1965 Chevrolet Corvette

Convertible

5.3L 5358CC 327Cu. In. V8 GAS OHV Naturally Aspira

Manual

194675S116513

Clear

Gasoline

1965 Corvette Up for auction here is a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette roadster. As you can see from the photos, this is a very presentable midyear Corvette that turns heads everywhere it goes. It does have some minor cosmetic issues that a new owner might want to address, but it's as mechanically sound as any out there and can be driven anywhere, at any time, without worry. The beauty of this vehicle is that it's nice enough you can take it anywhere and be proud to be seen in it, but it's not so perfect that you can't actually enjoy it. It's the perfect car for someone who actually wants to drive and enjoy their Corvette. This car has been owned by the same owner for the last 10 years, during which we have worked out all of the mechanical bugs that have come up, but now it needs a new home. In the sections below I have tried to give an honest and accurate representation of what you're getting for your money, but if you have questions about something I failed to address please send me a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Body: The body on this Corvette is in overall very good condition, but does have some repair work showing on the right front. I have maintained this car for nearly 10 years now and can say with certainty that the damage was contained to the right front fender and headlight area of the fiberglass only, and there has been no structural damage to the car whatsoever. I've tried to show the worst of it in the photos but higher resolution copies are available via email if there is something you would like to see in greater detail. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words so you should be able to see everything you need to get an accurate representation of the body condition from the photos below but, as always, please message me if there is something in particular that I haven't shown. Also, as is typical for these midyear cars, the bonding seams are beginning to show around the rear end of the car, but they're minor (and typical) and are in no way indicative of previous damage. The right front fiberglass is positively the only area of the car that has ever sustained any kind of damage. This car was originally finished in Satin Silver, Chevrolet code "Q", but is currently painted Rally Red, which was also a correct color for 1965. The paint is nice but not perfect and has some nicks and chips that have been touched up over the years, but overall it presents itself nicely. As I said above, you can drive this car anywhere and not be ashamed, but please don't be expecting an NCRS 100 point show quality paint job. On a scale of 1 to 10 it's a good solid 7. I've tried to show the worst of the paint problems in the photos below (I don't want there to be ANY surprises for the new owner!) but I do have higher resolution photos available if you'd like to see them. Interior: The interior of this Corvette is in overall good condition and matches the rest of the car well. It was originally equipped with black vinyl seat covers but now has black leather, and they match the patina of the rest of the interior well enough that they coule easily pass for original. The carpet apears to be original and is a bit faded and thin in spots, and could probably use replacing but it looks presentable and correct for the age. As with the exterior, the interior is very nice driver quality, clean and presentable but not NCRS Top Flight perfect. The top is probably the worst part of the car, and even still is nice enough to get you by for a while. If you live in a fair weather climate it'll be good enough to get you by for a long while. There are a couple places (as shown in the photos) where the stitching has started to deteriorate, and there is one small place on the passenger side where it has a very small hole, but it's good wnough to keep the rain out and the sun off of your head. Eventually it will need to be replaced but not immediately. Please study the photos below to get a good idea of the overall condition of the top and interior. Mechanical: The mechanical side of this car is really the biggest selling point as far as I'm concerned. The current owner has owned it for 10 years, during which I've done all the maintenance, and I can say for certain that it's in excellent mechanical condition. It's an original 327/300 HP car and still has it's original engine (not a "correct" one, but the very same one that was installed at the factory), but it was rebuilt to 327/350 HP specs many years ago by a previous owner. It has a 350 HP intake, Holley carb and very small hydraulic cam, but the block is unchanged. The distributor has also been changed to a Mallory Unilite, but that fits inside of the original ignition shielding which is all still present and intact. I installed a Vintage Air system a few years ago which still works flawlessly, and we also installed a new DeWitt's date coded reproduction radiator and aluminum high flow water pump around the same time. The addition of the Vintage Air system did cause the car to run a little on the warm side, so in addition to the new radiator and water pump I installed a small electric fan inside the original fan shroud, which works in conjunction with the original clutch fan. Now it'll stay right around the 180 - 185 range under all but the harshest conditions. Other mechanical work that has been done in the past few years include a dual master cylinder for safety (could easily be converted back by changing one brake line), new correct reproduction power antenna, AM/FM radio with iPod input, Hurst shifter with original looking handle, new dash wiring harness, all gauges rebuilt by Red Line Gauge Works and the clock was converted to a quartz movement. I'm sure there are some minor things I'm forgetting, but you get the picture. This car was bought to be driven and enjoyed, and that's exactly what the owner has done. He's driven it and enjoyed it immensely and, in the process has flushed out any mechanical issues that might pop up. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to hop in this car and head across the country tomorrow. The biggest thing it might need right now is possibly an oil change! I had the car on a lift just today to inspect the frame and I can say with confidence that there is absolutely NO rust in the frame. The current owner purchased the car from a man in southern California who indicated it had been in that area most of it's life, and the condition of the frame would tend to support that claim. The photos below should show the general overall condition of the mechanical systems. Other: The odometer of this car shows just shy of 83,000 miles and judging from the mechanical condition, I have no reason to believe it's not correct. You can look at the undercarriage and tell for sure that it's definately NOT 183,000 miles. Below are photos of the paint tag and VIN tag. If there is anything you would like to see that I've failed to show, please message me and I will do my best to get more photos for you. Summary: As I said at the beginning of this listing, if you're looking for an NCRS Top Flight car to go after a Bloomington Gold certification, this isn't the car for you. It's a nice car, a good solid car, and an excellent driver. It's had a few bumps and scrapes in it's life, but it's never been beaten, abused, cannibalized or cut up, and you'll have to look long and hard to find another one that runs and drives as well. There are absolutely zero issues with the car that will need to be addressed immediately, so you can buy it and begin enjoying it right away. You might choose to put on a new top, or maybe some new carpet, but there isn't a single thing that needs to be done before you can start driving and enjoying it. Drive it a while, make some small improvements and then drive it some more! If you've ever purchased a "project car", I'm sure that you completely understand what I'm trying to say. Please Note: I've tried to be honest and thorough in my description but if you have any questions about anything that I missed, please shoot me a message through eBay and I'll get back to you ASAP. The car is available for inspection during the course of this auction to serious bidders (please, no tire kickers or test pilots) by appointment only. A non-refundable deposit of $1500 will be due within 48 hours of the auction end, with the balance due and payable in cash or certified funds at pickup before the car will be released. The car will need to be picked up within two weeks of the auction end unless other arrangements are made beforehand. Also please note that vehicles in the state of Alabama were not titled before 1975 so this Corvette is being sold on a Bill Of Sale only. If you will require further documentation in order to register this car in your state we will be happy to help accommodate your needs, but any costs incurred will be the responsibility of the buyer. Thanks for looking!