Back when I was a student in the mid-1990s, my high school hosted the Class D track-and-field state finals, and we track runners had to help run the event. In a best-case-scenario situation, I ended up showing people where to park, and to my surprise, someone showed up in a Rally Red 1965 Corvette Convertible much like the one pictured above, which is being auctioned here on eBay in Vero Beach, Florida. I distinctly remember being surprised by its “396 Turbo-Jet” badges, because I didn’t know at the time that the 396 was ever available in Chevy’s halo cars; however, it was, and the owner was rightly nervous about parking it in the crowded lot. I couldn’t offer much sympathy, as it was a crowded event at which to park such a special car, but I get it…the example pictured above is currently sitting at a high bid of $57,100.
For a car in its third year of production, the Sting Ray had a lot of new equipment to crow about; not only did it get four-wheel disc brakes for the first time (finally!), it also got the hot new Chevy big-block. The 396 was introduced partway through the 1965 model year, and its bruising 425 horsepower quickly made the expensive 327 fuel-injection engine obsolete. The 396 was only offered for this one model year, but it was the top-of-the-line solid-lifter 396, shown here. The seller of this car says that the engine is a numbers-matching unit (there are pictures of the VIN plate and engine-block stamp in the eBay ad), and that it was rebuilt two years ago with a roller cam and serpentine drive belt kit. The distributor has a Pertronix unit installed (and the new buyer will get the Corvette-specific ignition shield, which isn’t currently installed). The ‘Vette also has an aluminum radiator and electric cooling fan.
There are modifications under the driveline tunnel, too, in the form of a Tremec TKX five-speed. The interior looks good aside from some minor seat wear, which has “no rips” and “no tears.” At some point, a rack-and-pinion steering system was installed, and it has power brakes as well.
This Sting Ray still has its factory knock-off wheels and side exhaust, so you have a combination of stock looks with some modern upgrades, which should be right in the wheelhouse of more than one potential Corvette buyer. Would it bring more money if it were stock? I don’t know, but I’m just glad they left the 396 under the hood. One day back in 1994 or so, I learned that it was a pretty special engine in a pretty special car.
Gets a big WOW! from me. Beautiful car with just the right upgrades.
I luv it.
Hopefully the tunnel is not butchered too much to fit the newer tranny due to its height. .
The 5 speed is a bolt in swap.
TKX was Tremecs answer to the space problem created when cramming a TKO into an older car. Its an end loaded transmission to keep the height down, unlike earlier Tremec TKO’s that are TALL units.
Very nice Corvette… but the tires would have to go…
.RWLs on a mid-year = whipped cream on a hot dog!
Red Line?
The best way to install a tremec 5 speed is to cut 16 inches out of the crossmember buy the special flanges weld them on to the cut parts install the 5 speed and bolt the cross member back in works great
I put a six speed in my 68 from Silver Sports. It comes with a new cross member that converts the original welded in to a bolt in cross member to make it a lot easier to install.
Just curious. Is that 396 an L78 or is there another number designation? In a Chevelle they were rated at 375 HP but no effort necessary to dyno them considerably higher than that.
Just curious. Is that 396 an L78 or is there another number designation? In a Chevelle they were rated at 375 HP but no effort necessary to dyno them considerably higher than that. Obviously with a roller cam and ignition upgrades this one would likely be above the 425 at that! Without traction control, better know what you’re doing when you nail this one!
The L-78 in the ’65 Vette and full size Chevrolet rated at 425 HP is exactly the same one available in the ’66 Chevelle rated at 375 HP. The only difference is the RPM that each motor was run at to determine the rating. I believe that the Vette was at 6,500 and the Chevelle was something like 5,800.
This a VERY cool automobile by the way.
Wonder if the seller has a tank sticker, window sticker, and or any original documentation? That would be the icing on the cake if he did. I personally like the upgrades made, like the aluminum radiator with electric fans, manual 5 speed transmission, fiberglass rear leaf springs, Bilstein shocks, BFG radial tires, and roller cam and lifters, and the serpentine belt system. Only thing I would have added is disk brakes up front.
4 wheel discs were standard beginning in 1965, although a handful of people did the disc delete for a $60 credit. The teak steering wheel is beautiful, and the 66 hood gives it attitude!
That is not a ’66 hood, all the big block Vettes had the raised area on the hood for clearance over the induction system.
There is resale red and there is ass-kicking red.
This one is not resale red.
Sorry guys,
This can’t be the original engine for this car as the low car serial number is BEFORE they made 396 corvettes that year by at least a couple of months.
Interesting
Very interesting, to say the me least, given the vin and block stamp.
I’ve looked at about 30 midyear corvettes in the last 20 years, about 10 of them were re-stamps & all the owners didn’t want to believe it.
That’s one reason I’m glad that my fleet of cars is relatively worthless…I don’t have to worry about stuff like that. :)
Why has the VIN tag been re-riveted to the dashboard area below the glove compartment? Why was the VIN tag previously removed? Stolen car? The rivets used are not original.