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

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1965 CORVETTE STING RAY 396/425 BIG BLOCK CONVERTIBLE


A SUPERB "SURVIVOR" , AN ORIGINAL, 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 MADE EVER 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 SOLD IT TO FRED RICEPUKO IN JUPITER,FLA AND THEN WHEN FRED DECIDED ON A "NEW CORVETTE" AGAIN A YEAR LATER TO AN ATTORNEY FROM TEQUESTA. HE BABIED THE CAR , SELDOM DROVE IT, MAINTAINED & SERVICED THE CAR FREQUENTLY PUTTING ON ONLY 1,928 MILES IN NINE YEARS. THIS IS A KILLER CONTRASTING COLOR COMBINATION, RECEIVING IT'S FIRST PAINT IN 1995 IN IT'S ORIGINAL NASSAU BLUE WITH ORIGINAL BLACK INTERIOR WITH DATE CODED BLACK SOFT TOP. THIS CAR IS MOSTLY MINT ORIGINAL WITH 37,346 MILES**: LOADED WITH 'ALL THE TOYS' INCLUDING THE BIG BLOCK 425 H.P.MOTOR, TEAK STEERING WHEEL, FOUR-WHEEL DISC BRAKES, TINTED GLASS, M-21 FOUR SPEED WITH 3:70 POSITRACTION, POWER ANTENNAE, KNOCK-OFF WHEELS, K-66 TRANSISTOR IGNITION, FACTORY SIDE EXHAUST PIPES, 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. COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL PROTECT-O-PLATE, A MANUAL IN ORIGINAL "CHEVROLET" FOLDER , WARRANTY BOOKLET, NAME & TITLE TRACE THROUGH ALL 4 OWNERS AND ALL RESTO. DOC'S FROM 1995 TILL TODAY PLUS. OVER $6,500 IN RECENT 'UPGRADES'. .IF YOU YEARNED FOR THE "PERFECT DRIVING CORVETTE" , THAT FEELS LIKE A NEW ONE- YOU JUST FOUND IT. (PRICE FOR EXISTING CONDITION UNDER PUBLISHED N.A.D.A. "EXC" VALUE WITH THIS EQUIPMENT @ $152,520) PRICED TO SELL NOW FOR ORIGINALITY, CONDITION & CORRECTNESS.. $136,500.

THE STORY:


The Mid-Sixties may have caused American's to smile nervously 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 was 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 watched "Laugh In" on TV, while Top 40 Music turned a 'Happy Face' with songs like " Good Vibrations", "Feelin Groovy", "California Dreaming" and "All You Need Is Love". The Sixties brought the Birth of Auto Individuality: First, the Socially Responsible Compacts like Valiant, Lark and Falcon... then; the Pony Cars like Mustang, Barracuda and Camaro, and then, the Rebellious Muscle Cars like GTO, Trans Am and Charger. 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
1965-67 Chevrolet Corvettes as the Ultimate Collectible. Published Sales figures prove them right. These car's accelerate about 20% per year in Value! 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 Warp Factor Five. With all previous models fitted with Drum Brakes from the 1963 model back to the Blue-Flame Sixes in 1953, 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, for $43.60 you could have them deleted ....if you had a Death Wish. The 'other' Hallmark for 1965, was Chevrolet's offering of the coveted, 'bullet-proof' 396 / 425 h.p. Mark IV Motor. Already respected amongst Race Enthusiasts all over America, the Mark IV 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 now for a 42 year old car. The base car started out priced at $4,037 but, by the time you added all these options a 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) compared to 3,754 of the '67 Big Blocks. So, the 1965 Vette became the First Corvette to become the first Big Block issue and the First with Big 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, as soon as you do a fender to fender comparison, you can't help but, notice how tight they became up against the earlier Vettes. Corvette Collectors will forever list the 1965 with the "L-78" Mark IV Motor at the top of their preferences. A great buy for an older restoration at $136,500. (PLEASE NO GRINDERS)

*VIN# 19467S115215 ORIGINAL POP WITH G.M. TAPE AFFIXED IN ORIGINAL WARRANTY BOOKLET- ALL DATE CODED MATCHING TITLE COPY . ENGINE PAD TO408IF H, 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 (M-21) + 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 (BLACK/ NASSAU BLUE).** BY FLA. LAW; ALL TITLES OVER 10 YRS.OLD WILL BE STAMPED MILEAGE EXEMPT.THIS CAR CARRIES A FREE & CLEAR FLA. TITLE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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