1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible 327 V8, Muncie 4-Speed, Red over White Why This Car Is Special The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray is widely regarded as the high-water mark of the second-generation C2 body style. It was the first year Chevrolet offered four-wheel disc brakes as a factory option on the Corvette, a major engineering step forward that set the car apart from everything else on the American market at the time. The 1965 model also marked the final year for the distinctive vertical grille insert on the front hood, a styling detail that gave the C2 much of its visual identity. Chevrolet built 8,186 Corvette convertibles for the 1965 model year, making the open-top car the more popular body style by a significant margin over the coupe. The VIN on this car decodes to a 1965 Corvette convertible built at the St. Louis assembly plant, which was the sole production facility for the Corvette from 1954 through 1981. The model year indicator, body style code, and sequential production number all check out correctly for a mid-production 1965 build. This is a genuine, numbers-verifiable Sting Ray convertible, not a clone or a re-body. What makes this particular car worth serious attention is the combination of a desirable powertrain, extensive convenience options, and a red over white color pairing that was among the most requested combinations from the factory. The 327 cubic inch small block backed by a Muncie close-ratio 4-speed was the configuration most Corvette buyers in 1965 were after. Add power steering, power brakes, and a heavy duty radiator, and you have a car that was ordered by someone who wanted both performance and everyday driveability from day one. Features List - 327 cubic inch V8, engine casting number 3858174 - Muncie 4-speed manual transmission - 4-barrel carburetor with chrome open air cleaner - Rams head cast iron exhaust manifolds - Dual exhaust system - Chrome valve covers - Orange painted block - Power steering - Power brakes - Heavy duty radiator - White leather individual twin bucket seats - Black carpet - White door panels - Dual sun visors - Matched speedometer and tachometer - Full Sting Ray instrument panel with re-settable trip odometer, headlight switch, radio, headlamp retractor switch, hood release, and four-position ignition switch - Black steering wheel - Bright red exterior paint - 15-inch Rallye wheels with chrome trim rings and caps - BF Goodrich Radial T/A raised white letter tires Mechanical The engine in this 1965 Corvette Sting Ray is a 327 cubic inch V8 carrying casting number 3858174, which is correct for the small block 327 used across several Corvette applications in the mid-1960s. The block is finished in the factory orange paint that Chevrolet used on its small block V8s during this era. Topped with a 4-barrel carburetor and a chrome open air cleaner, the engine presents cleanly and runs through a dual exhaust system fed by the original-style rams head cast iron exhaust manifolds. Chrome valve covers dress the top of the engine and are consistent with the period. Moroso valve covers are visible in the engine photos, which is a common and accepted upgrade among drivers who use these cars regularly. Backing the 327 is a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission. The Muncie, built by GM's Muncie, Indiana gear plant, was the transmission of choice for performance Corvette buyers throughout the 1960s. Its reputation for durability and precise gear feel made it a standard recommendation among Corvette enthusiasts then and now. The drivetrain is paired with power steering and power brakes, both of which were factory options in 1965. Power brakes on the 1965 Corvette worked with the standard front disc and rear drum setup, or in conjunction with the optional four-wheel disc brake system. The presence of power brakes on this car adds to its usability as a regular driver. A heavy duty radiator rounds out the cooling system, appropriate given the 327's heat output
