1966 Chevrolet Corvette “Jiffy Stingray”
Although a rare sight on racetracks in the UK the “Big Block” Corvette Stingray with its fantastic V8 Chevrolet engine and disc brakes was a regular weapon of choice for US Racers throughout the mid to late 60’s.
In 1972 UK Modsports racer Harry Phillips had spent the previous 6 years developing Jaguar E Types with success and backing from Jiffy Tapes. But, to quote July 1973 Cars and Car Conversions magazine’s article on our car:
“So whats a confirmed Jagaddict doing with a Yanktank? Well, over the last couple of seasons Harry had to admit that E’s were getting a little played out with Brian Hough’s TVR and those indecently quick and well-handling Elans. Having already experienced the thrill of big engine machinery there was no way he was going to go smaller; it had to be bigger and don’t come much bigger than the 427ci Rat engine!”
Having located a good 66 LHD car in the climate friendly Saudi Arabia he brought it back to his workshop in Birmingham. He stripped the car back to the bare chassis, converted the car to RHD (UK circuits are clockwise) and then built up a car for the ’73 season that redefined Modsports.
With continuous history, the Jiffy Stingray is well known in Corvette circles as well as part of UK Club Racing folklore! The car entered the current ownership of the well-known historic racing Morley family in 2017. They have raced the car in the famous Goodwood Revival Tourist Trophy twice (2018 with Derek Bell and 2019 with Marcel Fassler) as well as 2018 Goodwood MM and this year’s 81st Members Meeting.
In 2017, soon after purchasing the car, the Morleys commissioned a Suspension Geometry and Vehicle Dynamics Report from Nigel Rees and between 2020-2023 the Morley’s repeated Harry Phillips’ work taking the car back to bare chassis and started the rebuild with all new strengthening welds in the chassis before fitting a new weight saving body saving an incredible 400 kg and enabling the original body to be preserved.
The engine has approximately 4 engine hours since a refresh by Peter Knight in 2021 and the first build in 2019. Invoices for both remain on file along with invoices in 2021 from Andy Robinson Racing for a new stiffer roll cage and super duty stub axles and gripper differential. FIA HTP were issued in 2021 running until 31.12.2031
Car is painted in Rally Red which is the colour it left the factory and mirrors the Jiffy Bag Special livery as the car is widely known as in historic racing and as such is a welcomed regular at Goodwood.
The car is totally race-ready and UK road registered. As such it is eligible for Le Mans Classic, Goodwood, Peter Autos, Masters, Pall Mall Cup in Motor Racing Legends, HRDC, GTSCC and all over pre 66 Gt race series as well as Tour Auto and Modena Cento Ore.
The car is priced at £180,000 to include all the spares and history.
The car comes with its HTP, many magazine articles in period as well as an extensive spares package including the original body used by Harry Phillips.
