Rare ORIGINAL 1965 396 Corvette convertible 1 of 2157 BIG BLOCK

Original 396 425HP engine casting 3855962 date coded D 24 5. Original pad stamping 5119638 T0527IF . This IS the original block to this car, NOT a restamped replacement. Cylinder Heads 3856208 dated E 7 5 & E 14 5. Original valve covers. 3866963 Intake. Restored original Holley 3124 carb part # 3886101 dated 544 (100% original with original base plate, not a restamp with later 3310 base plate). Transistor Ignition Distributor 1111093 Delco Remy 5 D 19. Engine runs super on 91 octane non ethanol pump gas with full oil pressure. Nice original radiator support & shroud, original 3007436 radiator dated 65E, does not leak and engine runs cool. Starter 1107352. Transmission P0605 5119638. Rear FA 6 3 65 (3:70 posi), Rare F40 7 leaf rear spring. Only 975 cars had this option! Speedometer reads 41,841 miles and is in working order. This car was originally Glen Green (second most ordered color in 1965 to number 1 Nassau Blue). About 40 years ago someone wanted it to be Goldwood Yellow. Paint looks great from 20 feet away but close up you can see all the imperfections typical of very old lacquer paint. I personally would drive this car to any local cruise night gathering knowing it's not going to win best paint. Shaded Soft-Ray windshield date coded GJ with slight wiper mark on right side near upright stainless, Very nice clear door glasses LH door GJ, LH vent LJ, RH door GJ and RH vent JJ. . Bumpers are straight & solid with good original chrome. Grille, other chrome and stainless show well for original. Headlights open and close properly and lights work. Wipers work. Car drives nice and tracks as it should. Stops straight with excellent brake pedal, Dash pads have NO cracks, rips or repairs. Dash cluster is very nice original, no evidence of ever being removed from the car. Battery access on drivers side has no problems. New battery and repro battery cables. Original N36 telescopic column 1 of 3,917, aluminum KO wheels, new Uniroyal Tiger Paws 205 70 R15, Hard top and soft top. Every original fiberglass panel of the body is still on this car and was installed at the factory in 1965. Close up you can see all body seams, exactly as an original untouched body would show. Frame, bumpers or brackets never bent. Car never wrecked. Undamaged front inner fender skirts still have original dust flaps and staples. Original hood has never separated from its inner structure. Frame appears super. The metal is thick in the side exhaust key hole area. Solid, no rust repair ever needed. Underside of floors have ever been damaged. I have completed a mechanical restoration of this vehicle (car was in storage since 1994) and personally driven this car. I can't stress enough how nice the car preforms. Starts hot or cold, always runs smooth, shifts easily, preforms as it should, a pleasure to drive. Every gauge works correctly including the odometer! Fresh engine, new brakes, lines and stainless sleeved original master cylinder and new N11 Corvette Central exhaust. I wouldn't be afraid to drive this car anywhere. Clock does not work original speaker shot and radio plays static, needs rebuilding. This one of the FIRST Big Block Corvettes ever produced. 1 of 2,157. That's not many. 10,374 big block Corvettes were produced in 1966 and 9,707 in 67. That's 20,081 total, 10 times more produced in the 2 years after the first big block Corvette was offered. It's my opinion the significance 65 Corvette is underrated. First car with factory 4 wheel disc brakes, side mounted exhaust and 425 HP 396 big block! I haven't used the term "numbers matching" as to me that means buyer take note. I've had many customers pay thousands for restoration carbs (distributors, etc) to find they are a close example that the old numbers were milled off and new ones stamped in. ONLY a 3124 manufactured durring the model year is correct like this one has. An expert can detect this plus more importantly other parts replaced during the restoration are not visibly the same as the 1 design original. BTW during the NCRS judging procedure of a 396 the points adjusting window on the distributor cap is lifted to inspect if the magnetic pickup coil is the original design and shape. This one IS as its original with the original Delco Remy tag, not a repro. An expert can tell the difference between original and repro valve covers just by looking at them. Here's your chance to own one of the real deal first production high horse big block Corvettes, never wrecked with hard to find original driveline. Every unique key part that makes it authentic is present. If originality of important drive line is of value to you, consider this car. Several original 396 Corvettes in near perfect condition recently sold at Mecum and Barrett Jackson for 150K and more. I feel the significance of this milestone collector 65 425HP Corvette is underrated. SOLD AS IS any questions, call Mike 315-866- 0517 I give accurate & honest answers to your questions with additional pictures when possible. It is the customer's sole responsibility to verify the existence and condition of any equipment or descriptions listed. We try our best to thoroughly describe the vehicle and its features, please contact us prior to bidding on the vehicle if you have any questions about the vehicle. We are NOT responsible for misprints on prices or description. It is the customer's sole responsibility to verify the accuracy of the prices and equipment with the seller. Pricing is subject to change without notice. High bidder pays within five days of auction end with certified check, cash or approved payment method. Car will not be released until all payments are cleared and approved by seller. Car is also for sale locally. Thanks