425 Horsepower! 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

If you were about in 1965 and wanted a seriously fast wind-in-the-hair experience, there were a few options open to you. The truly adventurous could strap themselves to the nose of a Saturn I rocket, although that offered a one-off experience that was pretty expensive. A more affordable option was to wander into your local Chevrolet dealership and slap down the cash for a car like this 1965 Corvette Convertible. Not only does it look stunning, but the L78 big-block under the hood gave you 425hp to play with. This Corvette not only features that motor, but it is looking for a new home. Located in Gadsden, Alabama, you will find the ‘Vette listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $61,100, and if you aren’t already tempted, the fact that it is being offered with No Reserve may be just enough to tip you over the edge.

This Corvette gives us a lot to consider, and when you look at what is on offer, it’s easy to see why the bidding activity has been so intense up until now. The car is finished in its original shade of Ermine White, and the paint shines impressively. It’s hard to spot any flaws or problems with the paint, and the state of the fiberglass continues this trend. There is no evidence of cracking or crazing and no obvious problems around the bonding strips. If potential buyers are searching for a classic that makes a positive first impression, this Corvette certainly does that. If it has a weak point, then it isn’t a bad one. The White soft-top has some dirty marks that stand out quite starkly. It isn’t clear whether these are permanents stains, but it would be worth the effort to subject the top to a thorough clean. The results could be worth the effort. Delving below the surface reveals a frame that has little more than some light surface corrosion in a couple of spots. It looks to be structurally sound, and the owner doesn’t indicate any issues in the listing. The glass is in excellent order, while the same is true of the chrome and trim. A few of the stand-out features of this exterior include the factory hardtop, the side exhaust, and the genuine knock-off aluminum wheels. Those last items would have cost the original owner an eye-watering $322.80, so it’s easy to see why only 1,116 buyers ticked that box on the order form.

The 1965 model year heralded the introduction of the engine that effectively sounded the death knell for the desirable Corvette “fuelie” V8. It was the 396ci L78 big-block, which is what we find hiding under the hood of this car. It is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission, and this combination is enough to allow the Corvette to demolish the ¼ mile in 13.7 seconds. That made this the fastest Corvette down the drag strip to date, but it still fell around 13mph short of the “fuelie’s” ultimate top speed of 145mph. What was it about this motor that killed its more sophisticated cousin? The simple answer was the cost. If a buyer ordered their ’65 with the fuel-injected motor, that added $538 to the sticker price to deliver 375hp. The big-block churned out 425hp and added a mere $292.70 to the bill. It was a bit of a no-brainer from a “bang for your bucks” perspective, but there was one other factor to consider. The fuelie was a sophisticated piece of equipment by 1965 standards, and many regular mechanics struggled to address faults that might occur in the injector system. This led to a situation where quite a few owners chose to swap out the fuel-injection system for a regular carburetor. That wasn’t a consideration with the 396, as it was no more complicated than any other production American V8. This Corvette is numbers-matching, and the spotless presentation of the engine bay is just the precursor to a positive story. The owner says that this classic runs and drives perfectly, and is ready to be enjoyed by a lucky new owner.

I will admit that I have been casting a critical eye over this Corvette in a bid to find something to fault. I will also admit that I seem to have failed rather dismally on that front. The interior is upholstered in a combination of Red and White vinyl, which is as specified on the Trim Tag. The White surfaces are in excellent condition, with no signs of yellowing or stains, and no evidence of splits, tears, or other problems. The story remains the same when we look at the carpet, while the dash and wheel are spotless. There have been no aftermarket additions, and the original Wonderbar radio remains intact. If classic convertibles have one disadvantage, it is the inability to hide interior problems. Once the top is down, everything is there for the general public to see and judge. The person who buys this Corvette will be able to hold their head high because this is an interior that will garner nothing but positive comments.

When you look at the overall condition of this 1965 Corvette Convertible, it’s easy to see why it has already attracted an incredible 91 bids since being offered for sale. However, I think that this will be the tip of the iceberg and that there is plenty more to come. It ticks so many of the right boxes when it comes to the questions of specifications, condition, and optional extras, that I wouldn’t be surprised to see the bidding surge beyond $80,000. I’ll even stick my neck out and say that if the right bidders get involved, a six-figure sale price is possible. This auction is well worth watching.