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Original Survivor: 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

While meticulously restored classic cars will always be considered desirable, a beautifully preserved and unmolested example of the same model will always command more attention. It is especially true if the classic in question is an award-winning car that comes with a mountain of documentation that dates back to “day one.” That is the story with this 1965 Corvette Convertible. It is an NCRS multiple Top Flight Award Winner that comes with its original dealership paperwork. It has never been restored, but after 22-years in a private collection, the time has come for it to head to a new home. Located in Hillburn, New York, you will find the Corvette listed for sale here at Hemmings. The owner has set the sale price at $109,000 OBO. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Boot for spotting the Corvette for us.

We’ve seen a few nice C2 Corvette survivors recently, and this one appears to be a real pearl. The Milano Maroon classic is said to be completely original and unrestored. If this is accurate, then its overall condition is pretty impressive. The paint shines nicely, with no evidence of significant problems or flaws. The fiberglass appears to be sound, and I can’t spot any signs of crazing or other issues in the supplied photos. Admittedly, the quality of the supplied photos isn’t the greatest, so an in-person inspection should confirm this. The owner makes no mention of any rust or corrosion, so once again, that would need to be verified by inspection. However, the dealer invoice indicates that the vehicle was undercoated when new, so hopefully that has afforded it some protection over the past 56-years. The Black soft-top appears to be in good order, and there is also a factory hardtop finished in Milano Maroon. The external trim looks nice for its age, as does the tinted glass. The Corvette is a multiple NCRS Top Flight Award winner, and certificates confirm that it achieved these awards were attained at Regional Level, at least. It isn’t clear whether the owner scored a National Award, but if he did so, that is a significant achievement when considering the condition and originality of the vehicle. The only certificate that the owner shows in the photos was received in 2010, and it isn’t clear whether he has received anything more recently. That is a question that might be worth asking for any people who are genuinely interested in this classic.

The tidy survivor theme continues when we take a look inside the Convertible. It is upholstered in Black, and it presents exceptionally well for its age. There are no flaws or problems for the buyer to tackle because every upholstered surface looks perfect. The carpet hasn’t faded, and the dash seems close to perfect. The original owner ordered the Corvette with an AM/FM radio and a power antenna, and these both appear to be intact. The documentation that is included is enough to make your head spin. It seems that the owner has every piece of paperwork about the Corvette dating back to day one. It consists of the Dealer Invoices, Window Sticker, Order Forms, Protect-O-Plate, CCAS Certification, NCRS Certificates, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The owner claims that this is the best-documented C2 Corvette in existence today, and he even includes a magazine article on the vehicle that makes the same claim.

Powering the Corvette is the L76 version of the sweet little 327ci V8 small-block. This would be producing 365hp, which finds its way to the 3.70 Posi rear end via a 4-speed manual transmission. That combination means that this Corvette is no slouch. Point it at a ¼ mile, and the journey should be over in 14.2 seconds. The Convertible is a numbers-matching classic, and the owner holds documentation that confirms this. He says that the engine has never been out of the car and that it drives like it did the day that it rolled out of the showroom. The listing shows an odometer reading of 65,000 miles, and if this is accurate, I won’t be surprised. Given the owner’s meticulous record-keeping, confirming this should not be difficult.

For potential buyers searching for an original C2 Corvette, this 1965 Convertible seems to have a lot to offer. It appears to be the real deal, and it comes with more paperwork than you can poke a stick at. Cars like this aren’t usually mere survivors, but with the documentation that is included, they are investment-grade classics. As I’ve noted previously, values have taken a hit since the start of 2020, but they are climbing back to their previous levels. It isn’t clear whether they will eventually plateau or whether the climb will continue. Buying a classic car as an investment will always be a risk, but that’s true of almost any asset. However, with more manufacturers indicating that they will be transitioning to zero-emission vehicles in coming years, that will do nothing but push the values on cars like this ever higher. If you have the available money, maybe this one deserves a closer look. If it checks out and the market does continue to climb, it could potentially be a great investment prospect.

Comments

  1. Avatar Pat

    That’s some garage!

    Like 3
  2. Avatar Leo

    Great 65. I have inspected this car and driven it.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar jj jauregui Member

    What little i may know and after watching the past weekends car auction this seems like a very reasonable buy. A C2 like this is on my bucket list.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar george mattar

    What a garage is right. Beautiful Milano Maroon 65. Still beautiful after more than 50 years. One look at this going down the road and you are taken back to when thought and real design turned out stunning rolling art. Today, my 87 year old mother could style a better car than the over complicated garbage that idiot Americans buy. I work at a Jeep dealer. So many problems on top of butt ugly$50,000 plus junk. Oh, how we have fallen and continue to fall into the abyss.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar JoeBob

    It’s beautiful. It looks to be worth $105k in today’s market, and I don’t qualify. On the other hand, if I did have the resources, I’d want to drive the wheels off this beauty, and then it’s no longer worth $105k, so it’s probably just as well for this Corvette that I can’t but it.

    Like 1

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