This 1965 Chevrolet Corvette coupe is an interesting mix of modifications and options, and is yet another Corvette of this vintage that is missing its original engine and transmission. It’s like all the guys with early 60s Corvettes that have been paperweights for the last decade decided this was the week to clean house. This particular Corvette is one of only a handful to leave the factory with a two-tone interior, and a previous owner modified the fenders to give it the flared appearance you see here. It will need complete restoration, but the seller doesn’t specify how much of it will be rust repair. Find the Corvette here on eBay with bidding to $19,700 and no reserve.
The Corvette reeks of being someone’s track day car, what with the widened fender openings and the missing engine and transmission. The latter always seems to me to be a big clue as to which vehicles saw track duty in the past, as racers don’t hesitate to yank an engine if its blown up or otherwise removed to install a more powerful mill. If the engine removal occurred with some proximity to the car’s birth date, it’s even more likely the engine was simply tossed, especially if it was damaged, and whatever could be easily installed thrown in. The bodywork modifications suggest a larger wheel and tire set up, which would be useful in both drag racing and track day events.
The interior is in very good condition for a project car, and the seller notes it is one of just 335 cars that left the factory with a two-tone black/white leather combination. I can’t necessarily see it here, as the seats appear to be black in color with no contrasting piping or other details to suggest it is two-tone, but perhaps those parts were previously removed. Regardless, the build sheet confirms it, and that’s an important detail to bring back if you choose the restore this Corvette. The gauges look clean and clear and the steering wheel remains original. The carpets and center console are in good shape as well. Other options include power steering, power brakes, and tinted glass.
To me, the most impressive details are underneath, where the Corvette appears to be impossibly clean. The seller is located near Atlanta, Georgia, but he notes that he purchased the car from the longtime 50 year owner in Indiana. That being said, if it’s lived in Indiana for any period of time, the dry condition underneath is even more impressive. The seller notes it was purchased new in West Palm Beach, Florida, and originally wore “Marlboro Maroon” paint when it was new. The Corvette is certainly attracting some attention despite being a project, and I hope whoever buys it finds a way to preserve those fattened fenders.
There isn’t no evidence this was a “race car”, magazines from the 60’s and 70’s were full of show cars with similar modifications. Sellers like to throw out the line that any modified car from that era was a race car. They are playing on the stupidity of potential buyers who will pay a premium so the can lord over a group of idiots at the local coffee and cars with unsubstantiated claims of an unknown “racing history”.
This car works only if it is left as a 1960’s modified with period performance parts. That is the least expensive way to build/restore this car, it will also garner the most attention wherever it goes.
Steve R
A friend of mine bought a 66 Corvette convertible and relocated the headlights into the grille, flared the wheel wells and did the same rear spoiler, and custom paint. He also had a set of the first side-mount headers (Kustom if I remember correctly) I had ever seen. Nasty small block with a cross-ram intake. He street raced it but it was never a “race car” This was built around 1971. If that car survived is it now a former race car or track car? Personally I like this one, if nothing else to piss off some of the purists. Drive it like you stole it.
It’s a street car. I raced in the street class for years at the local track, no one I know that raced on a regular basis with a car they drove to the track ever referred to their car as a race car, they instead said it was the car they raced. To us, a race car is a dedicated track only car that is towed to the track. Not everyone sees it that way, most of those that I know who like to throw out that term could count the number of times their “race car” has been down the track on one hand.
Steve R
I wish I could unsee that rear-end treatment. I wouldn’t buy it for what it’s bid up to but apparently there’s people who will.
No Marlboro Maroon in 1965. This was all the rage in the early 70s making a beautiful car into a gross and misshapen pile of crap. Then came 1974, and purists took over. This is an expensive undertaking for even a skilled Corvette mechanic.
The MM color code indicates Milano Maroon. The seats are from about a ’78~’82 and the key lock on the column wasn’t avaliable till about ’69. This car has been through some rough ownership in it’s past. I hope a new owner can correct some of their past sins. LOL
Good eye! That is a very rare interior as it would have to have been delivered by a Time Machine.
Would someone please tell me where the money is in this car? Go back to original? Yep, put another ’65 body on it. Vintage racer? Get serious. Vintage show car? Sure, right after you take the body down to bare glass, scrape all the bondo off the rear, redo/gut the interior, wheels, tires, chrome, and running gear. Oh, don’t forget the frame. Might as well pull the body cuz the frame is gonna need a lot!
Maybe there’s a wad of bills in the spare tire holder. Oops, doesn’t look like there is one.
Someone is dreaming, the body mods done to this specimen look to be done by a trained gorilla, the fender flares are definitely home brewed , that ducktail spoiler is just down right ugly & I see no provisions for headlights of any shape or form. It’s touted as a rare interior combo but carries late C3 seats and the wrong year steering column. The whole shebang makes me think that there was an awful lot of can & bottle emptying going on when all these downgrades were performed.
Stever summed it up! As usual! Ruxvette, its not about the money. Its a kool 60’s car, just finish it drive it and OWN IT. Flipper potential: -0! Fun potential: off the chart!!
Located in:
Atlanta, Georgia
I love when purists point out the obvious mods on any car ‘ wrong year ignition switch’! As if that has anything to do with the ultimate selling price!
Silly criticims aside, more than a few can and have seen past the mods on this and many others much to your chagrin or horror! Hahahahaha!!
It’s not a matter of being the wrong year ignition switch, what JW454 was pointing out was that it was a latter Corvette steering column. 63-67 Corvettes had the switch in the dash, while 69 and up have it on the column. The column in this car appears to be a 78-82 tilt & tele column.
I don’t know what book the seller found his claim that there were only 335 two tone interior cars built, but I’m not buying it. In 65, the two tone interiors were quite popular. Besides I don’t think this car even has what GM considered a two tone interior. I’m at the Carlisle swap meet this week, so I don’t have any reference material available, but I think the trim code indicates this car had a white interior.
In 65 if you ordered a white interior, only the door panels and seats were white, the rest of the interior was black. The two two tone 65 interiors were red and white and blue and white, where again the doors and seats were white, with the rest of the interior in red or blue. All red or all blue interiors were also available.
As others have said, this car was never a race car, but instead it was just another of thousands of mid year Corvettes that were customized in the 60’s and 70’s with flares, spoilers and molded in headlights.
@gb- Please don’t let the facts stand in the way of a good rant. lol
@Lowell- The “purists” provide information and opinions that may help someone considering a purchase of a car like this. A lot of modifications made on Corvettes may not be so obvious to some as they are to you.
Holy Chit what atrocious bodywork. I worked on a customized 65 convertible back when I was 13. Flared fenders, extra taillights, moulded in headlamp covers. It was done correctly and actually looked very nice. It was in for a repaint and we stripped six different colors of paint from it. Original red, then white then brown. Repeat red, white, brown. It left candy apple red and it was gorgeous. Thirty years later it was hanging in a local body shop from the ceiling (body only) the newest owner restored it to stock except he had it painted a dark green. A ton of work and money for a small lock car but it did look spectacular.
Ended:
Oct 05, 2021
Winning bid:
US $25,600.00
[ 51 bids ]