Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

I'd like to thank Bill for sending me the wite up and pictures of his wonderful '66 big block Corvette. It's been a while since we've had a members ride...I'm still looking for more! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif



Bruce,
-----Sometimes it seems like Jan and I have had this 1966 Corvette our whole lives. In fact we have had it now for 28 years and it has become a part of the fabric of our lives.


-----I first saw the old car in 1975 running around Ft. Lauderdale pretty much as you see it in these pictures. I quickly found out that a friend who had moved his Corvette repair business from Binghampton N.Y. had brought it with him. I tried to buy it immediatly but a doctor offered more and I didnt see it for awhile. The car came up for sale a year later and I missed it again to another doctor. I remember thinking that if the car came up for sale a third time I wouldnt miss it again, and thats exactly what happened. However, by that time we had moved to Chicago so I could take a job at Classic Motors in Hinsdale Il. At the time the price was an astronomical $10,000, but Jan thought it was the most beautiful Corvette she ever saw and wanted it for herself. I had just sold her 67 coupe as I didnt want to restore it and we used that money as a downstroke and financed the rest.


-----I quickly rebuilt the suspension which had been badly neglected and returned the engine to stock as it had a set of aluminum heads and intake on it when purchased. We then drove it from 1978 until 1995.


----- An unfortunate run-in with a friends truck (minor) kind of forced my hand and a complete restoration was undertaken. I sent the car to one of my closest friends, Bob Zimmerman and he and another good friend Bob Sindelar did the bulk of the work over the next two years. It then came back to me and I reinstalled the completly original interior interior. To this day only the front carpet is reproduction!


-----Just after completion in 1998 Jan and I took it back to Bloomington Gold, a place it had visited many times while in our ownership and got the infamous B-Gold award. Since then its been back to B-Gold a couple of times to be in both the special collection and to be inducted into the hall of fame.


-----I naively thought that once we went through the torture (sic) of judging the car that we would use the car much more frequently, but due to my anal-compulsive nature this doesnt seem to be happening. I hate it but our child seems to spend just about all its time parked. I did get it out once or twice for a blast (up to about 110) and l love the car the same today as the very first time I saw it back in 1975. Hope you all like it...........Bill S

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Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Wow! Terrific car, neat story, and someone knows how to take a picture - nice back drop. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Classic Vette ....all the way.........Love those Knock Offs and the Gold Line tires...... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif


Ken https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/flag.gif

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Bill, beautiful car. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/smile.gif

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

I must tell you that for years I didn't like Laguna Blue. I saw a poor example of the color at a car show in Chicago (1977 at Mancuso Chevrolet) and thought it the ugliest color in the world.
Then, years later I had an opportunity to buy a wonderful Corvette sight unseen. The only snag was that it was Laguna Blue. I was determined not to let the color get in the way of a car optioned out just the way I wanted. The Corvette arrived with its tan top and goldlines and I was sold. What a gorgeous color. The car received a Top Flight at Waco in 1998 and many Corvette folks there had not seen the color before.

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

[ QUOTE ]
I must tell you that for years I didn't like Laguna Blue. I saw a poor example of the color at a car show in Chicago (1977 at Mancuso Chevrolet) and thought it the ugliest color in the world.
Then, years later I had an opportunity to buy a wonderful Corvette sight unseen. The only snag was that it was Laguna Blue. I was determined not to let the color get in the way of a car optioned out just the way I wanted. The Corvette arrived with its tan top and goldlines and I was sold. What a gorgeous color. The car received a Top Flight at Waco in 1998 and many Corvette folks there had not seen the color before.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tan top is super rare... only a few hundred got it...

Bill, Stunning example with excellent options!
a/c, power brake, wood wheel, gold lines, k-offs, leather, headrests...

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

-Dan

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

As always - a beautiful car Bill.
We missed seeing you guys at the last couple shows.
Wasn't the same at Boiling Springs without you and Jan.
Keep in touch man.
Jeff and Stella

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Beautiful Corvette! I had a Stingray in the Hall of Fame the same year this Sting Ray was inducted. Awesome year and awesome option list.

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

What a gorgeous car. One of the nicest I have ever seen. Congrats!

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

You and Jan need to bring it West and excercise the air condtioning. See you at Barrett Jackson? If I can talk 'CARTGEEK' Jack out of his race carts, we can all go talk cars again !

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Jimmy,,, Jack the Cart-man is going to be in Puerto Vallarta during B/J!!!! We will have to have a beer in his memory.

Thanks to all for the kind comments.......Bill S

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

I don't think I've ever seen that color before....very nice !!

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

That color is awesome...there may not be a sexier body style on the planet than those '63-'67 'Vettes...

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Two of the best Desktop Shots I've seen in a long time.

That's a Great Color Combo. Truly a Classy piece. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/worship.gif

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Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

That is one stunning car..... I want it!

Paul

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

----Just wondering if I can bring this back to the top......Bill S

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Beautiful car Bill!

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

I can still see Jan driving around Hinsdale, top down, hair blowing in the wind....Ah yes, golden memories! Do you remember when we took all the mid-years out to Matthiessen State Park, near Starved Rock. It was You and Jan, Birdie and I, Nicholson and Paulette, and Tolars and his wife. Good times and great memories!!

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

This is such a classy car, the colours really work!!

I call shot gun for a ride around PURE MICHIGAN:-)

Ryan

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

----I do remember, Jake. Ill never forget the good times we had in Hinsdale......Bill S

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

I felt "handicapped", I had the only small block!!

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Had a Laguna 425hp roadster, loved it. Someone else on here has it now. Nice car Bill [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Great childhood memories of that car for me!

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RPOLS3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Great childhood memories of that car for me! </div></div>
Me too! Still looks killer!!

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

----Just bringing this to the top for JMS.......Bill S

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

As well you should Bill! What a sweet ride!

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Wow Bill! I missed it the first time around. It still looks as great as ever. Say HI to Jan for me, its been a long time.

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

Bill, I was never crazy about Laguna Blue until I actually acquired a '66 in that color. I fell in love with it. There's a nice L72 Laguna Blue roadster that I see every week at the shop, nice Bay area car with a great chassis and original engine. I love it and yours.

Re: Bill Stephenson's Beautiful 1966 Corvette
 

----Tim,,,Wait till you see it at BG. Ive done just a small amount of Day-2, but I'm betting you will like it!

----Sal,,,Hope to see you at BG. Its been too long.....Bill S

Seeing this for the first time, STUNNING!!! The tan top puts it over the top :headbang:

Bill,

Did the Vette get driven in 2020?
One of my Favorite Vettes of all :)
I would certainly love to take her for a 110mph test drive :)

Dan

----Yup, Dan, it did, but unfortunatly not much. Just around our small town a bit as there has been nowhere to go really. No local shows. A couple of cars-and-coffee's but they are both over an hour away and as usual start really early and end early. Hopefully next season will be much different! You are welcome to visit anytime by the way.....Bill S

----I just looked at the dates and this was an astounding 14 years ago. Can't believe it!