Smells Like Victory - 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Smells Like Victory - 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Long-Term Road Test

Exhaust pours from the side pipes of our long-term 1966 Chevrolet Corvette into the cabin, which will probably prevent some staff from driving it. But others of us are immune to the fumes.

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throwback

Love the Apocalypse Now reference! I love the smell of exhaust in the morning, It smells like.. Victory!

stever

Hm, a symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning is a headache. Sounds lovely....

mtakahashi

throwback said:

Love the Apocalypse Now reference! I love the smell of exhaust in the morning, It smells like.. Victory!

I was hoping someone would catch that.

throwback

mtakahashi said:

throwback said:

Love the Apocalypse Now reference! I love the smell of exhaust in the morning, It smells like.. Victory!

I was hoping someone would catch that.

Great movie, one of my top 5 all time. In no particular order, Godfather 1 & 2 (best sequel ever), Casablanca, Apocalypse Now, Star Wars (the original)

brenro

I remember these old cars fondly but not enough to want one again. A modern day pick up truck rides better, handles better, and stops better than the '67 big block roadster I had.

texases

Smells were a big part of working on old cars. That came back to me a few weeks ago as I followed a '70 or so Vette in traffic.

But this post makes me really wonder why the desire for the sidepipes. They really weren't that common back in the day.

zimtheinvader

texases said:

But this post makes me really wonder why the desire for the sidepipes. They really weren't that common back in the day.

Exactly, probably better to have spent the money on an improvement to the brakes or tires. Rather than something that made driving it even less fun.

Has it been established yet what the plan is with this car? Are you trying to see how a strictly stock '66 car is for driving around or are you going to make tweaks here and there to see if you can make an old car enjoyable to drive on a semi-regular basis?
If you don't upgrade anything it will make me sad as then you just bought show car and are going to complain that it isn't as good as a newer vehicle to drive.
I haven't done a lot to my 240Z but whenever I drive it I smile and can't imagine a car I'd rather be driving. And that is even on a long commute; granted sometimes on the way to work on a beautiful morning the urge to just keep driving almost gets the best of me.

csubowtie

Because side pipes are bad [non-permissible content removed].

fordson1

That is one of the effects of the sidepipes...the other is reduced power, although this is more pronounced in the higher-compression, higher-revving engines.

texases is right...I think the desire for the sidepipes on C2 'Vettes is mostly among those who were not around when C2 'Vettes were being made.

It's not leather "dying," Mark - if it's leather, it's already dead. Maybe leather dyeing - ?

And somebody needs to get busy with an old, soft toothbrush and detail that Corvette script on the side of the car...there's about three layers worth of wax in there. And some #0000 steel wool to get rid of the overspray on various chrome trim.

kirkhilles1

Could you please start posting the odometer readings? I'd like to know how many miles you guys put on. I still haven't heard ANYTHING about how it DRIVES (other than the smell). We need Dyno readings, handling tests and take it out on a freaking road trip already. Drive it... please.

texases

Take the Vette to a shop that can measure the HC and CO in the exhaust, you'll be shocked at how high they are, especially if it's running rich.

mtakahashi

fordson1 said:

It's not leather "dying," Mark - if it's leather, it's already dead. Maybe leather dyeing - ?

And somebody needs to get busy with an old, soft toothbrush and detail that Corvette script on the side of the car...there's about three layers worth of wax in there. And some #0000 steel wool to get rid of the overspray on various chrome trim.

Dyeing, yes...not dying. Derp on my part.

As for the badge, it's actually not overspray or wax buildup, it's just the way it appears in that photo. It's a little dulled and scratched, but I like that kind of patina.

fordson1

Actually meant on the paint around the badge rather than the badge itself - but maybe I'm not seeing it all that well in the photo. The overspray I saw was on the rear window surround trim.

explorerx4

Back then the fumes were no worse than the normal LA air.

desmolicious

"About an hour after I drive the Corvette, I feel the onset of a headache."

Psshh. It's only when your eyes start to sting that you may need to worry. May.

bankerdanny

The smell was the first thing I noticed when I started driving my '72 MGB-GT a few years ago. I had forgotten the smells from a carburated, non-oil tight engine and a non-catalyst scrubbed exhaust. But that was short lived. My nose eventually remembered the cars of my youth in the 1970's and all was fine.

It truly is part of the charm of a vintage British Sports car along with ignition points and manual everything.

banhugh

Corvette Stink Ray!