The 1966 corvette is a particularly desirable “gentleman’s sports car” specification: beautiful, fast, open-air, and fitted with two of the C2’s most evocative accessories.
- L79 engine: The 327-cubic-inch small-block produced 350 hp through a Holley four-barrel carburetor. Its hydraulic lifters made it easier to live with than the solid-lifter racing engines, while the lighter small-block gave the Corvette better steering balance than a nose-heavy 427. Chevrolet installed the L79 in 7,591 of the 27,720 Corvettes built for 1966.
- Laguna Blue: This was a one-year C2 color for 1966. Only 2,054 Corvettes received paint code 978, making it substantially less common than Nassau Blue.
- Convertible body: The top-down body showcases the C2 shape beautifully and makes the L79’s exhaust note part of the experience. Chevrolet built 17,762 convertibles versus 9,958 coupes.
- Teakwood steering wheel: RPO N32 was a genuine wood-rim wheel—not the more common simulated-wood type. Only 3,941 cars received it.
- True knock-off wheels: RPO P48 consisted of five cast-aluminum center-lock wheels with three-eared spinners. At $316, they were extremely expensive when the entire convertible started around $4,084. Only 1,194 cars were ordered with them, making these the rarest feature in the group.
What really makes the car special is the combination: the L79 provides nearly big-block performance with better balance and road manners, while Laguna Blue, teak, knock-offs, and the convertible body create an exceptionally elegant period appearance.