Corvettes for Sale: 59-Years-Family-Owned 1965 Corvette Coupe with a 396/425 Offered on BaT

This 1965 Corvette Sting Ray may not be a perfect example, but after spending nearly six decades with the same family, it certainly deserves a trophy for longevity.

And parting with a genuine 396/425-horsepower L78 coupe has to be bittersweet for the seller, whose father reportedly bought the Corvette in 1967. He kept it for the rest of his life before his son inherited it in 2017.

Now, after 59 years of family ownership, the well-used C2 is looking for a new home on Bring a Trailer, where bidding had reached $31,500 with six days remaining at the time of this writing.

This isn’t a pristine, Bloomington Gold-style Corvette. In fact, much of its appeal may come from the fact that it still wears the modifications that gave so many Corvettes their distinctive look during the late 1960s and ’70s, and the seller’s family was there to see them done.

Originally finished in Glen Green, the Corvette was reportedly repainted the same color but with a lighter accent stripe down the middle and fitted with flared wheel arches in 1967. Other period-style touches include six taillights instead of the factory four and 15-inch Torq Thrust-style wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires. We love it!

Nearly six decades later, the old Sting Ray isn’t hiding its age. The seller notes paint chips, fading and other blemishes, including imperfections around the wheel flares, passenger-side windshield and above the rear license plate.

But underneath that weathered exterior is what makes this particular ’65 even more interesting.

Its L78 396 V8 was factory rated at 425 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque and sends its power to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. The engine stamping carries an IF suffix corresponding to a 425-horsepower 396 paired with a manual.

The big-block received an extensive rebuild in 2019, including a replacement crankshaft, lifters, camshaft bearings, cylinder heads, intake and exhaust valves, pushrods and valve guides. The Holley four-barrel carburetor was rebuilt as well, while the thermostat, water pump, alternator, starter and voltage regulator were replaced.

The Corvette also received a resurfaced flywheel and replacement fuel tank at that time. More recently, work in October 2024 included new front brake pads and calipers, sway-bar links and shocks.

Inside, the green theme continues with bucket seats, matching door panels and carpeting. Equipment includes power windows, an AM/FM radio, heater, analog clock and a telescoping steering column. Aftermarket Pioneer speakers have been installed behind the seats.

The odometer shows about 62,000 miles, though total mileage is unknown.

Not surprisingly, the Corvette’s modifications have generated plenty of discussion among Bring a Trailer commenters.

One commenter questioned whether the trim tag might have been replaced because of the appearance and spacing of its rivets. The seller responded that he didn’t believe so, noting the Corvette belonged to his father until his death and saying his father “wouldn’t have done something like that.”

Another commenter summed up the car’s character particularly well, calling it a “well loved and used C2” with a definite 1960s and ’70s vibe.

“Wouldn’t change a thing,” he wrote. “Car has soul!”

We wouldn’t argue with that.

A future owner could certainly restore the Corvette to something closer to its original Glen Green appearance, particularly given the desirability of a genuine L78 car.

But there’s also something appealing about leaving it alone.

Those flared fenders, six taillights and Torq Thrust-style wheels aren’t factory correct, but they’re part of this Corvette’s history — a history that began with one family back in 1967 and continued for the next 59 years.

After all that time, maybe this old Sting Ray has earned the right to keep a few of its wrinkles.

Source:
Bring a Trailer

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