When Chevrolet slotted a V8 under the hood of the C1 Corvette, many people believed that it was that moment that transformed the vehicle into a genuine sports car. They upped the ante in 1957 by adding fuel injection to the mix, and from then until 1965, a Corvette “fuelie” was about as good as it got. Our feature car is a 1965 fuelie, and it has recently received a meticulous restoration. Its presentation is stunning, and it seems to need nothing beyond a new owner. Located in Lynnwood, Washington, you will find this Corvette listed for sale here on eBay. A single bid of $50,000 remains short of the reserve. However, the seller offers a BIN option of $89,950 for those who want to bypass the whole auction scene. Once again, Barn Finder Larry D has demonstrated how finely tuned his radar is by spotting this classic for us. Thank you so much for that, Larry.

It’s hard to know where to start with this Ermine White Corvette. The car is being offered for sale by a dealer, but it appears that the previous owner has spent a lot of time and money on a nut-and-bolt restoration. The seller rates its overall condition as a “10,” and it’s hard to argue that point. The paint shines beautifully, with not a blemish or mark visible in any of the supplied photos. The car comes with both a factory hardtop and soft-top, and while the former looks perfect, we don’t receive any information on the latter. The fiberglass shows no evidence of cracks, crazing, or other issues, while the glass and trim are flawless. This car features distinctive and desirable aluminum knock-off wheels that are wrapped in redline tires. The side exhaust adds a further touch of menace and proudly tells the world that this Corvette is special.

The restoration process wasn’t merely a case of giving the Corvette a quick once-over and ignoring areas that were out of sight. The underside is just as spotless as the exterior, with no evidence of rust or prior accident damage. Not only is this classic structurally solid, but there are no signs of any fluid leaks or other mechanical maladies.

When Chevrolet bolted fuel injection to its Corvette V8 in 1957, it unleashed extra power and performance that was welcomed by the buying public. What they generally didn’t like was the cost of this option. The take-up rate by potential buyers was always relatively low, but it was the 1965 model year that sealed this engine’s fate. For that year, Chevrolet shoehorned the 396ci big-block under the Corvette’s hood, and while it made the car feel heavier and less nimble than the small-block, there was no denying that it was fast. It was also cheap, which didn’t help the fuelie’s cause. Where buyers had to hand over a whopping $538 for the sophistication of fuel injection, the 396 big-block offered an additional 50hp and only added $292.70 to the Corvette’s sticker price. While 2,157 ticked the box beside the 396, a mere 771 spent the extra money on a fuelie. That sealed the fate of that fabulous motor, and by the end of 1965, Chevrolet removed it from the Options List. This Corvette is one of those rare classics, and it appears that it is numbers-matching. Bolted to that V8 is a 4-speed manual transmission, and this combination should be capable of demolishing the ¼ mile in 14.1 seconds. If the driver is brave enough to keep the pedal to the metal, the speedometer needle should nudge 145mph. The engine bay presents as nicely as you might expect on a recently restored car, but that is about all that we know about its mechanical state. However, the seller indicates that the car has only accumulated 323 miles since the former owner completed the work, which is barely broken in.

Turning our attention to the interior, we again find plenty to like. We also find one of the few deviations from this car’s factory specifications. The seller indicates that the seats are upholstered in red leather, but the tag shows that the Corvette rolled off the line with the seats wearing red vinyl. Purists would probably be tempted to address this, but I suspect that many potential buyers will look at it and decide that it’s too nice to touch. Everything looks crisp and clean, with no evidence of wear or physical damage. The car features an AM/FM radio and a power antenna to provide entertainment on those longer journeys.

When the fuel-injected V8 disappeared from the Corvette range at the end of 1965, it marked the end of an era. It would not return for around 18-years, and its reintroduction was motivated by the need to squeeze more performance and economy out of V8 engines that were being strangled by emission regulations. The cost of this option in 1965 killed it, but its rarity now sees it as a “must-have” in the classic market. When they hit the market, spotless examples can easily dive into the six-digit territory. As values continue to climb, they also seem to represent a solid investment prospect. This one looks like a bargain at the BIN price, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone hit that button fairly soon. Would you?