1966 Production Number Facts

[Kenneth A.]

I have noticed on a few sites that they post one of XXXX produced in that year. I am sure this has been discussed before but I cannot find it via search. I have a black exterior red interior matching number 66 coupe 427/390 - since black was lowest production in 66 and 35% of the cars had big blocks I have to believe that it is relatively low production number. Can any provide me with a site, book, database.

Thanks

[William C.]

Re: 1966 Production Number Facts

The breakdown that you are looking for is nonexistant. There are some records available, such as for a particular option that would indicate the total built with that option, or cases where one option excludes certain others, but in general most of what you are reading is advertising hype. If you wanted to say that of the 9958 coupes built in '66 35% were bigblocks so yours is one of 3485, or since 4.3% of '66 cars were Black, yours is one of 150, it could be rationalized from the production totals, which makes it leagle to advertise, but there is no real absolute certainty that the numbers are correct as advertised.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1966 Production Number Facts

Many of the 'N-built' claims you see are actually bogus resulting from compound probablity calculations made using existing Chevy production records. The source production records can be found in books like the 'Corvette Black Book' and Noland Adams' 'Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide, Vol 2'.

Only certain numbers were kept like how many cars were radio equipped, how many had this/that engine configuration, Etc. When it comes to compound probablity questions like:

How many coupes were built with black exterior paint, a leather interior, a three speed manual tranmission AND a counter-active diceiving unit?

The basic data simply doesn't exist.

So, people go 'compute' the answer by knowning how many total Corvettes were built that year multiplying by the percentage that were coupe vs. convertible, again by the percentage that were painted black, again by the percentage with leather interior and again by the percentage with 3-speed manual transmission and so on. This approach is intrinsically in error because it presumes all options were equally distributed across the ordering/buying public and that's inherently untrue.

Bottom line, in my book this is sort of an exercise in lunacy. If you want to know how really RARE your Corvette is, satisfy yourself in knowing it's actually ONE OF A KIND because it's the only Corvette that was built with that particular VIN tag on it....

[Kenneth A.]

Re: 1966 Production Number Facts

Thanks Bill - I actually came across a Pro Team ad stating such. I just wanted to make sure that I was not missing something.

Thanks Again