Certifying Authenticity

[Harry Koba]

I'm sure this question is hardly new. I purchased a 1966 coupe 6S102463 in 1976 and basically didn't do a thing with it until about five years ago. In the process of restoring (and getting educated). I found that the 427 engine wasn't correct ( 1968 Impala ) but all indicators pointed to it being originally a 427/425 car: 80 psi oil pressure gage, 6500 RPM red line tach, side pipes, M21 transmission, no tapped exhaust hanger holes, correct body cutouts, a correct serial # and dated code exhaust manifold, etc.). I have no paper work on the car and haven't been able to track any down. I know that getting it to pass NCRS judging is not a guarantee of originality but of correctness. Any idea how I can determine and certify that it originally was a 427/425?
Thanks, Harry Koba 40697

[Jack H.]

Re: Certifying Authenticity

The ONLY way to authenticiate/certify the factory original configuration of your car is via forensic due diligence. That means verifying the configuration matches its present condition AND doing a prior owner search to document the history of the car back to the original owner. The later is a BIG job, often fraught with 'dead ends' and various State ownership records that are either closed to the general public or simply don't exist due to record retention policies...

About the only 'sure fire' method is IF the car just happened to be a bona fide export vehicle. Folks like GM Canada did NOT discard their old records...

[Jim T.]

Re: Certifying Authenticity

Harry the best thing about your 1966 in my opinion is that you have owned the car since it was only 10 years old and have enjoyed the ownership. Not knowing what the warranty was for 1966 Corvettes, one fact you do have is that the engine was not replaced while under warranty and was after 1968. If you have the original alternator, starter, disturbutor, and any other 66 items like shocks you have points for judging. The 427engine you have if it has the right block casting for a 66 is points with only the front VIN and engine stamping a loss as well as the block date casting. Your carb and intake are work good points if they are from the factory on your 66. Other members can tell you if you could still get a top flight or not. It all depends on your wants and how much money you want to spend to get a correct stamped engine which will still not be the original one your 66 came with from the factory. Driving the car to the NCRS judging gains points a good number of members do not do. Doing a search through you DMV you could find out some information. How about the person you bought the car from, what information is available there? When you bought your 66 I don't think there was much money like there is today to take a small block car and convert to a 427 to sell more much more profit.

[Richard S.]

Re: Certifying Authenticity

Try Al Grenning..........

[Mark S. Lovejoy]