C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

body differences

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 8, 2023 | 01:08 PM
  #1  
airbill2's Avatar
airbill2
Thread Starter
Racer
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 493
Likes: 3
From: East Moline Illinois
Default body differences

Can anyone confirm visual changes between a 1965 and a 1966 convertible? Thanks.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2023 | 01:12 PM
  #2  
68hemi's Avatar
68hemi
Race Director
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,094
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by airbill2
Can anyone confirm visual changes between a 1965 and a 1966 convertible? Thanks.
The only thing I know of is the Corvette Sting Ray emblem design and placement and the difference of the grilles.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2023 | 01:23 PM
  #3  
airbill2's Avatar
airbill2
Thread Starter
Racer
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 493
Likes: 3
From: East Moline Illinois
Default

Thanks!
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2023 | 01:57 PM
  #4  
Nowhere Man's Avatar
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,157
Likes: 9,464
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

66 has a emblem on the hood 65 does not. Hun caps differ, gas cap differ, rockers, interior cues too 65 back up lights where an option where as 66 was standard.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2023 | 03:59 PM
  #5  
jrm5657's Avatar
jrm5657
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 725
From: Fountain Hills Arizona
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

Dash ***** and glove box doors differ along with the seat cover pattern. Exhaust bezels differ as well as the actual fiberglass valence. Lots of minor little stuff, but basically the same car except for engine options.
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2023 | 11:19 PM
  #6  
59BlueSilver's Avatar
59BlueSilver
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,003
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Also plastic interior door pulls on 65, chrome on 66.
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2023 | 07:23 AM
  #7  
OC-1's Avatar
OC-1
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 192
From: nj
Default

Originally Posted by 59BlueSilver
Also plastic interior door pulls on 65, chrome on 66.
I believe late 65s had chrome door pulls. ?????
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2023 | 10:49 AM
  #8  
Avispa's Avatar
Avispa
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Default

65 rocker panel molding is smooth. 66 is ribbed. 65 grille is black, 66 is gray. IIRC both had chrome perimeter. Gas door emblem is different between 65 and 66.

66 you get back up lights whether you want em or not. Option on 65, so there are some with 4 red lights out back. I had one of em.

66 temperature gauge markings are 100, 210, 250 with orange and red warning zones after the mid-point mark between 210 and 250. 65 temp gauge markings are 100, 180, 240 and no color working zones.

66 BB radiator support is different than all 65 or 66 SB radiator support.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Mar 10, 2023 | 01:49 PM
  #9  
68hemi's Avatar
68hemi
Race Director
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,094
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

These are all good features that are different from the two model years BUT the OP asked for body differences NOT interior. I assume that the reason for the question is that with a convertible driving by it is very hard to determine the difference and probably the easiest way to determine this as a drive by would be the rocker panel covers. Wheel covers often get changed to aftermarket or KO wheels so you can’t count on them for a way to determine the year.
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2023 | 03:17 PM
  #10  
vettepoor's Avatar
vettepoor
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 171
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Default

Originally Posted by OC-1
I believe late 65s had chrome door pulls. ?????
That is correct.
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2023 | 03:32 PM
  #11  
I'll C2 it's Avatar
I'll C2 it
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 438
Likes: 185
From: Auburn Wa
Default

Well if we go into the fine details 65 KOs have a chrome cone and 66 have "brushed" cones.
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2023 | 04:22 PM
  #12  
jpanda's Avatar
jpanda
Racer
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 372
Likes: 45
From: East Haddam CT
Default

Originally Posted by 68hemi
These are all good features that are different from the two model years BUT the OP asked for body differences NOT interior. I assume that the reason for the question is that with a convertible driving by it is very hard to determine the difference and probably the easiest way to determine this as a drive by would be the rocker panel covers. Wheel covers often get changed to aftermarket or KO wheels so you can’t count on them for a way to determine the year.
I agree but actually have a more difficult time telling a '59 from a '60
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2023 | 04:25 PM
  #13  
68hemi's Avatar
68hemi
Race Director
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,094
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by jpanda
I agree but actually have a more difficult time telling a '59 from a '60
Yes, that is a tough one as well.
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2023 | 11:58 PM
  #14  
silver837's Avatar
silver837
Le Mans Master
Supporting Gold
Veteran: Army
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 5,138
Likes: 1,617
From: Nor- Cal
Default

If I remember correctly the grain in the dash cover is different and the rear view mirror in also different.
Reply
Old Mar 11, 2023 | 03:52 PM
  #15  
airbill2's Avatar
airbill2
Thread Starter
Racer
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 493
Likes: 3
From: East Moline Illinois
Default

Originally Posted by 68hemi
These are all good features that are different from the two model years BUT the OP asked for body differences NOT interior. I assume that the reason for the question is that with a convertible driving by it is very hard to determine the difference and probably the easiest way to determine this as a drive by would be the rocker panel covers. Wheel covers often get changed to aftermarket or KO wheels so you can’t count on them for a way to determine the year.
68hemi. Thanks to you and the others for your replies. The reason of my inquiring is to help a club member friend put together trivia questions for our upcoming rally. We have a picture of a late member standing beside his C2. We wanted to ask rally goers to identify the year but since it has side pipes covering the rocker plates we can’t use it unless there are visible differences. Thanks again for the help.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2023 | 12:12 AM
  #16  
'66coupe's Avatar
'66coupe
Advanced
 
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 69
Likes: 31
From: Lucas, Texas
Default

I have yet to figure out why '65 hubcaps have six spokes and '66 hubcaps have five spokes....lol!
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2023 | 09:27 AM
  #17  
59BlueSilver's Avatar
59BlueSilver
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,003
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Originally Posted by '66coupe
I have yet to figure out why '65 hubcaps have six spokes and '66 hubcaps have five spokes....lol!
That is strange.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2023 | 10:51 AM
  #18  
vettebuyer6369's Avatar
vettebuyer6369
Administrator
25 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 54,007
Likes: 6,215
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Default

Originally Posted by airbill2
68hemi. Thanks to you and the others for your replies. The reason of my inquiring is to help a club member friend put together trivia questions for our upcoming rally. We have a picture of a late member standing beside his C2. We wanted to ask rally goers to identify the year but since it has side pipes covering the rocker plates we can’t use it unless there are visible differences. Thanks again for the help.
The easiest one is the emblem on the hood.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2023 | 11:49 AM
  #19  
A-Snake's Avatar
A-Snake
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 953
Likes: 70
From: Parkville MO
Default

Originally Posted by '66coupe
I have yet to figure out why '65 hubcaps have six spokes and '66 hubcaps have five spokes....lol!
The orientation of the spinner differs between 65 & 66. The spinner points to the valve stem in 66 while the valve stem is at the top on 65's.

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To body differences





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:20 AM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE