It is fair to say that the C2 firmly established Chevrolet’s Corvette in the marketplace. It sold in significantly higher numbers than its predecessor, and the company’s focus on an improved driving experience created a more rounded package that drew almost universal praise. This 1965 Convertible is a perfect example of the breed, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting it. It has a genuine 47,000 miles showing on its odometer and is listed here on Craigslist in Port Orchard, Washington. Handing the seller $75,000 would allow you to drive into the sunset behind the wheel of this classic drop-top.

Chevrolet adopted an evolutionary approach to styling changes to the Corvette for the 1965 model year. A smoother hood and functional vertical fender vents retained the genuinely aggressive appearance, but the appearance was somehow cleaner. The seller makes bold claims about this car’s paint shade being rare, but that isn’t necessarily true. The company offered nine colors in 1965, with 2,552 buyers selecting Silver Pearl. However, with the tallies for Tuxedo Black, Ermine White, and Goldwood Yellow all lower, this shade sits about mid-pack. They don’t mention a restoration history, although the lack of visible cosmetic flaws suggests this might be the case. The trim looks excellent, the glass is clear, and this Corvette comes with a soft-top, but no hardtop. My only criticism can be levelled at the wheels. I have no issues with Cragar products, but they somehow don’t feel “right” on this car. I would prefer to see it with its original wheels or a set of cast aluminum knock-offs, but I guess that we can’t have it all.

Chevrolet introduced the 396ci V8 as a big-block option for the first time in 1965, sounding the death knell for the considerably more expensive “fuelie.” However, most buyers still selected one of the 327ci powerplants, as is the case here. The pick of the bunch from a “bang for your buck” perspective was undoubtedly the L75, delivering 300hp and 360 ft/lbs of torque while only adding $53.80 to the sticker price. That makes it easy to see why 8,358 buyers ticked that box on their Order Form. This car’s first owner teamed the L75 with a four-speed manual transmission, and this is 1-of-3,236 cars ordered with power steering. Performance was all that you might expect, with this Corvette undoubtedly garnering respect wherever it goes. The seller doesn’t mention whether this classic is numbers-matching or whether they hold evidence verifying the odometer reading of 47,400 genuine miles. However, the car’s overall condition makes the claim possible, suggesting that this Convertible should be a turnkey proposition.

Ordering a ’65 Corvette in Silver Pearl allowed buyers to select from an interior trimmed in Red, Silver, or Black. The first owner selected the latter shade in desirable leather, adding a teakwood wheel and an AM/FM radio to improve the driving experience. As with the exterior, there is little inside this Convertible warranting criticism. The leather has the typical wrinkles that are a hallmark of graceful aging, and no evidence of wear. The carpet hasn’t faded, the dash looks excellent, and there are no visible aftermarket additions. The new owner will be able to slip behind the wheel with their head held high, because there is nothing about this interior that is embarrassing.

There are times when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and that could be the case with this 1965 Corvette Convertible. These are inherently desirable cars, and history demonstrates that good examples are typically rock-solid investment prospects. However, this Convertible takes that to a higher level, courtesy of the L75 V8, the teakwood wheel, leather trim, and the first owner’s decision to order it with power steering. Each item is viewed favorably in the classic world, and bringing them all together in one package means that the seller’s price is realistic. The hard fact is that any vehicle within this price range will have a limited pool of potential buyers, because most average enthusiasts will not consider the price as affordable. That might be true, but it only takes one person with the cash in their hand for this Corvette to find a new home. It has been on the market for a short time, and I believe that a buyer might emerge quite quickly. Are you tempted to make it yours?