1966 Corvette HD427 M22 Big Tank

This Corvette was recently restored by Nabers Brothers in Houston, Texas. The older black-and-white photos shown here are actual racing photos taken by professional photographers in 1966 at Daytona. This Corvette was specifically ordered for the purpose of going straight to the racetrack. It is one of the two Corvettes to participate in the first 24 hour endurance race at Daytona called the Continental. This 66 was driven by owner George Cornelius and two other relief drivers trading off. The other 66 Corvette was owned by Roger Penske and driven by Dick Gulstrand and his two relief drivers.

This 1966 Corvette is on the front cover of the 1966 Corvette News Vol. 9 #4 issue. Inside is quite a story of George Cornelius operating on a very limited budget going heads up against some high dollar racing teams such as Penske's. Also in this competition were the likes of Don Yenko with his Yenko Stinger and many other high profile teams. The Penske Corvette placed first in the GT class over the second place 911 Porsche. This Corvette owned by Cornelius placed fourth, but won a victory of its own in a different way. It was awarded the trophy for the American production car which proved to be most durable and reliable. Remarkable for driving it from the delivery dealership only eight days before and racing it in virtually as stock of a configuration as it was when it left the Chevrolet factory.

This Corvette is one of only 15 M22 Corvettes. There were also 66 of the N03 big tanks optioned. This 66 Corvette is one of possibly a couple known to have both the M22 and N03 options. This Corvette's total option list is: L72 427, M22 4-speed, N03 36.5 gallon tank, N14 factory side exhaust, F41 heavy duty suspension, C48 radio and heater delete, K66 TI ignition, and G81 positraction.

There is more research transpiring to possibly see if the 427 motor in these Daytona Corvettes was something more than the standard L72.