1965 Chevrolet Corvette

1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible — Rally Red, 327 V8, 4-Speed, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes

The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray is widely considered the finest example of the C2 generation, and for good reason. Nineteen sixty-five was the first year the Corvette offered four-wheel disc brakes as standard equipment — a significant engineering upgrade that replaced the drum brakes used on the 1963 and 1964 models. It was also the first year the big-block 396 was available, though the small-block 327 cars like this one represent the sweet spot of the C2 lineup: lighter, more balanced, and genuinely enjoyable to drive rather than just fast in a straight line.

Chevrolet built 15,376 Corvette convertibles for the 1965 model year, making the roadster the more popular body style over the coupe that year. The C2 generation ran from 1963 through 1967, and 1965 sits at the center of that run — post the controversial split-window coupe year, and pre the 1967 models that many purists argue peaked the generation mechanically. In other words, this is the C2 in its most complete and well-rounded form.

The VIN on this car decodes to confirm it was built in St. Louis (the "S" plant code), in 1965, as a convertible — consistent with everything you see here. Rally Red over a red vinyl interior is one of the most visually coherent color combinations offered on the 1965 Corvette Sting Ray, and this car wears it without apology. The odometer shows 28,384 miles, visible clearly in the photographs.

This is a car that can be driven to a show, driven home, and parked in a garage with confidence. It is not a trailered show piece with a velvet rope around it. The undercarriage photos confirm a clean, solid chassis with no visible rust or rot — which is exactly what you want to see on a car of this age before committing to ownership.

Key details
Exterior: Rally Red
Transmission: 4 Speed Manual
VIN / chassis: 194675S111719

Offered by Skyway Classics, 10420 Portal Crossing, Bradenton, FL 34212. Taxes, title and fees not included.

Photos courtesy of Skyway Classics.