'66 Big Block still for sale with Iconic Auctioneers
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Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Seen this on other platforms and I have my doubts and I'm not just saying that because I have a 427/425 L72. If it's real and will sell for that then it's a steal for someone.
One just sold on BAT
One just sold on BAT
Chevrolet
CCCUK Member
Owner now saying £57k ono on Corvettes for sale Facebook (few marks on bodywork)
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Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Someone buy it please 
When the L72 was first sold in 1966 it was badged up 427cu 450hp but the insurance companies said hold on, that's too much power no one needs that much so they agreed with GM it would be 'de-tuned' to 425hp by changing the decal on the air cleaner. That's all, no detuning of anything else and the first 200 or so that escaped the factory were sent a replacement decal. As per usual with Chevrolet power output figures were massaged down to get into that one less insurance bracket but after tests the L72 was shown to kick out nearer 500hp and hence the nickname the Widow Maker.
I didn't get much time in mine after the July purchase last year as my first two outings resulted in recovery truck rides home, the second was on the way to Corvettes at The Lakes but thankfully only 15 miles from home. I sorted out the silly issues that caused the breakdowns and so far I've had several decent runs out in it and I'm getting more confident in giving it some welly. All I can say is I've never driven a car with so much in yer face raw power that kicks you in the back when you stamp on it while sounding like it's about to rip your face off! A mate, Ged followed me a couple of weeks ago and said when I booted it the side pipe exhausts blew every bit of debris off the road in a massive cloud
No idea why it's priced as-is? Distressed sale maybe but whoever gets it will love it while risking death at the same time
When the L72 was first sold in 1966 it was badged up 427cu 450hp but the insurance companies said hold on, that's too much power no one needs that much so they agreed with GM it would be 'de-tuned' to 425hp by changing the decal on the air cleaner. That's all, no detuning of anything else and the first 200 or so that escaped the factory were sent a replacement decal. As per usual with Chevrolet power output figures were massaged down to get into that one less insurance bracket but after tests the L72 was shown to kick out nearer 500hp and hence the nickname the Widow Maker.
I didn't get much time in mine after the July purchase last year as my first two outings resulted in recovery truck rides home, the second was on the way to Corvettes at The Lakes but thankfully only 15 miles from home. I sorted out the silly issues that caused the breakdowns and so far I've had several decent runs out in it and I'm getting more confident in giving it some welly. All I can say is I've never driven a car with so much in yer face raw power that kicks you in the back when you stamp on it while sounding like it's about to rip your face off! A mate, Ged followed me a couple of weeks ago and said when I booted it the side pipe exhausts blew every bit of debris off the road in a massive cloud
No idea why it's priced as-is? Distressed sale maybe but whoever gets it will love it while risking death at the same time
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
I would add, it needs to be fully checked out before purchase.
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Ignore all that tripe above! The one for sale is a 427/390 L36 Still a heck of a deal though
Still a heck of a deal though
Chevrolet
CCCUK Member
Any volunteers?
Hope that Facebook ad is not a scam? Be nice if a Club member bought it?
Chevrolet
CCCUK Member
Guy selling it (Steve Hurn) is a dealer:
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Steve Hurn Cars
Steve Hurn Cars. 2,017 likes · 1 talking about this. Steve Hurn Cars is the UK’s leading prestige, performance and supercar trader seeking the worlds f
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Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Just heard from the auctioneers that it has a replacement early production engine
Chevrolet
CCCUK Member
You "really" need to know what you are doing buying a C2? Is that a bad sign/i.e non original? That ad refers to 2004/5 by renowned Corvette specialists, Vette Dreams. Have you heard of them? Is that still a car you would potentially buy at the right price?
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Still a good deal I'd say on the surface but a lot that needs checking. Just spoke to someone who's seen it and saying needs a paint job. Then there's that old birdcage thing.. I asked for trim & vin tags photo but they glossed over that Q
Chevrolet
CCCUK Member
Seem to remember someone saying a while back that a top quality respray from MechSpray was circa £9k? Are you the man to buy that one if it checks out and sell it back to US or Europe?
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Roscobbc
Moderator
The seemingly ever increasing 'presence' of supposed specialist auction houses selling performance and classic cars I find rather unsettling. 'Drill down' frequently in to their 'small print' and not a lot is on your side as a buyer.......I was interested in a vehicle a few weeks ago (not a Corvette) that formed part of a 'collection' that had been purchased some 15 years ago, placed in sympathetic storage and unused with the owner passing away very recently and 4 or 5 cars being sold by his family. The cars were well photographed and detailed. Engines were reported as being 'rotated' but no mention of whether they were started and no opportunity to run the car on the viewing day.
Suggested 'starting' prices were in fiarness commensurate with engines/tranmission etc being untested and an unknown quantity. The particular car I was interested had 4 or 5 bidders. The auction closed with the highest bid just short of the auctioneers higher-end guide price (£9K to £11.5K). I then learnt that it didn't make the sellers 'reserve' price (presumably a fair bit higher than the auctioneers guild price). The auction was buyer fees only (no seller fees) at 15% plus vat with one viewing day and all bidding on-line bidding only.
To me the biggest P-take was in order to register yourself a £2.5 deposit was required (and up to 30 days required for your refund in the even of an unsuccesful bid/purchase) - auctioneers are on to a winner there - 10 people bidding X £2.5K (£25K) each bidder in auctioneers bank account for a couple of weeks is potentially a nice 'earner'.
Suggested 'starting' prices were in fiarness commensurate with engines/tranmission etc being untested and an unknown quantity. The particular car I was interested had 4 or 5 bidders. The auction closed with the highest bid just short of the auctioneers higher-end guide price (£9K to £11.5K). I then learnt that it didn't make the sellers 'reserve' price (presumably a fair bit higher than the auctioneers guild price). The auction was buyer fees only (no seller fees) at 15% plus vat with one viewing day and all bidding on-line bidding only.
To me the biggest P-take was in order to register yourself a £2.5 deposit was required (and up to 30 days required for your refund in the even of an unsuccesful bid/purchase) - auctioneers are on to a winner there - 10 people bidding X £2.5K (£25K) each bidder in auctioneers bank account for a couple of weeks is potentially a nice 'earner'.
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
I would think it would be more expensive than that. I enquired with them for a C3 a few years back and got an eye-watering guide of £30k Needless to say, I realised the existing paint was acceptable
Chevrolet
CCCUK Member
I got that one "badly" wrong mentioning £9k!I would think it would be more expensive than that. I enquired with them for a C3 a few years back and got an eye-watering guide of £30k Needless to say, I realised the existing paint was acceptable
Things can be expensive! Reminded me of this Carl Hartley comment at the start of the video. Later in he mentions that as well the price of the screws to fix his Bugatti, he had to buy the guy a beer as well!
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If I paid anything like 15k for a car to be painted I would be scared to death to ever take it out again. I paid £1200 cash in 2002 for my C3 to be resprayed and it looks as good today as the day it was done, all chrome removed, bonnet stripped due to micro blisters, looks excellent.
Nassau65
CCCUK Member
When I restored my 1960 I got a stone chip on the front panel right by the emblem/badge the first time I took it out. I was absolutely gutted.