The Corvette Sting Ray of 1965 :

1966 :

For 1965 the Corvette saw several changes. standard four-wheel disc brakes.

On the outside the styling changes were few, a functional front fender louvers, new wheel covers, and a restyled grille. The hood had no depressions or trim.

Inside, newly styled bucket seats were offered and genuine leather seating surfaces were optional. Some European cars could match included power steering, power brakes, power windows, air conditioning, AM-FM radio, telescopic steering column, and a wood-rimmed steering wheel.

But it was under the hood that the big changes happened. The Corvette offered a wide range of engines.
Standard was the 327 cid Turbo Fire V8 rated at 250 bhp. Next up was a 300 bhp version of the 327, then the new for 1965 was the precursor to the famous LT1, a 327 rated at 350 bhp. At the top, was the most powerful carbureted 327, rated at 365 bhp. For true performance buyers, the Ram-Jet Fuel-Injected 327 made its last appearance in 1965.

With the fuel injection you could obtain from the 327 a 375 bhp. It was the ultimate small block V8.

April 1965 saw the introduction of the 396 cid big block MK IV V8, this one was rated at 425 bhp, and a special bulging hood was included when the 396 was ordered.

1965 was a unique and memorable year for the Corvette. It was the only year that you could buy a fuel-injected, disc-braked Sting Ray. It was the first year for the big block and side-mounted exhausts. And with prices starting at $4,106, the 1965 Corvette Sting Ray was quite a bargin. No wonder that sales reached a record 23,652 units.

1966 :

This year, the corvette featured a new eggcrate grille and functional engine compartment cooling vents. The 396 V8 was dropped. In its place, a new muscle Corvette was introduced, the "427" with its own funnel-shaped, power bulge on the hood.

The 427 could come in two version. The RPO L36 was rated at 390 bhp and the RPO L72,
wich was rated at 425 bhp. Both engines were related to the "mystery" 427 and the production Turbo Jet 396. The 427/425 bhp Corvette convertible could hit 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds. It boasted a power-to-weight ratio of just 7.7 lbs per horsepower.

For the transmissions, three "four speed gearboxes" were aviable: wide ratio, close-ratio, and heavy-duty close ratio.

Side-mounted exhuast pipes were optional.

A total of 5,116 L36s and 5,258 L72s were built, therefore 38% of the 1966 Corvettes were 427s.