1965 Chevrolet Corvette

Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Manual

Gasoline

1965 Corvette Roadster: A 30-Year Time Capsule! A true barn find is the stuff of legend. Stories like "Billy bought the car new and went off to war, never to return. We just found it in an old barn with 300 miles on it." Well, this is NOT that car and this is NOT a barn find. But it's the next best thing: A car that was driven sparingly for the first 10-15 years of its life and then largely forgotten in a locked garage for the next 30+ years. When that car happens to be a Corvette with so many original parts, then you really start to get excited. This is that car. The story is an interesting one to be sure, and the car even more so. We will focus on some of the details next, but first let's start by checking out some pictures below (click on the smaller photos to open larger ones in a new window) and then keep on reading... The short version of the story is that this car belonged to a friend of my father who put it away in a Las Vegas garage some 30 years ago. There it sat until recently being "rediscovered" and offered to my dad. With only 55,130 original miles on the clock, it still has many of the original components such as the carpeting, gauges, interior, and top(s). Yes, it has both the soft top and factory hard top. Of course the real excitement comes with that big block hood and the engine that lays underneath it - but don't get too excited: It turns out that this car originally shipped with the upgraded 365 HP 327, not the 396. The original hood is also included. Intrigued yet? Check out some more pictures and then read on... The interior on this Vette is in remarkably good condition. I suspect the driver's seat had the seat bottom material recently (just before storage) replaced as it is a bit "brighter" than the rest of the interior and the seat itself is unbolted. The rest of the interior suffers mainly from 30 years of dust and dirt. Indeed, if you pull aside the plastic covers from the original, rip-free carpet you can see just how bright it really is underneath. Amazing! The gauges are all correct and original, including the higher redline tach only offered on the high horsepower motors of 1965 - of which this is one. The shift boot has dry-rotted considerably, the soft top is junk after so long in storage, and the rear carpet glue has given up on the back wall of the cargo area. This area needs mainly a good cleaning to be practically brand new as you can see from the pictures below: Now, this wonderful old Corvette features several neat things. We are fairly certain that the tank has never been dropped, so the tank sticker could very well be yours to discover for the very first time. What we DO have is pretty awesome in and of itself: Original owner's manual ORIGINAL Protect-O-Plate(!!) showing original owner and delivery date (4/24/65) Numbers-matching 4-speed Muncie transmission 4.11 rear end Teak steering wheel Day/night interior mirror Reverse lights AM/FM Radio with power antenna Pristine trim tag showing Nassau Blue with blue vinyl interior Flawless VIN plate Big block hood and small block hood Original hub caps Bias-ply Kelly Springfield spare tire Disc brakes Big block motor with high performance intake & carb Of course that last part deserves an entry of it's very own: This motor is sort of a conundrum as it is obviously a big block motor, but without key Corvette identifiers like the valve covers, air cleaner, head markings, etc. While the radiator overflow tank is correct (and without a cap), many of the other parts seem more generic. As near as I can figure the current engine is actually a Chevy 454 big block from the 1970's. The intake manifold is Edelbrock, the valve covers are the early Cal Custom versions, while the air cleaner is the Weiland Ram Flo - one of the most desired aftermarket upgrades in the early '70's. The rest of the drive train appears all-original, and I was able to confirm the numbers on the Muncie transmission match the VIN. There is no battery and we made no attempt to start this classic as we figured the new owner would like the honor of firing it up for the first time in 30 years. We were told it ran great and was driven into storage where the fuel was drained, oil topped off, and the car basically mothballed for 30 years. With the brakes not functioning as of this writing, it rolls like a champ too! Okay, besides the obvious engine and hood swap, what else should be noted about this car? Well, for one thing it has a very beautiful Imron paint job from the 1970's. It certainly protected the body, but the color isn't quite accurate as Nassau Blue - it is a little darker. It has a few blems, some light scratches, and a "pop" on the hood bulge - not uncommon for the C2 cars. The original and optional hard top also features this paint, with an excellent original liner underneath. The rear Plexiglass also looks great. The overall paint job is good, but not great. There is a LOT of overspray underneath the car, including on the exhaust and spare tire carrier - even the spare tire is now partially blue. One local Corvette expert came by to admire the car and suggested the fenders may not be original as they are missing a "ridge" underneath. Given the lack of other Vette goodies such as the radiator surround and a grill that may not be correct for 1965, and we suspect the front end was replaced at some point. Great lines around the headlight tubs and it really shows well. The underside is solid with no signs of major rust - 30 years stored in a desert garage helped! Got questions about this incredible 1965 Corvette? Be sure to e-mail me for more information. This is a great opportunity to pick up an awesome time capsule and restore it to like-new. It has a strong history, some great factory options, and is priced aggressively to sell quickly. So bid fast and bid high, as this incredible piece of history will go to one very happy bidder - make sure that it's you! Below are more pictures for your viewing pleasure (don’t forget to click the smaller ones to see larger versions in a new window). Enjoy! HAPPY BIDDING! The Fine Print 10% of final bid price is due within three (3) days of auction end, while balance is due within ten (10) days of auction end. All taxes, fees, and registration charges are the responsibility of the winning bidder. This Corvette is 46 years old and there is absolutely no warranty expressed or implied. Vehicle is available for inspection prior to auction end. Buyer is responsible for all transportation arrangements and cost. Vehicle must be picked up within 14 days of auction end. Seller can offer limited assistance with pick up once buyer (or their designated carrier) arrives, however it is up to the buyer to make the actual arrangements. A winched trailer is STRONGLY recommended. We will accept certified money orders, certified bank checks, and wire transfers. The full 10% deposit can be made with VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover through PayPal (and not just the $2000 as shown in the PayPal details), however the balance must be paid by one of the previous methods – NOT PayPal. If you cannot or will not pay, DON'T BID OR BUY. Your bid is a contract to purchase – not to inspect or test-drive this car. Please consider this when you place your bid to purchase. This vehicle is being advertised elsewhere and the seller reserves the right to cancel this auction at any time.