The C2 is one of the most desirable versions of the Chevrolet Corvette, so finding one that’s been sitting for decades in a garage is exciting news. Well, the folks at “Horsepower Depot” unearthed not one, not two, but six Corvettes made in the mid-1960s.
Built from 1963 to 1967, the C2-generation Corvette spawned quite a few desirable gems. The 1963 coupe, for instance, is the only one sporting a split rear window. 1966 saw the introduction of the big-block 427-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8, while 1967 gave us the “solid lifter” L88. Produced in only 20 units, the L88 is currently the most expensive and sought-after C2 Corvette.
This collection doesn’t include a split window car or an L88, but it includes a couple of numbers-matching gems. And one of them is a 427 car. A 1966 version based on the three-louver genders (Chevrolet switched to five-louver fenders in 1967), it features the base 427 rated at 390 horsepower. The car is complete, in excellent condition, and the V8 looks like it will run with just a bit of work.
The second numbers-matching ‘Vette is a convertible with a small-block 327-cubic-inch (5.4-liter). The model year is unclear, but we do know it’s not a fuel-injected version. The 327 V8 engine was available for all five model years, with power ranging from 250 to 365 horsepower. This one also looks like an easy fix despite sitting since the early 1990s.
What about the remaining four Corvettes? Well, one is a first-year 1963 convertible that’s been upgraded with 1965 or 1966 fender louvers. Not exactly a brilliant idea, but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Another Corvette hides a race-spec engine under the hood, while the fifth one looks like it was dismantled for restoration.
Finally, the sixth Corvette, also a convertible, is a rolling chassis. However, the garage is also loaded with a ton of C2 parts, so our host may have everything he needs to put it back together.
So are these Corvettes going to get restored to their original specifications? The numbers-matching examples probably will, but I’m unsure about the other four cars. The folks over at “Horsepower Depot” race several classic Corvettes in the Factory Appearing Stock Tire (FAST) racing series, so some of them are likely to hit the drag strip with various modifications.
But it’s still an interesting find thanks to the numbers-matching examples, which are highly desirable nowadays. The 427 car is particularly valuable, too, with restored examples fetching up to $150,000. But needless to say, I’d love to see all six of them returned to public roads.