1965 CORVETTE STING RAY 396/425 BIG BLOCK CONVERTIBLE

Classic DREAMCARS Mount Dora, Fla. (352) 385-1945 www.classicdreamcars.com

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THIS IS THE "REAL DEAL", SUPERB "SURVIVOR".... AN ORIGINAL, FULLY MATCHING NUMBER*, LOW-MILEAGE CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE WITH A CORRECT, RARE, ONE-YEAR-ONLY OFFERING: THE COVETED 396/425 H.P. 'MARK IV' MOTOR. ONLY 2,157 WERE EVER MADE IN BOTH COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE. THIS CAR WAS SOLD NEW 6/30/65 TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER ( R.J. WINTERROTH) FROM ALAN GREEN CHEVROLET IN SEATTLE WASHINGTON. IT THEN SOLD TO JAMES DILLON IN STUART FLA. ON 2/7/95 AND THEN TO US IN 1997. WE THEN SOLD IT TO AN ATTORNEY IN SOUTH FLORIDA ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO. TO SAY THAT HE "BABIED THE CAR" WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOTASLLY MAINTAINED & SERVICED WITH ONLY 2,500 MILES IN 15 YEARS. THIS IS A GREAT CONTRASTING COLOR COMBINATION, RECEIVING IT'S ONLY RE-PAINT IN 1995 IN IT'S ORIGINAL NASSAU BLUE WITH ORIGINAL BLACK INTERIOR WITH DATE CODED BLACK SOFT TOP. THIS CAR IS WHAT WOULD FAIRLY BE CALLED "MINT ORIGINAL" WITH 38,335 ORIGINAL MILES : LOADED WITH 'ALL THE TOYS' INCLUDING THE BIG BLOCK 396 / 425 H.P. MOTOR w/ "POWER BULGE" HOOD, TEAK STEERING WHEEL, FOUR-WHEEL DISC BRAKES, TINTED GLASS, M-21 FOUR SPEED WITH 3:70 POSITRACTION, POWER ANTENNA, KNOCK-OFF WHEELS, K-66 TRANSISTOR IGNITION, FACTORY SIDE EXHAUST PIPES, MATCHING AUXILIARY HARD TOP, ORIGINAL RADIO SYSTEM, AND DELUXE SEAT BELTS. TOP THOSE KNOCK-OFF'S OFF WITH NEW WHITEWALL RADIALS AND YOU HAVE ONE GREAT RIDE. IT IS COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL PROTECT-O-PLATE, ORIGINAL BROACH MARKS ON THE ENGINE PAD, OWNERS MANUAL IN ORIGINAL "CHEVROLET" FOLDER , WARRANTY BOOKLET, NAME & TITLE TRACE THROUGH ALL 4 OWNERS AND ALL RESTO. DOC'S FROM 1995 TILL TODAY PLUS. ALL MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS. .IF YOU YEARNED FOR THE "PERFECT DRIVING CORVETTE" , THAT FEELS LIKE A NEW ONE- YOU JUST FOUND IT. BACK FROM OUR PERSONAL COLLECTION & PRICED TO SELL $116,500.

THE STORY:

The Mid-Sixties may have caused American's to smilenervously for 1965 was a Time of Major Change. "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" came out in hardback book and then as a Top Rated Film. Andy Warhol issued his 'Campbell's Soup Can' Paintings, Liechtenstein his now highly collectible Cartoon Art, the U.S. Surgeon General blamed cigarettes for causing Cancer, and a Movie Actor (Ronald Reagan) became Governor of California. America religiously watched "Laugh In", while Top 40 Music turned a 'Happy Face' with songs like " Good Vibrations", "Feelin Groovy", "California Dreaming" and "All You Need Is Love". 1965 was the Year of ' The British Invasion' with music by "The Kinks", "Rolling Stones", "Hermit's Hermits", "Freddie & The Dreamers" and "The Beatles" inundated the Radio Airwaves.... while many American Musician's resented this fact- their music did more for the Music Scene than any other force. American's were forced to answer back with great hits by The Byrds ( like, Turn,Turn Turn), Bob Dylan (Mr. Tambourine Man), Barry MacGuire (Eve of Destruction), Sonny & Cher (I Got You Babe), and Lovin' Spoonful (Do You Believe In Magic). TV was all about Camp Humor: "Hogan Heroes", "Green Acres", "Beverly Hillbillies", "I Spy", "Get Smart", "I Dream of Genie", "Lost In Space", and ["Danger, Danger Will Robinson]: "The Swiss Family Robinson" covered the Boob Tube. The Movies were captured by Beach Party Knock-off's of "Beach Blanket Bingo" like, "How To Stuff A Wild Bikini" and "Doctor Goldfoot and The Bikini Machine". Though the blockbusters were Sean Connery in "Thunderball" "The Pawn Broker" and When The Boys Meet The Girls". Though YOU might remember the small stuff like Lava Lamps, 'Mod Styles' in straight Black & White, Granny-Style Sunglasses, Skirts 2" above the Knee, 'Straight & Shiny' Hair, and Kool-Aid.
The Sixties brought on the Birth of Auto Individuality: First, the Socially Responsible Compacts like Valiant, Lark and Falcon... followed by; the Pony Cars like Mustang, Barracuda and Camaro, and then, the Rebellious Muscle Cars like GTO, Trans Am and Charger. Big Cars, like Cadillac lost their Fins, American Motors prepared to go Bankrupt, while the average America Car carried a window sticker of $3,100.50.
Today, many Collectors look back and see the 1965 Chevrolet Corvettes as the Ultimate Collectible. This was the year G.M. finally issued Four Wheel Disc Brakes as Standard Equipment. For the First Time, you could actually stop once you reached the Warp Factor ( with all previous Corvette models fitted with Drum Brakes from the 1963 model back to the Blue-Flame Sixes in 1953, even back through the 365 h.p. 327's (in 1964).... it was a welcome change! Even the Optional "Sintered Metallic" Drum Brakes from the Early Sixties had to be 'heated up' to work, before slamming them to the floor. This change catapulted the Corvette into one of the Best Stopping, Fade-Proof Cars of the Time. However, if you had a Death Wish, for $43.60 you could have them deleted by credit..... The 'other' Hallmark for 1965, was Chevrolet's offering FOR 6 MONTHS ONLY the coveted, 'bullet-proof' 396 / 425 h.p. Mark IV Motor. Already respected amongst Race Enthusiasts all over America, the Mark IV 396 was a Proven Winner at the Track and on the Street. Published stat's showed the 'L-78' could jettison you 0-60mph in 5.7 sec's and 0-10 in 13.4 sec. Pretty Stealth numbers, even for now, as a 46 year old car. The base Vette started out priced at $4,037 but, by the time you added all these options a loaded '65 Cadillac would be cheaper. Total Sticker on this car would have been $5641.33 ! Since it was a late addition to the option list ( April 1965) only a handful of Big Block's ( by massive production standards) were issued. Many see the Mark IV 396 / 425 ( with 'Power Bulge' hood) as Doubly Rare up against the later issue 427/435's as only 2,157 were built ( 1 yr. only- One of 1899 Convertibles built / 278 Coupes*) compared to 3,754 of the 1967 Big Blocks. So, the 1965 Vette became the First Corvette to become the first Big Block issue and the first with Disc Brakes. Other 'Firsts' were: One-Piece Door Panels ( no more vinyl on fiberboard) , Aircraft Needles on the Instruments, Functional Front Fender Louvers, the Telescopic Steering Wheel ( First & Last Year 1965-66 only) , Optional Gold Line or Redline Tires ( Blackwall Tires were Standard), and the inclusion of Functional Vertical Slots in the Hardtop Cabin for Air Intake. Only 15,376 Sting Ray Convertibles were built but, if you do a fender to fender comparison to the earlier cars, you can't help but, notice how tight they became. Gone were the squeaks and body moans. Corvette Collectors will forever list the 1965 with the "L-78" Mark IV Motor at the top of their preferences.

*VIN# 19467S115215: ORIGINAL P.O.P. WITH G.M. TAPE AFFIXED IN ORIGINAL WARRANTY BOOKLET- ALL DATE CODED MATCHING TITLE COPY . ENGINE PAD TO408IF H (WITH ORIGINAL 'BROACH' MARKS), TRANSMISSION P0410, FA0402W W . STD F. COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL KEYS AND ORIG. KEY LOCK FOR SPARE, SHOWROOM BROCHURE. ALL RECEIPTS SINCE #2 OWNER PURCHASED FROM ORIG. OWNER 2/7/95.BLOCK CASTING 3855962 1F . CYLINDER HEAD #3856208 C 115 (LH) B185 (RH) , EXH. MANIFOLD #3856301 (LH) 3856302 (RH). DISTRIBUTOR 1111093, ALTERNATOR 1100696 4M29 HOLDING TANK 3155416, ENGINE PAD TO408IF + VIN. TRANSMISSION: 3851325 (despite all casing #'s matching M-22, we believe it's a M-21, as the M-22's were born after 4/15/65) + VIN, BORN P-410 (MUNCIE 4/10/65). RADIATOR 3007436. HOLDING TANK 3155416.. REAR DIFF: FA0402W (3:70 POSI BORN 4/02 IN WARREN MICH) TRIM TAG: I-14 (BORN WEDS APRIL 14). STYLE 65-467 (CONVERT 1965), TRIM: 'STD' (BLACK VINYL) BODY: 54927 (ST LOUIS) PAINT 900FF ('NASSAU BLUE).
* "believed to be true"- see: www.bloomintongold.com