1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible – NCRS Documented L78 396/425HP, Numbers Matching, Factory Side Exhaust, Two-Top Car

Some Corvettes are restored. Some are preserved. And then there are the truly special examples that combine documented provenance, rare factory options, and one-year-only significance. This 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible represents the latter.

At its heart is the legendary, numbers-matching L78 396 cubic-inch Turbo-Jet V8 rated at 425 horsepower and backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. Introduced midway through the 1965 model year, the L78 was Chevrolet’s first big-block Corvette engine and remains one of the most significant powerplants in Corvette history. The 396/425 was offered for one year only before displacement increased to 427 cubic inches, making the 1965 L78 a unique and highly sought-after chapter in Corvette history.

According to the NCRS Shipping Data Report, this Corvette was produced on April 5, 1965, at the St. Louis assembly plant and delivered new to Lang Chevrolet in Xenia, Ohio. Included with the car are its NCRS Shipping Data Report, original dealer documentation, window sticker reproduction, owner’s manual, and supporting historical records—exactly the type of provenance collectors search for when evaluating investment-grade C2 Corvettes.

The original window sticker shows a highly desirable option list including:

• L78 396ci Turbo-Jet V8 – 425 HP
• M20 4-Speed Manual Transmission
• Positraction Rear Axle (3.55)
• Factory Side-Mounted Exhaust
• Auxiliary Hardtop
• AM/FM Radio
• Teakwood Steering Wheel
• Tinted Windshield
• Quick-Take-Off Knock-Off Wheels
• Whitewall Tires
• Black Convertible Top

Few options define a mid-year Corvette like factory side exhaust and knock-off wheels, and this car was ordered with both. The teakwood steering wheel adds another highly desirable touch and remains one of the most recognizable interior options of the era.

1965 also marked a watershed year for Corvette development. It was the first year for factory four-wheel disc brakes, dramatically improving stopping power, and the first year Chevrolet offered a big-block engine in the Corvette. The result was a car that combined world-class performance with unmistakable styling and remains one of the most collectible C2 Corvettes ever produced.

Showing just over 52,000 documented miles, this Corvette has benefited from a body-on restoration and has been exceptionally maintained throughout its life while being stored in climate-controlled conditions. Originally delivered in Silver Pearl with a black convertible top, the car remains a highly documented and well-preserved example. The numbers-matching drivetrain, extensive documentation, NCRS verification, factory options, and low documented mileage make it the type of example that rarely becomes available.

For the collector seeking a documented, numbers-matching big-block C2 with NCRS pedigree, factory side pipes, a 4-speed transmission, and one-year-only significance, this 1965 Corvette Convertible checks every box. Whether destined for concours events, national Corvette gatherings, or a premier private collection, it represents an opportunity to own one of the most historically important and desirable Corvettes of the mid-year era.

Documented. Numbers matching. NCRS certified. Factory big-block. Rare L78 396/425HP. Factory side exhaust. Knock-off wheels. Two tops. 52,000 documented miles.