Question about the 1966 L-72

[442w30]

Thanks for the responses!

But all I'm trying to find out if the Biscayne/Bel Air/Impala/SS/Caprice were the recipient of the early 450-hp rating, or only the Corvette had that?

This is about how Chevrolet rated the L72 when it initially was released, not about real-world hp.

[mssl72]

I've never seen or heard of a '66 L72 passenger car that had a 450hp decal from the factory. I've heard of Corvettes coming that way and I have seen one. I always had heard what's been mentioned already in regards to the insurance issue. Chevrolet always seemed to want to keep the Corvette at the top of the heap. My feeling is that both L72's, Corvette and passenger probably started out as 450 and 425 respectively, but the insurance issue forced Chevrolet to knock the Corvette down to 425. At that point I don't think they'd knock 25hp off the passenger cars to 400 to keep the Vette on top. I believe the 450 Vettes were fairly early. I've seen GM proving grounds picture dated 11-15-65 that shows a '66 L72 Vette engine compartment with a 425hp decal.

[Tracker1]

450HP decals on '66 Corvettes have been documented in Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. of '65. But strangely enough, the owners manuals for those cars quote the 425 hp figure - 450 does not appear anywhere in the manner.

Diego, the Impala guys I have been talking to have no docs or anything in their database on 450 HP-decaled big cars in '66.

[MosportGreen66]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tracker1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">450HP decals on '66 Corvettes have been documented in Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. of '65. But strangely enough, the owners manuals for those cars quote the 425 hp figure - 450 does not appear anywhere in the manner.

Diego, the Impala guys I have been talking to have no docs or anything in their database on 450 HP-decaled big cars in '66. </div></div>

The VIN cut off is often regarded as less than VIN 3000 but after legnthy discussions with top NCRS judges throughout the years of showing my former car, VIN 2800 is less is now accepted. My former 66 L72 was vin 2282.

Dan

[olredalert]

----I have seen several 450hp rated window stickers for 66 Corvettes. My cousin ordered a new 66 big-block Corvette in May of 65. When it came in just a week before opening day, I noticed that it was serial # 700 (even). It had a black air cleaner lid and only a 427 decal, no HP decal at all. My own 66 was delivered in May of 66 and was rated at 425hp. I have also seen 400hp window stickers for early 66 Corvettes that appeared to be 390hp. I owned an early 400hp Corvette. Wish I still had it. No big body 66 Chevys were ever rated at 450hp or 400hp in my opinion. The high rating was strictly a Corvette thing.......Bill S

[Nasblu]

I know of an original documented early L72 corvette that has the original protecto plate and window sticker and sales invoice. The car was built in Sept 65 and the sales invoice and window sticker both denote 450hp. The car was customer ordered car not dealer inventory car. What is also neat on very early 66 427 corvettes is that the hood catch is located on the passenger side unlike most 66 427 cars which on the drivers side. Gm used up left over 65 hoods modified to accept 1966 hood emblems and have no provision for driver side mount. This was done until they ran out of hoods then the redesigned 66 hood was used. I believe sometime around Vin# 3600 the transition happened.