Gearhead bought 25 Corvettes in 2024 but it was a 1965 unicorn not used since 1999 that hid a rare present

When a car enthusiast bought a lot of 25 Corvette models, the oddball 1965 car that hadn’t been driven since 1999 turned out to be the unexpected hidden gem.

1965 introduced Corvette fans to a big 396 cubic-inches surprise – a big block V8 – that pushed sales to an unprecedented 23,562 units.

It was only available for one year, as it was replaced in 1966 by the Chevy 427 engine.

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The Corvette V8

In 1963, General Motors banned its divisions from officially entering any races.

It axed any aspirations from its less-than-full-size automobiles, imposing a never-exceed limit on engine displacement.

In fact, anything not in the Impala line was forbidden from having a motor with more than 400 cubic inches (6.6 liters).

The 1965 Chevrolet, however, bent those rules after it was recognized that the lack of a big-block option was preventing Corvette from competing with Ferrari and Aston Martin.

It housed a 396 big-block V8 that fell under GM’s upper limit by one percent.

That allowed the 1965 Corvette to boast an unprecedented 425hp. 

2,125 units were built, with the big motor acting to drive sales upward.

Its success led GM to introduce the bigger-inch 427 a year later.

The 396 V8 was expensive, with the bulk of sales going to the tried and tested 327 V8.

The 5.4 liters offered five different outputs, from a base of 250-375hp with steps in between.

As a result, the 1965 Corvette is considered iconic in the modern market.

In 1971, a man from Tiffin, Ohio, bought a fiber-glass-bodied example, gifting it to his brother a year later.

Two years later, the engine dropped a valve and, due to internal combustion limits, cracked the block.

While fixable, it was more expensive than sourcing a V8 elsewhere.

The owner opted for the cheaper option and the 1965 Corvette spent the next 25 years under a tarp in the garage.

The owner was able to restore the peeling exterior finish in 1970 and it lasted another 25 years.

Enter classic car rescuer, Dennis Collins, who made this his 25th Corvette purchase so far this year and shared this story to YouTube.

An even earlier model, this 1959 Corvette, was acquired in an uncommon way in 1977 and remains immaculate today.

Not that being immaculate matters too much – a salvage yard in Arizona recently tried to sell two-thirds of a C8 Chevrolet Corvette.

Why is it so rare?

This particular Nassau Blue coupe is one of the 8,186 units built for the model year.

However, it includes rare options including a side dual exhaust – only 758 Corvettes made that year shared that feature

The power antenna and telescoping steering column were other new features of the 1965 Corvette.

Less than 4,000 units were ordered with an adjustable steering wheel.

It also boasted rare air conditioning that cost $412 sticker price at the time, and only 2,423 had it.

Another unusual spec was a three-speed power-exhaust cabin ventilation that used a blower fan behind the driver to push stale air out of the greenhouse through the functional slats in the B-pillar.

It functioned in conjunction with cowl inlets that sucked air into the cabin.

But, the most out-of-place part about this 1965 Corvette?

Both 427 badges belong to the 1966-1967 model.

The 427 cubic-inch motor debuted in 1966 to replace the 396.

Over the following 18 years, this saw fuel-injected powerplants disappear.

In more recent news, this 2026 Camaro concept is a perfect blend of Corvette and Camaro.

Although, it’s unlikely to ever become a reality, sadly.