Matching-Numbers 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray 396

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.