On auction sites, you sometimes see more binders than chrome surrounding an old classic. That’s the case here, with a Corvette whose appeal begins more in the pile of paperwork than under the hood. This American has spent forty years tucked away, before resurfacing on the market with a rare archival dossier. And for Corvette C2 enthusiasts, this kind of backstory doesn’t leave them indifferent.
It is a 1965 Corvette described as a true “survivor,” today offered for sale in Stratford, Connecticut. The eBay listing recounts that it was delivered new to a gentleman in Queens, New York, and then resold in 1973. The listing even mentions “excessive documentation” dating back to 1964, with a file that has accompanied the car since purchase. After several decades in storage, the C2 now surfaces, mechanically refreshed but largely as it left the factory. The seller says he is open to price discussions via eBay’s built-in offer feature.
A 1965 Corvette “Survivor” with a Past Told by Its Papers
In the listing, the seller traces the athlete-like sports car’s life in an unconventional way. “The car was used for a few years and then sat in storage for more than 40 years,” he notes. Those words are echoed by Autoevolution, which emphasizes the documents kept since 1964. The papers include the original purchase documents and a letter sent by the dealership after delivery. The proof of resale in 1973 completes this complete documentation dossier, allowing the car to be tracked from the factory.
Chevrolet produced 23,562 cars for this model year, including 15,376 convertibles and 8,186 coupes. The year remains notable, with the arrival of the 425-horsepower 396 Turbo-Jet V8 and the planned phase-out of fuel injection after 1966. The lineup offered six V8s, from 250 to 425 hp, and the L84 fuel-injected engine was the rarest. Buyers had to add $538 (about €470) for this engine, which explains its limited spread. Here, rarity doesn’t stem from an exotic option, but from a history that has been tracked from the factory.
Original Mechanical, Factory Paint, and the Asking Price on eBay
Under the hood, this C2 hides a 300-hp V8, identified by the code L75. In 1965, this first optional engine, priced at $53.80, attracted more than 8,350 Corvette buyers. Here, the engine and transmission are still in their original placements, a major boon for purists. “The original 327 V8 has been rebuilt by a professional. All internal components are original. The only parts replaced were the bearings and rings, along with the head gaskets. A new clutch has been installed, and the car runs like new,” the owner explains. “Overall, this C2 has been mechanically refreshed and is visually original,” he concludes.
Visually, the car still wears its factory paint, with a few chips, but a presentation judged very respectable for its age. This is not an ultra-rare configuration, like the 36-gallon N03 fuel tank ordered only 41 times in 1965. The eBay listing asks $69,500, or about €64,000, with the option to make an offer. Some 1965 L78 “survivor” Corvettes have already topped $110,000, according to market references. The car is viewable in Stratford, Connecticut, with a clear title, inspection, and flatbed transport strongly advised.
