1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 427ci/350hp, Great Driver, 4-Speed!

Description

Highlights:• 327ci/350hp• 4-speed Trans• Nassau Blue• Original knock-off wheels• Side Exhaust• Power Steering• 4 Wheel Disc BrakesIf you’ve been watching C2 Corvette prices lately, you know that even the small block cars are becoming hot collectibles. Sure, everyone wants a 427/435 with a stinger hood, or an early Z06, but for real-world collectors and people who actually enjoy driving their muscle cars, it’s getting hard to find strong, small-block cars. And if you want a roadster, well, expect a hefty premium.On the other hand, take a good, long look at this Nassau Blue 1965 Corvette and its price tag. It packs a healthy 350 horse small block, a great-looking color combination, with an older restoration that has mellowed to the point where you don’t have to worry about dirt on a Bloomington Gold contender. Corvette guys are some of the best car enthusiasts around, and there’s really nothing better than joining a caravan, say, to the National Corvette Museum national show, or out to the local car show. Throughout the summer months, Hundreds of Corvettes attend these events, and the caravans stretch for miles and miles with guys actually driving and enjoying their Corvettes. I submit to you that showing up in this little roadster would be one of the best gifts you could ever give yourself because it’s a lot of fun with a very modest price tag.That price tag means you’re getting a gorgeous driver, not an NCRS contender, but that’s why we think this one is so great. (If you want an NCRS piece, we can get you one, but expect to pay at least twice as much for one.) The paint job is several years old, but was well done at the time and shows good care ever since. Yes, there are a few chips in the paint, but that takes the stress out of owning a perfect car. The Nassau Blue is a very popular color, more elegant than in-your-face brash black one, and it gives this car a very cool personality. The prep on the fiberglass when the work was done still looks good, and there are few age-related issues in the paint now that the car has some age on it. The panel gaps are decent— about what these cars looked like new. This is a car that will wow onlookers wherever you go, and among Corvette guys, you’ll be able to drive and show it proudly.With a 350 horsepower 327 under the hood, driving is exactly what you should be doing with this car. This car isn’t wearing its original "born with" block, but we are told it is a date code correct block — and because of that, it’s not priced like one either. The engine was rebuilt to stock specs several years ago and runs beautifully. Seriously, if you haven’t driven a fast-revving Corvette small block you’re really missing out. I’ve always preferred the livelier handling of a small block car, and 350 horsepower is plenty to make them seriously fast by any measure. The chrome distributor shield is still in place, and overall it looks clean and well-maintained with no questionable modifications. Even the “ram’s horn” exhaust manifolds are in place and are in good condition given that they are bare cast iron. Turn the key and it fires instantly, idles extremely well, and isn’t fussy in any way, whether you’re in traffic or cruising down Route 66 at high speed.Cruising is fast & fun with the manual 4-speed trans. Keep in mind, back in the day a manual transmission was an extra-cost option on Corvettes, as was the case up to the C6 model cars. This one shifts quickly and firmly and gives you the feeling of almost endless torque from the engine.Of course, by 1965, all Corvettes wore disc brakes at all four corners, and the suspension is fully independent, making even 4 speed-equipped cars potent pieces when the pavement is challenging. The fiberglass on the undercarriage is in excellent condition, and it’s probably all-original under there, which shows you how well-maintained this car has been all its life. The exhaust system is older, but still functional and sounds sporting without being loud and obnoxious. 15-inch steel wheels carry correct hubcaps and recent P215/75R15 whitewall radials.No matter what engine lives under the hood, the passenger compartments in these C2 Corvettes are first-class all the way. This one, in particular, hasn’t been restored in the past, but still presents well, it does have color fade on the carpet and one may desire to replace it at some time. The black buckets are just as comfortable as they look. The gauge faces are nice, with the lenses and the rest of the dash showing light patina. The odometer reads 11,772, however, the actual mileage is unknown. Door panels and the center console are nice, as well as the brushed trim around the shifter lever and the glove box lid. Overhead, there’s a decent quality white vinyl top that still fits well and doesn't leak and the rear window is clear.So, there are Corvettes that you hide in garages and only bring out for the judges a few times a year. If you really want one of those static pieces of art, this one isn’t for you. There aren’t many fully sorted, drivable C2 convertibles out there that haven’t had six-figure restorations thrown at them, rendering them, ironically, too valuable to drive. (I've heard that too many times from people) This one is a rare opportunity to get a nice looking car that presents its self well, but one that you won’t be afraid to drive and enjoy, all for a bargain price. Go ahead and check the price guides on this one—you’ll realize that this car won’t be here long. Call now!