The best 1965 Corvette around ??

[Chodosh Corvette]

In my (albeit biased opinion) - the most good looking Vette in Europe...

Thought I would share some info on this gorgeous Vette coming up for auction.

I reckon most of you would be interested to have a browse through the pictures. This one is very dear to my heart but my dad is letting it go. Have a look at the oil warning light - taken from a 1950's Cadillac... Also look at the rear tow eye - an ally piston rod. Pretty neat huh !

http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1965-chevrolet-...

• (mods - hope this is okay to share some pics)

[AdeTuono]

Is that the same car that's been for sale with Claremont Corvette for a couple of years? If so, at £135,000, they want a healthy premium over the estimated auction price of £70-80,000.

[mitch_]

Isn't Silverstone Auctions something to do with Nick Whale?

[AdeTuono]

mitch_ said:

Isn't Silverstone Auctions something to do with Nick Whale?

Managing director, apparently.

http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/the-team

[K2MDL]

AdeTuono said:

Is that the same car that's been for sale with Claremont Corvette for a couple of years? If so, at £135,000, they want a healthy premium over the estimated auction price of £70-80,000.

A couple of years? There's usually only one reason anything sticks around that long and that's an OTT price.

[Vet Guru]

K2MDL said:

AdeTuono said:

Is that the same car that's been for sale with Claremont Corvette for a couple of years? If so, at £135,000, they want a healthy premium over the estimated auction price of £70-80,000.

A couple of years? There's usually only one reason anything sticks around that long and that's an OTT price.

[Chodosh Corvette]

I guess i'm partly to blame for the reason its up for auction (i'm getting married)... plus the market has softened with the number of cars being shipped from the US. Its just too expensive to build them here.

In terms of pricing, when looking at the recent history for similar spec'd corvettes, the price of 135k is actually about on the money (many have changed hands at that sort of figure or higher). The build cost these cars more often than not tops 100k. Think about taking a 35k road car, stripping it to bare shell and throwing most of it away.

The prep work on this car is immaculate, more akin to a show car, but built with 450+bhp, heavy duty suspension, "Big-Tank" fuel tank for endurance racing, the correct, period features etc. Compare this with a number of (similar) FIA cars that are running with incorrect displacement (and date coded) engines, wrong bonnets, standard suspension etc...

The general competition for these cars are cobra's, lightweight e-types etc, so in the scheme of things, if you were someone who wanted to get on TV and race at goodwood, it wouldnt be a bad car.

[AdeTuono]

So do you think Silverstone have undervalued it at £70,000? I'm assuming you must have put a reserve on it if you believe it to be worth £60,000 more than their valuation.

[Chodosh Corvette]

Seems to be a sign of the times I think, the market has softened as the recession takes its toll. You certainly couldnt build a car to that level for anything near 70-80k. I guess that means that looking at that estimate its cheap!?

[scovette]

Lovely car. Strange though that the advert implies that it has disc brakes, which would be rather odd?

[AdeTuono]

scovette said:

Lovely car. Strange though that the advert implies that it has disc brakes, which would be rather odd?

It doesn't 'imply' that it has disc brakes, it states that it has disc brakes. Why would this be odd? '65 was the year that disc brakes all round became standard. Or am I missing something?

[scovette]

Because only small blocks can have discs and be FIA eligible.

[AdeTuono]

scovette said:

Because only small blocks can have discs and be FIA eligible.

So, in order to be able to race with a big-block, you'd need to remove the factory fitted discs and put non-standard drums on? Really?

[Chodosh Corvette]

1965 FIA homologation number 187
- 396 cu in engine with maximum rebore to 427 cu in. The engine is the same stroke as for homologation 523 but with different bore (obviously), but I'm not sure if there are other differences with the heads, valves, etc
- 4 wheel disc brakes
- 7" steel wheels only or 6" alloys
- 36.5 and 42 gallon tanks homologated
- homologated weight 1225 kg
- transistor ignition system (option K66)
- 1965 was the first year to have two separate bonnets - the smooth small block hood and the big block hood with a "power bulge"
- there is a whole list of homologated additional equipment (side exhausts, tubular headers, heavy duty brakes, heavy duty radiator, special suspension, remote oil and axle coolers, plenum intake manifold, rear mounted battery, high lift cam package, heavy duty suspension, etc)

The small block chevy (1963-1964) runs to a different homologation and should actually run drums on the rear...

[scovette]

Brilliant thanks. My gf had been told that Masters et al wouldn't allow it. This could be an expensive afternoon for her.

[AdeTuono]

No takers then? Any bids at all?

http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1965-chevrolet-...

ETA: just checked some of the other entries; did anything sell at all? They're all listed as unsold.

Edited by AdeTuono on Saturday 19th May 08:56