PRICED TO MOVE BIG BLOCK, NICELY RESTORED, #'S MATCHING 427 L72 V8, 4-SPEED!!

In today's episode of "cars I'd trade my mother to own" is this 1966 Corvette roadster. With a matching-numbers 427 under the hood, a Rally Red paint job, and a track record of reliability, this is the Corvette you've always dreamed of owning, and it's surprisingly affordable.The engine is the real draw here, but let's take a step back and examine that gorgeous roadster body first. The body tag says it was originally Rally Red, so that's what went on when the car was restored a few years ago. A lot of Corvette guys look for authentic "defects" in a finish to gauge a car, but let me tell you that "imperfect perfection" is overrated. When you dream of your ideal Corvette, do you dream of visible bonding strips, wavy fiberglass, and cut-out marks that look like they were done with a hatchet? Or do you picture your car looking like this one, with a glossy finish, arrow-straight bodywork, and two-stage paint that's surely better than the original stuff? There's also a big block hood and side pipes to make a statement, plus beautifully restored brightwork, including bumpers shiny and clear enough to use as mirrors. It's no trailer queen, either, so you won't have to think twice about getting behind the wheel, firing up that big block, and going out with one of the most eyeball-grabbing cars ever built. Perfection? Who needs it?This Corvette was built to drive but you wouldn't know it has been driven by looking inside. The black buckets show very minor signs of use, but it's still quite fresh overall. The body tag says "STD" which means "standard black vinyl" but the dressy low-back buckets deserve a better name, because they look great. New carpets and door panels add to the factory look and there's a big chrome knob on the shifter in the middle, connected to a 4-speed gearbox underneath. Factory gauges are in decent shape, although the speedo's a little cloudy for some reason, but they all work and the 6500 RPM tachometer is correct for the L72 engine. The original AM radio, which uses that cool vertical orientation that makes replacement radios virtually impossible to find, is fully functional, so there's one less thing to worry about. And overhead there's a black convertible top that fits well and makes this a car you can drive any time with confidence.For horsepower in a Corvette, no other engine matches the 427's combination of brute power and a willingness to rev. The L72 engine is the car's original, numbers-matching piece which was rebuilt to stock specifications a few years ago. The only notable modification is a Holley 4-barrel under the chrome air cleaner so it really cackles and barks like you'd hope it would and throttle response is instantaneous. A few chrome items brighten up the engine bay, and with Chevy Orange paint on the block, it still looks right and uses all the right components for an accurate look. Factory manifolds feed those brilliant-sounding side pipes and with disc brakes all around, stopping power is impressive. The brakes were rebuilt about 7000 miles ago and all the bearings were replaced at the same time, so it works like it should on the road. Handsome steel wheels with spinner hubcaps wear 215/75/15 whitewall radials complete the look on what is already a great-looking 'Vette.Reliable and gorgeous, this Corvette is a proven performer without altering the basic goodness of the original recipe. If you've been looking for the ultimate road-going Corvette, few can compare to this. Call today!