Long story short. My brother bought this 1966 convertible about 15 years ago. The car had been raced. It has Ricarro racing seats with 5-point harness, rollbar, etc. The fenders were flared (nicely done, I might say) the front turn signals were moved to behind the aftermarket grill. My brother fought a valiant fight with multiple cancers for years (no, he never smoked). Realizing his struggle with cancer was nearing an end he called me in early 2024 and asked if I wanted his '55 BelAir Hardtop that had been wrecked 20 earlier and pushed into a steel building. I drove from South Florida to North Georgia with my trailer. The car was in the back corner of the building with 4 flat tires and blocked in by 2 other cars also with flat tires and other debris. I figured it would take all day just to get to the car. My brother said just take the '66 - a '66 Corvette convertible also with 4 flat tires but lined up with the overhead back door. I inflated the tires and with my wife steering, push the Corvette out and wenched it onto my trailer and took it home. Two weeks later I went back and got the '55 BelAir. My brother passed away on father's day 2024. In March 2025 we start a full body off restoration of the '66. It will be an old school restomod rebuild. The original engine is long gone. It has a 383 stroker with 12 to 1 compression. We've gone through the entire engine and replaced the heads, and added a roller cam. The compression is now around 10 to 1. The Muncie M21 is original to the car and has the car VIN number stamped on it. It was completely rebuilt by G-Force. The rear-end has been rebuilt. It has an aftermarket C3 style big block hood which I am keeping. I'm keeping the American Torque Thust wheel, at least for now. The chassis has been blasted, primed and painted. The body has been completely restored and painted Midnight Blue with a metallic Silver stinger. I'm replacing the gauges and clock with Dakota Digital. ALL the trim (bumpers, windshield trim, taillights, vent windows, etc) were painted black. I bought new bumpers. We tried to restore the windshield trim without success. I'm looking for new trim that I don't have to take a mortgage to pay for. The seats have been replaced with original. The interior will be original '66 silver. The rollbar has been removed. I'll keep you posted with the progress.

 

Sorry to hear about your brother. I got my 67 unfortunately in a similar manner. Looking forward to your progress.

 

Sorry for your loss. How cool to be working on something that was important to him.

 

Sorry for your loss, too. I'm sure your brother appreciates you taking care of the cars that were dear to him.
I'm curious to see the progress to be done here.

 

 

Sorry for your loss. Very nice project to have!

 

Sorry for your loss, and some job with the C2, so far it will be car to turn eyes.

 

Sorry for the loss of your brother. Looks like it’s coming along nicely. Love the color!

 

That's a great tribute to your brother. All restored! I would be nervous painting a vette on the subframe. They move so around so much!

 

Do you have any pics of the 55 too?? I like em all.... Ty

 

Kinda echoing others but want to add the project is progressing nicely. Keep your momentum going as it will be a great restomod!
It is sad your brother will not see the finished project but I bet he’d be grinning from ear to ear.

 

Very sorry for the loss of your brother. He sure had good taste in classics. Looking forward to you posting pics of of the project. Dennis

 

This is what happens when a single master cylinder fails.

 

Has it been repaired ?

 

Thats a really solid looking ( from what I can tell) 55... Where is it now??

 

I love this project and you are giving me some ideas on how to address the hood on my ‘64.

 

You are seizing the opportunity the honor your brother by completing his projects. These old cars have a way of becoming "family". Your brother's projects will keep your memories alive for a lifetime. Thanks for sharing and please post updates.

 

No. It was sitting for 20 years so it needs everything. I've got my hands full with the Vette. The '55 will be next.

 

it is a solid rust free car but after sitting for 20 years it needs everything too. It's sitting in my steel building waiting it turn.

 

Good. project, nice instrument panel good luck