Listed for sale on Bring a Trailer, this 1965 Chevrolet Corvette coupe represents the final model year of the early C2 Sting Ray design before Chevrolet’s increasing emphasis on big-block performance. Combining the distinctive styling of the mid-year Corvette with a potent small-block V8 and desirable factory equipment, the car exemplifies why 1965 Corvettes remain highly regarded among collectors.
Originally delivered through Yarnell-Todd Chevrolet of Chicago, the Corvette is finished in Nassau Blue over a black vinyl interior. Its fiberglass body has been refinished while retaining characteristic C2 details, including retractable headlights with T3 lenses, chrome bumpers, fender vents, a driver-side mirror, and a retractable antenna. The car rides on 15-inch cast-aluminum knock-off wheels fitted with 215/70 Michelin tires and features side-exit exhaust pipes.
Power comes from the factory-specified 327-cubic-inch L76 V8, rated at 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. The engine uses a Holley four-barrel carburetor and chrome air cleaner housing, with output delivered to the rear wheels through a Muncie four-speed manual transmission and a 4.11:1 Positraction differential. This combination gives the lightweight Corvette a particularly engaging performance character while retaining the mechanical simplicity associated with Chevrolet’s small-block platform.
The 1965 model also benefits from the C2 Corvette’s fully independent suspension, using upper and lower control arms at the front and a three-link rear arrangement with a transverse leaf spring. Four-wheel disc brakes provide stopping power, while the car’s retractable-headlamp configuration preserves the clean profile that defined the Sting Ray.
Inside, black vinyl bucket seats are complemented by matching door panels and carpeting. Equipment includes a heater, analog clock, lap belts, and an AM/FM radio, although the radio produces crackling sound. The three-spoke steering wheel frames a 160-mph speedometer, tachometer, and auxiliary gauges; the amperage gauge is currently inoperative.
Acquired by the seller in 2017, the Corvette earned NCRS Second Flight honors in both 2013 and 2026. Its combination of documented recognition, desirable mechanical specifications, classic C2 styling, and period-correct equipment makes this Nassau Blue coupe a notable example of Chevrolet’s final 1965 Sting Ray configuration.
Source: Bring a Trailer
