UPDATE 12/11/2021: It seems that the owner of this 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe had no success with his last listing. At that time, bidding reached $55,655, but this was still short of the reserve. Therefore, it appears that he’s decided to have another swing at seeing if he can find a new home for this spotless classic. It seems that little has changed since then, with the car remaining located in Troy, Michigan. He has listed it for sale here on eBay, and with the bidding at $45,900, it is yet to reach the reserve.

I am always impressed by the strategies that some enthusiasts will employ to preserve their beloved classics. Take this 1965 Corvette as a prime example. A previous owner located it hidden in a barn and treated it to a restoration. The current owner has taken this process a step further to protect its originality into the future. If you like what you see and would like to give this ‘Vette a new home, you will find it located in Troy, Michigan, and listed for sale here on eBay.

The story of this Nassau Blue Corvette is a bit complicated, but it deserves telling. The original owner drove and enjoyed this classic before deciding to park it in a Montana barn in around 1979. It remained untouched for the next two decades before being discovered by its second owner in 1999. That owner rolled up his sleeves and worked through restoring the car to its original state. This involved returning the vehicle to a roadworthy condition and organizing a repaint in its beautiful Blue. The current owner (the car’s third) purchased the car in August of 2005, and it has remained his sunny day car that has only seen rain twice in the past sixteen years. It seems that its hibernation had no detrimental effects on the car because it has been winning show trophies until recently. The second owner applied the beautiful paint in July of 2005, and the fact that it has survived in such good shape suggests that the work was completed to a high standard. It shines beautifully, with no significant flaws in the paint or the fiberglass that hides beneath. The owner describes the frame’s state as solid, and he says that there has been no deterioration due to moisture. That suggests that this classic is structurally sound. The original owner ordered this Corvette with tinted glass, and it remains 100% original and in excellent condition. A close examination of the chrome reveals a few rub marks, but nothing has penetrated the plating. Overall, I would describe this ‘Vette as a better-than-average driver-quality survivor.

When is a numbers-matching car not a numbers-matching car? That would be when the vehicle in question is this Corvette. I need to take off my hat to this owner because his preservation strategy goes beyond what we would typically expect. This classic rolled off the production line equipped with the L79 version of Chevrolet’s venerable 327ci V8 that churned out 350hp. Rounding out the drivetrain package is a four-speed manual transmission and a 3.55 Posi rear end. As performance cars go, this was up there with the best of them. Any vehicle that can blitz the ¼ mile in 14.2 seconds deserves respect. This is the point where the story takes a twist because the engine you see in these photos is a stove-hot 355 that produces 425hp. The owner’s strategy was to pull the original, very healthy 327 and place it into safe storage. Some of its peripherals, like the intake, carburetor, and alternator, found their way onto this 355 before being slotted into place. That means that the car can be driven and enjoyed without placing the numbers-matching status in jeopardy. The owner includes the healthy 327 in the sale, so the buyer could continue to enjoy the ‘Vette as-is, or they could return it to its factory specifications with minimal effort. It is not an approach that we see every day, but it remains a good one nonetheless. For buyers intent on instant gratification, this car delivers. It is a turn-key vehicle that is ready to be driven and enjoyed when the appropriate amount of cash changes hands.

When the second owner worked through the restoration process with this Corvette, its interior came in for its share of attention. He installed the current Black interior in around 2002 or 2003, and it remains in excellent condition today. The upholstered surfaces have remained free from wear and physical damage, while the dash and carpet continue the spotless theme. The gauge lenses are crystal clear, and the markings are crisp and bright. The beautiful Teakwood wheel has developed some cracks, and I believe it has probably deteriorated beyond the point where it would be a viable restoration project. Potential buyers may struggle to locate an original wheel, but high-quality reproduction items generally sell for approximately $300. There are specialist services that perform restorations, so it could be worth contacting one of those if the buyer intends to continue the trend established by the current owner. The original owner ordered the ‘Vette with the optional AM/FM radio, which remains intact.

We’ve seen some extraordinary efforts by owners to preserve their original classics over the years here at Barn Finds, but this owner rates up there with the best of them. This ’65 Corvette isn’t perfect, but I would describe its condition as above-average for a driver. That raises the question of what the buyer might do once they have it safely tucked away in their garage. Will they continue to drive and enjoy this classic as it stands, or are they likely to bolt the numbers-matching L79 back into the engine bay? I’d probably leave it untouched, at least in the short term. I may feel motivated to perform the swap in the future, but with what is already occupying the engine bay, I hardly see the point in rushing into these decisions. Do you?