1965 L78 396/425HP Corvette Coupe w/M20 4spd Transmission. One of only 2157 of these cars produced. This one retains its original numbers matching 396 V8 engine. FRAME-OFF ROTISSERIE RESTORED. Correct Nassau blue exterior over bright blue leather interior. Per the previous owner/restorer (who saw the car stripped down) all the fiberglass is correct and has the correct bonding strips on inner fenders. The paint is show quality, it’s smooth as well as very shiny. The interior of the car is mostly new, the seats are supposed to be vinyl, but leather has been used instead. The clock has been restored with a new quartz movement which works perfect. The radio is original and was sent out to be refurbished it also works perfect. All the wiring in the dash was replaced, the lights and instruments work as they should (fuel gauge recently stopped working). A new date code correct windshield was installed but the side glass as well as the rear glass are original, they have some minor scratches as used glass would. The car retains its correct 6500 red line tachometer (it sticks a little at lower rpm's) it also has the correct remaining gauges. The door panels, carpet, and headliner all new. Other than the main part of the dash, the gauge cluster and steering column everything according to the restorer is new and it looks very nice as you can see in the pictures. The bumpers are all new reproduction bumpers that fit nice for reproduction, the front grill is new and is the correct 1965 only grill. All exterior chrome around taillights, door handles etc. are new and in excellent condition. The stainless around the front and rear windows have been cleaned and professionally polished, they look excellent as well. The rubber around the doors is all new and in beautiful condition.
Being the car was frame-off restored the underside has been done beautifully as shown in the photos. The frame was rust free, it’s been media blasted and painted satin black. All control arms, springs and suspension are either new correct or rebuilt as you can see from the pictures. The underside floors of the car are supposed to be bare fiberglass, but the floors had some little repairs so rather than those repairs being visible the fiberglass color was matched, and a light coat of paint was applied. It makes it look very nice and clean, better than most, however I’m sure the NCRS will deduct a point or two for it.
As for the all-important numbers, they are as follows:
Numbers matching 396 425HP engine with HI PERF stamped on passenger side of block, on the driver side it has the numbers 3855962, the date on the block is E95 which stands for May 9, 1965 which corresponds with the build date of the third week May 1965. The build date on the block is T0511IF, which signifies the 11th day of May. All these numbers lineup as correct. The Vin number is also correctly stamped on the engine pad which matches the Vin as it should. On that pad it has the correct very small broach marks.
Some other numbers to note on the car is on the intake, which is 3866963, left hand exhaust manifold number is 3856301 and the right-hand exhaust manifold number is 3856302. The transmission is a M20, the main section of the tranny has the numbers 3851325 stamped in it, the tail shaft number is 3867584, the bell housing numbers are 3858403, and the starter number is 1108760 Delco. The carburetor is a service carb. its number is
3868826-CS List 3124. The alternator number is 1100896-42A and the distributor number is 1111093 it is the correct Transistorize Ignition. The cylinder heads are also correctly numbered with 208. The exterior Nassau blue paint code is 900FF and the trim color code is 414AA which stands for bright blue. The wheels are reproduction knock-off wheels, and the correct Goldline 7.75 tires, new at time of restoration.
The car comes with a high quality photo album of large pictures as well as some restoration receipts, Operation instructional manual, color dealer booklet for 1965 Corvette (looks original)
This beautiful 1965 big block coupe has been restored to what can be considered a correct concourse quality car. Obviously, it’s hard to say how a car will do when being judged because NCRS judges always find something here and there, but it’s our opinion this example is restored to concourse correct quality. It is an investment car worthy of a refined collector.
71923 Miles Showing, 931 miles since restored.