Like most manufacturers in the 60s, GM would let you spec out a car just about any way you wanted it. This red 1965 Corvette was built as a sophisticated small-block grand touring car that would corner like it was on rails and be an absolute blast to drive. Today, the car is fresh out of a cosmetic restoration, packs the same spirited road demeanor, a great-sounding 327 cubic inch V8 and is the perfect car to cruise to the local show or a Friday night drive-in movie.

Restored in the not-too-distant past, this C2 Corvette is the perfect companion for a drive in the country or a multi-state blast down Route 66. The car is a collection off straight gaps and smooth surfaces that are a real testament to the quality fiberglass work GM was churning out in the 60s. It’s flashy and in-your-face Rally Red paint is as you would expect from a Corvette and the cars fiberglass was reworked to build a first-rate show and go piece that no one would be afraid to put on the road. Up front, a body width stainless grille is flanked by two chrome trimmed marker lights and sits behind a razor sharp front bumper that wraps around the corners of the car. Above the bumper, hidden headlights sit on each side of a red, white and blue Corvette C2 crossed flag emblem that is centered on the car’s hood spear. At the back of the hood, stainless windshield wipers are affixed to stainless cowl vents which appear to be in good shape, and behind those wipers like-new glass is framed in well-maintained stainless all the way around the cars greenhouse. By the second generation of the Corvette, the cars profile had been molded into a much more sporty and aggressive shape. Exaggerated front fenders rise above the hood line and feature vertical heat extractors that replaced C1 Corvette door coves. At the bottom of the doors, stainless rocker moldings are in good shape and protect the fiberglass from rock chips and other road debris. At the back of the car, equally exaggerated fenders combine with new C2 hatchback styling to give the car visual weight. Ornamentation is sparse with only red, white and blue inlayed front fender mounted C2 Corvette emblems, chrome door handles, chrome B-pillar vents and a chrome driver’s side bowtie mirror being the only add-on trim. At the back of the car, the cat-like hatch features a standard equipment chrome power antenna, a chrome trimmed center mounted Corvette fuel filler and a fresh “Corvette Sting Ray” emblem. Below that hatch, a chrome trimmed tag bracket sits between two more chrome razor blade bumpers. Above those bumpers is four great looking traditional chrome trimmed tail lights and below those bumpers are stainless exhaust tips which exit through chrome trimmed outlets in the roll pan.

Powering this sweet looking Corvette is a 300 horsepower 327 cubic inch small block V8. At the top of the motor, a dual scoop air cleaner with a new chrome top feeds a four barrel carburetor. That carburetor sits on top of an Edelbrock Streetmaster aluminum intake that’s bolted down between authentic finned aluminum Corvette valve covers. Below those valve covers, factory correct exhaust manifolds send gases out through a correct factory dual exhaust system. Behind the motor you’ll find a correct points distributor that sends spark through correct Packard plug wires. In front of the motor, a correct radiator sits under a correct fan shroud and in front of a correct crank mounted fan. The car’s engine compartment is super clean and features freshly painted satin black inner fenders, a freshly painted satin black firewall with fresh weather stripping and a correctly painted fiberglass hood.

At the bottom of the car, power runs from the engine through a Muncie M21 4-speed manual to an open rear end with streetable 3.30 gears. The chassis itself is in good shape and looks today much as it looked in 1965 aging well over the last 46 years. Up front a double A-arm suspension set up houses optional factory power steering, and out back an independent rear suspension is held up by a transversely mounted monoleaf spring that appears to have been recently replaced. Four wheel disc brakes became standard equipment on Corvettes in 1965, and the power-assisted units on this car have been fully rebuilt front and rear. The exhaust system is a factory correct reproduction system which is in good shape and sounds authentic. At the corners, 15 inch steel wheels wear like-new chrome covers and a set of 205/75/15 Dimension All Season tires. This ’65 Corvette is reliable enough to drive anywhere and it’s a car that you won’t be afraid to get your hands dirty on with upgrades and component swaps.

Inside the car, a bright red interior is the perfect complement to the Rally Red exterior. The seat covers, door panels and their chrome trim all appear new and completely unblemished, and the carpet looks fresh and is protected by color matched Corvette Sting Ray floor mats. In front of the driver, the stylish and sporty red dual cowl dash houses a large tachometer and speedometer along with gauges for the cars vitals. In the passenger’s side cowl, a locking glove box is housed behind an attractive stainless panel that features a chrome “Corvette Sting ray” emblem. The middle of the dash flows like a waterfall to the center console and houses a correct radio and a continuous motion electric clock. Connecting the driver to the car is a Rally steering wheel that features satin aluminum spokes and is probably in original condition – as a 46-year-old piece, it looks amazing, and a correct chrome Hurst shifter that springs up from the center console. Above the seats, the red headliner is tights and holds a lot of color, and behind the seats, the cargo area is covered in the same rich red carpet as the interior, featuring a nicely stitched C2 Corvette Sting Ray logo.

Documentation for this car consists of maintenance receipts and records from the RKM Performance Center, which spent four months tuning this Corvette and dialing in every mechanical system on the car to function at an optimal level.

With the prices on second generation Corvettes skyrocketing, finding a restored one that you can actually drive and enjoy is getting tougher every day. This one is as reliable as an anvil, includes a lot of desirable equipment and has been built to show and drive. It runs extremely well and is surprisingly comfortable for a sports car. Call today!