Determination of Rarity

[Ken M.]

Gentlemen:

How might I determine the rarity, if at all, of a 1966 red on red, 427/390 with power brakes, factory air and power steering? How does one determine the actual horsepower of the same car, i.e., 390 vs. 450? Is there a special ID number? Any assistance would be DEEPLY appreciated. Many thanks. Ken

[Michael J.]

Re: Determination of Rarity

I would suggest buying the '66 judging manual from NCRS, it has all the info to determine those differences between L36 and L72. As to actual numbers on rarity for any option combo package, you are out of luck (no Marti Report like Fords have), all you can use is interpolation, and that is very inaccurate. Good luck.

[John H.]

Re: Determination of Rarity

Gentlemen:

How might I determine the rarity, if at all, of a 1966 red on red, 427/390 with power brakes, factory air and power steering? How does one determine the actual horsepower of the same car, i.e., 390 vs. 450? Is there a special ID number? Any assistance would be DEEPLY appreciated. Many thanks. Ken

Ken -

No records were kept on combinations of options - only individual totals, so any of the "one of XX" claims you see are estimates/best guesses/dreams - nobody knows.

427/390's (L-36) were all 390hp. Only the solid-lifter L-72 had the 425hp and 450hp designations, which were simply different stickers on the air cleaner (450hp at start of production, changed shortly thereafter to 425hp); there was no change in the engine itself, which carried the "IP" suffix. The L-36 390hp carried the "IL" suffix (for a 4-speed).

[Terry M.]

Re: Determination of Rarity

Ken,
If you do decide to go through the arithmatic calculations to determine if your car is one of 10 or 1 of 1 (more likely to be 1 of 1 -- they all are back when there were so many individual options) remember that rare does not always equal desirable. To whit: some of the rarest mid-year Corvettes are 3-speed cars. They were rare when they were new and they still are, and for the same reason. One of the rarer C3 options is a block heater (K05). Who cares!

BTW: I am not sure that the mid-year TIM&JG have the number of options produced listed. You will find those in the NCRS Specifications Guide available from the same place as the TIM&JG == click on the NCRS shop radio button at the top of the page.