1965 Chevrolet Corvette

1965 Chevrolet Corvette For Sale This 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray is a fresh, frame-off restoration of one of the most significant cars of the C2 era a first-year big-block carrying the legendary RPO L78, the 396-cubic-inch, 425-horsepower \"Turbo Jet\" V8 that arrived midway through 1965 and effectively ended the run of the fuel-injected small-block. Only 2,157 Corvettes were built with the L78 396 that year, with coupes making up the smaller share, which puts this car among the rarest of the first big-block Corvettes. Finished in Nassau Blue over a blue interior with white seats and backed by a factory 4-speed turning a 3.36 rear axle, it wears VIN 194375S118903 and is documented from new by its NCRS Shipping Data Report, which records a GM production date of June 2, 1965 and original delivery to Ray Bryant Chevrolet in Dayton, Ohio.Everything available points to this being a true L78 chassis its build date, the frame-mounted location of the battery tray, and an unusually deep paper trail that includes a letter from the second owner describing the sale of the car's original big-block in the late 1960s. In the interest of full transparency: 1965 Corvettes were not built with tank stickers, and this car's original dealer invoice is long gone, so absolute documentary proof of the L78 option isn't possible, and the car is priced accordingly. It has been owned by the same person since 1978, who assembled a complete chain of ownership through handwritten correspondence, and by every indication the car has never left the state of Ohio.The drivetrain history is the kind collectors know well: the original engine was pulled and sold in 1969 and replaced with a 1969 Camaro 350, which stayed under the hood for decades. During this restoration that 350 was removed and the car was returned to correct big-block specification with a fully rebuilt, factory-specification L78 396/425 assembled from authentic, correct-casting components a 3855962 block (coded E 27 5), 3856208 heads (coded E 14 5 and F 1 5), a 3866963 intake manifold, and an NOS GM-replacement Holley 3124 (3868826-CS) carburetor, the same Holley number specified for the L78. Locating and acquiring the correct pieces took roughly 18 months. The engine was built and dyno-tested by Performance Research, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio before delivery to the chassis restorer.The body and chassis work was carried out by Jeremy Starr of Blaine, Kentucky, who spent his career restoring award-winning C1 and C2 Corvettes at one of the country's most respected shops before opening his own operation. The frame was hand-stripped, inspected, primed, and repainted, and every body mount, bushing, and fastener was replaced with the chassis off the frame; all body panels were stripped to bare surface and revealed no prior collision damage. The suspension was renewed throughout, including new trailing arms. The brake system is entirely new, with four-wheel disc brakes all around this was a non-power-brake car from the factory and currently runs a dual-reservoir master cylinder for safety while being driven to local shows. A complete new fuel system and a fresh cooling system round out the mechanicals, the latter built around a new reproduction Harrison radiator with an upgraded aluminum core and a period-correct Harrison expansion tank. The car rides on new Goldline reproduction tires, and the entire wiring harness and all bulbs were replaced.Inside, the restoration deliberately preserved original material wherever it was sound. The carpet presents as original and was carefully removed, cleaned, spot re-dyed, and reinstalled, and the door cards and headliner are likewise original, cleaned and refitted. The white seat covers are older Al Knock pieces installed in the early 1980s. The original rear bumpers were retained despite minor surface patina because the reproductions fit poorly, and the original hubcaps show some fade in the inserts. New front, rear, and side fender emblems finish the exterior.