1965 Corvette AC Roadster

 

 

1965 Corvette convertible: 1 of only 133 365hp 327 roadsters built w/AC in 65, (and only 88 L76 AC cars came with TI ignition, coupes and convertibles combined). Corvette only offered the combination of the HP solid lifter engines and AC 3 times, 64, 65 and 72 and the production numbers for that combo in a convertible were extremely low, only 138 in 64, 133 in 65 and a mere 57 72 LT1 AC convertibles were built (total of only 328).

 

 Other factory options include power brakes (new booster installed for cosmetics, I still have the original booster dated 226 4, which is Aug 13 64), power windows, telescopic steering column, tinted glass, transistor ignition, sidepipes (added), Close Ratio M20 4 speed and a Posi rear axle (3.55). This is a factory RED/RED car (per original trim tag), but has leather covers instead of vinyl. super solid frame, rebuilt front suspension, rebuilt rear trailing arms, new u joints, fresh 4 wheel alignment, new center force clutch, fresh brakes, new heater core, AC system rebuilt w/new hoses, rec drier, evap, and updated STV valve, 5 original KH steel wheels, goldline radials and nice original hubcaps, detailed engine compartment, very nice paint, fit and finish. all original bonding strips in place, mostly original dated components including orig glass (even windshield) block, intake, carb, valve covers, distributor, coil, alt, etc.

The above row of pictures show the car as I drove it over the past couple years, I ran 67 Rally's and/or American Mags on it most of the time because I liked the look better than the hubcaps and as a bonus the wider tires rode and handled much better than the thin Coker goldlines. Car currently sits on knock offs as seen in the pics of the car driving on the dragons tail in Tennessee at the corvette expo 2016

 

looking at the dates, Friday, August 14th 1964 must have been an important one for this car, block was cast, trans was built, and cluster was built all on that same day. The LB sticker on the cluster indicates high horse Tach and 80lb oil pressure gauge. this cluster was only used with 3 engines in 1965, fuelly's, big block 396's and the 365hp's, the date on this cluster is too early for a 396, and since you could not get a fuel injected engine w/ac, it indicates it's always been a 365hp car.

 

The Engine is a fresh performance built matching number 365hp 327,  It was upgraded for todays fuel with forged flat top pistons,  aftermarket hp rods, balanced, steel crank, roller camshaft, the correct double hump 2.02 heads have mild port work, screw in studs and guide plates. It also still runs its original intake and original dated 2818 carb. I have put about 3500 miles on the car since the motor was rebuilt.

 Car has been kept inside for what appears to be most of its life, it is very solid with an excellent rust free frame and excellent birdcage. it is the driest midyear I have ever had in the rain, (Carlisle 2014 and 15 and the Summit racing show in 2015 where it really poured!). most all components work except the clock.

The car (and me) are in the flag picture, its on the right side very end of the 7th stripe