. The car also retains its original AM/FM radio, which reportedly works well. - The chassis and suspension components have reportedly been maintained in stock specifications, with maintenance and service performed in recent years to make the car roadworthy. The bushings and shocks were replaced six years ago and the brakes were reported replaced two years ago, including the installation of a new master cylinder. Steering and braking performance are said to be very good and the car rolls on five-year-old Coker Classic redline radial tires that the seller reports show 90 percent of their tread. Additional documentation for this 1966 Chevrolet Corvette includes the verifiable matching-numbers engine, with the partial VIN stamping on the engine block visible in the accompanying photo galleries. Just how rare is an original three-speed '66 Corvette' The roughly two percent production total works out to about 550 cars. For comparison, more than 10 times as many Corvettes were built that year with the L72-code 427/425 engine. Rare, indeed, this three-speed 327.