1966 Corvette Convertible — A Rare Find, Renewed

The Day I Brought It Home

The Corvette on purchase day: a three-owner, 100% numbers-matching car that already looked like a remarkable find.

A Rare Find from the Start

The silver convertible as purchased. Many people would have enjoyed it just as it stood; I saw the starting point for a full renovation.

The Details That Drew Me In

A close look at the wheel, tire and side exhaust on the car as purchased.

The Original Starting Point

The rear-quarter view records the Corvette before this renovation began.

Worth Going the Extra Mile

Another purchase-day view of the car that inspired me to take on a complete renovation.

Opening Up the Interior

With the seats and trim removed, the cockpit could be inspected and prepared for the work ahead.

Center Console Details

The shifter and center tunnel are documented during interior disassembly.

A Closer Look Inside

The stripped cockpit reveals the floor and footwells beneath the old interior.

Passenger Footwell

The passenger-side floor is exposed as the old interior comes out.

Floor and Tunnel Inspection

A closer view of the floor and transmission tunnel during disassembly.

Behind the Seats

The rear interior area is documented with the trim removed.

Rear Compartment Preparation

The exposed rear compartment and wiring are recorded before the new interior goes in.

Side Exhaust Detail

A close-up records the side exhaust and surrounding bodywork during the renovation.

Interior Work in Progress

Another view of the stripped rear compartment as the interior is prepared for renewal.

Working Down to the Foundation

The floor and rear interior are exposed for the next stage of renovation.

The Cockpit Stripped Back

The dashboard remains in place while the seats, carpet and surrounding trim are removed.

The New Black Canvas Top

I replaced the old vinyl top with a high-end black canvas top for the roadster look I wanted.

Classic Convertible Proportions

The Corvette outside during the renovation, showing the familiar C2 body lines.

Top Down

An open-top view captures the character that made this Corvette worth the effort.

Before the Bodywork

The silver Corvette is documented before the next phase of body and paint work.

Off to the Shop

The Corvette on a trailer as the renovation moves into its bodywork phase.

Stripping Back the Finish

The old finish is worked back so the body can be carefully prepared.

Preparing the Nose

The front bodywork and headlight surrounds are stripped and sanded.

Headlight Door Preparation

A closer look at the headlight door and surrounding bodywork during surface preparation.

Protecting the Cockpit

The interior is covered while work continues around the windshield and body.

Body Preparation in Daylight

The sanded body is seen outside the shop during the preparation stage.

Looking Over the Bodywork

Another angle records the stripped finish and the work ahead.

Taking Shape in the Shop

The Corvette returns indoors as surface preparation continues.

Masking for the Next Stage

The cockpit and openings are masked to protect them during bodywork and coating.

Working Along the Side

The masked body is prepared along the door and rear-quarter panels.

A Fresh Foundation

The rear bodywork receives a uniform preparation coat.

Rear Bodywork in Progress

Another view shows the prepared rear quarters and tail panel.

Preparing the Rear Deck

The rear deck is prepared with the trim and fittings removed.

Protecting the Openings

Careful masking separates the prepared bodywork from the protected interior.

Preparing the Removable Hardtop

The removable hardtop is supported off the Corvette for surface preparation as part of its restoration.

Matching the Preparation

The separate panels receive the same attention as the rest of the body.

Removable Hardtop Off for Restoration

With the removable hardtop off the car, its roof, edges and window openings can be prepared for repainting.

Refining the Headlight Surround

Localized surface work continues around the headlight opening.

Getting the Surface Right

The old finish and underlying surface are worked back around the front bodywork.

Correcting the Front Fender

The front fender is worked and checked before the next coating stage.

More Detail Around the Nose

The headlight surround and adjacent panel receive additional surface preparation.

Engine Work Documented

The engine is supported outside the car while work is carried out during the renovation.

Working in the Engine Bay

The engine bay is protected and prepared during mechanical work.

A Closer Look at the Engine

A workshop view documents the engine during the current renovation.

Final Body Preparation

The Corvette is masked as the bodywork approaches its next coating stage.

Checking the Front Panels

The nose, hood and fenders are seen together during final preparation.

A Uniform Surface

The side panels receive a consistent preparation coat before the final finish.

The Nose Comes Together

The front bodywork is brought to a uniform surface in the shop.

Ready for the Next Stage

A straight-on view records the prepared nose before the silver finish.

The Body Lines Reappear

The prepared front quarters show the Corvette’s distinctive curves.

Hardtop Preparation Complete

The removable hardtop receives the same careful preparation as the Corvette’s body before repainting.

Preparing Every Panel

The side of the Corvette is masked and prepared for its final finish.

Bodywork on the Stands

The prepared body is supported in the shop while the remaining work continues.

Laying Out the Hood Details

The hood is masked and laid out as its details are prepared.

Care in the Small Details

Hands-on measuring and fitting work accompanies the larger paint and body tasks.

Silver Returns

The Corvette takes on its silver finish in the paint booth.

Fresh Paint Along the Side

The newly painted side panels reflect the booth lights.

The Freshly Painted Nose

Silver paint brings the nose and front fenders back into sharp focus.

The Hood in Silver

The hood is painted separately to match the rest of the car.

Freshly Painted Door

A door receives its silver finish off the car.

Restored Hardtop in Silver

The restored removable hardtop wears fresh silver paint to match the Corvette, with its window openings masked during refinishing.

Reflections in the New Finish

The hood’s reflections show the transformation from the earlier preparation stages.

Engine Component Detail

A close-up documents an engine component during the renovation work.

Inside the Engine

The engine is photographed open during mechanical work.

Protecting the Engine

The engine is covered and supported in the workshop between stages of work.

Mechanical Details Up Close

A close inspection view records an internal mechanical detail.

Recording the Internal Work

Another internal view documents the engine during the current renovation.

Engine Assembly in the Shop

The engine sits on its stand as assembly work progresses.

Preparing for Installation

A further workshop view records the engine and its accessories before installation.

Headlight Assembly Details

The headlight mechanism is documented during front-end reassembly.

Behind the Headlights

The headlight panel and mounting points are exposed during assembly.

Front-End Reassembly

The headlights and nose come back together after paint.

Measuring the Mechanical Details

A measurement is recorded at the rear of the engine during assembly work.

Engine Back in the Car

The engine returns to the freshly painted Corvette, with the surrounding bodywork protected.

Bringing It Back Together

An overhead view documents engine-bay reassembly.

Underbody Details

A closer look records the underside and structural details of the Corvette.

Chassis and Suspension View

The underside and suspension are photographed while the Corvette is raised.

Checking the Details Below

Another underbody view records the mechanical details beneath the fresh paint.

Home from Paint and Body

Back from the paint and body shop, the Corvette wears its renewed silver finish.

A New Chapter at Home

The newly painted Corvette is home again, with Vintage Air and the new interior still to finish.

Fresh Paint, Familiar Character

The rear view shows the renewed finish while preserving the car’s unmistakable C2 identity.

The Journey Continues

The fresh silver finish is back home. Vintage Air and an all-new interior are the final two projects still underway.