1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

- White Over Black
- 396 V8 built up to 500hp
- Originally a small block car
- 4 Speed Manual
- Borla Exhaust
- Billet Wheels
- Black Soft Top

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 140 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“There's never been a sports car like Corvette. And there's never been a Corvette like the '65!” - Chevrolet 1965 magazine ad

The 1965 Corvette Sting Ray is beloved by collectors as particularly special since these were the first Corvettes to offer 4-wheel disc brakes. Some say it was at that point that the car became a true competitor to European sports cars like Porsche and Jaguar that had long dominated the category.

Offered here is a well-maintained, respectfully upgraded '65 Corvette Convertible in white over black. Visually, and from every angle, including underneath, the car is in excellent condition.

The exterior paint is in near-showroom condition across the body: uniformly glossy, free of imperfections or fading. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) The iconic hidden headlights, front-and-rear split bumpers, “stinger-type” hood, the center-rear-deck fuel-filler cap hidden beneath the Corvette emblem, and of course, the Mako-inspired exterior lines of the car are all signature Corvette design cues. Windshield and side glass is clear and undamaged; emblems and badging (including the crossed-flags hood emblem and the “396 Turbo Jet"" with crossed flags front-fender emblem) are properly mounted. In this white-over-black combination, it's a standout sports-car statement. The car's black-fabric soft top is in excellent condition and included in the sale. Polished 5-spoke Billet® wheels are mounted with period-correct red-stripe tires.

Inside, the black color scheme was a classic choice that nicely allows chrome and other metal trim pieces to stand out. In particular, the gauge cluster—fronted by a wood rimmed 3-spoke steering wheel with brushed metal trim and crossed-flags center logo—is a feast for the eyes. Many enthusiasts believe the arrangement and design of the two large, round instruments (tach and 160-mph speedometer), four smaller auxiliary gauges, and three chromed pull levers (and the ignition) was never bettered through all the subsequent Corvette iterations. Certainly, the two-pod dash design (with handsome brushed-metal trim on the passenger side) has beautifully stood the test of time. The same holds for the center-stack design with the pull-knob heating controls and especially the vertically mounted radio, here an updated, period-look Corvette-branded unit. The console hosts the 4-speed manual transmission shifter with metal trim, and the shift pattern shown on a metal plate. Black leather (showing only age-appropriate creasing, but no damage) adorns the bucket seats; black carpeting covers the cabin floor.

Under the front-hinged hood, power originates from a 396-cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 (often said to be the perfect performance choice for the car) with a bare-metal manifold, a Chevrolet-embossed chrome open-sided air-cleaner cover, and chrome valve covers with “V8” embossing installed. An aluminum radiator is also mounted. The engine bay is well-ordered and properly clean. Viewed from below, lower painted body panels show no damage, The chassis is straight, original, clean, and, with the exception of very light surface rust on some untreated metal, rust-free. The full-length, low-restriction Borla® dual-exhaust system (with racing style headers and collectors) is properly installed; the exhaust system is also free of damage as might arise from overly aggressive driving styles or track use.

While the more than 140 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '65 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

The 1965 Corvette was every bit as special when it was launched more than 55 years ago as this example is today. After all, how many cars ever rated their own hit song?

Little red Corvette
Baby you're much too fast
Little red Corvette
You need a love that's gonna last

Thanks to Prince for helping pen the write-up of this beautiful “little white Corvette.”

And just like in the song, this one's looking for its next lover.