1965 Corvette

The 1965 Corvette Stingray was the last year for fuel injection until 1982 when the L83 cross-fire fuel injection was introduced. This was the first year for the Mark-IV engine; a 396 cubic-inch, 425 horsepower engine that also required a special hood to give clearance for the larger power plant. The hood also has the funnel shaped "power blister" air scoop. The vertical louvers on the side of the car are now functional and the blacked out grill has horizontal bars. The depressions on the standard hood were removed.

The rocker panels were again restyled as well. New knock-off wheels were finally available from the factory, they were painted dark gray in between the fins. A side exhaust system was offered which made the car look even more aggressive. A telescoping steering wheel and new gauges influenced by aircraft design were added as well. Disc brakes were standard for the 1965 Corvette but drums could be substituted for a $64.50 credit. The seats were redesigned with larger and more supportive cushions. This was the only year for the 396 cubic-inch "Turbo Jet" engine. The antenna is now powered and is standard. A special order heavy duty transmission (M22) dubbed the "Rock Crusher" because of the sounds it makes while shifting was an option in 1965. All 1965-1967 396/427 rocker arm covers were painted orange except for the 16 L89s in 1967.

From 1964 through 1967 Chevrolet outsourced building bodies to A.O. Smith. In 1964 this outsourcing began sometime after VIN sequence #109314. Those outsourced to A.O. Smith included a "A - " on the trim tag preceding the body number; those built at the St. Louis plant preceded the body number on the trim tag.

Body Number Plate Decode

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
Introduced in 1964 the drivers side vent was supposed to extract air from the cabin. It only lasted through the 1965 model year and, by most accounts, was not very effective.

1965 total Corvettes built - 23,562
1965 Fastback coupes - 8,186
1965 Convertibles - 15,376

Corvettes Engines	23,562	Percentage
RPO L75 - 300-hp engine	8,358	35.47
RPO L76 - 365-hp engine	5,011	21.27
RPO L78 - 425-hp engine	2,157	09.15
RPO L79 - 350-hp engine	4,716	20.02
RPO L84 - 375-hp engine	711	03.27
base 250-hp engine	2,549	10.82

Serial Numbers
Corvette	508x7S100001-508x7S123562
Coupe is body style 37 and convertible is body style 67

Engine Identification

Position	Character(s)	Description
1	F or T	Flint, MI. or Tonawanda, N.Y. engine assembly plant
2 to 5	1025	Engine assembly date (month/day)
6 and 7	Code	HE - 327-cid 250-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr HI - 327-cid 250-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr, A.C. HO - 327-cid 250-hp, automatic transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr HQ - 327-cid 250-hp, automatic transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr, A.C. HF - 327-cid 300-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr HJ - 327-cid 300-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr, A.C. HP - 327-cid 300-hp, automatic transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr HR - 327-cid 300-hp, automatic transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 10.5:1 cr, A.C. HT - 327-cid 350-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr HU - 327-cid 350-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr, A.C. HV - 327-cid 350-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr, T.I. HW - 327-cid 350-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr, A.C., T.I. HH - 327-cid 365-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr HK - 327-cid 365-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr, A.C. HL - 327-cid 365-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr, T.I. HM - 327-cid 365-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr, A.C., T.I. HG - 327-cid 375-hp, manual transmission, 11.0:1 cr. F.I. HN - 327-cid 375-hp, manual transmission, 11.0:1 cr, F.I., T.I. IF - 396-cid 425-hp, manual transmission, 4-bbl carburetor, 11.0:1 cr, T.I.
A.C.	Air Conditioning
F.I.	Fuel Injection 1965 would be the last year for fuel injection until 1982 with a computer controlled electronic Cross-Fire system
T.I.	Transistor Ignition

Engine Specifications - 327 engines

	Base 327	RPO L75 300hp	RPO L79 350hp	RPO L76 365hp	RPO L84 375hp
Bore (in inches)	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00
Stroke (in inches)	3.25	3.25	3.75	3.25	3.25
Cubic Inches	327	327	327	327	327
Compression Ratio	10.5:1	10.5:1	10.5:1	11.25:1	11.25:1
Horsepower @ RPM	250 @ 4400	300 @ 5000	350 @ 5800	365 @ 6200	375 @ 6200
Torque lb-ft @ RPM	350 @ 2800	360 @ 3200	360 @ 3800	350 @ 4000	350 @ 4400-4800
Fuel	4-bbl 3846247	4-bbl 3826004 - manual transmission 3826006 - automatic transmission	4-bbl 3849804	4-bbl 3849804	F.I. 7017380

Engine Specifications - 396 engine

Item	RPO L78
Displacement	396 cid
Bore & Stroke	4.094" x 3.76"
Compression Ratio	11.00:1
Advertised Horsepower	425 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque	415 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Valve lifter type	Mechanical
Camshaft	High performance
Fuel system	Holley 4-bbl - 3868826

Regular Production Options

RPO	Description	Cost	Units	%
19437	Coupe	$4,321.00	8,186	34.75
19467	Convertible	$4,106.00	15,376	65.25
400	Leather seats - single color	$80.70	1,793	7.61
445	Leather seats - two-tone	$80.70	335	1.42
A01	Tinted windows (all)	$16.15	8,752	37.14
A02	Tinted windows (windshield only)	$10.80	7,624	35.36
A31	Power windows	$59.20	3,809	16.17
C07	Hardtop (convertible only) in place of folding top In addition to folding top	N.C. $231.70	7,787	50.64
C48	Heater delete	-$100.00	39	0.17
C60	Air conditioning	$421.80	2,423	10.28
F40	Special suspension	$37.70	975	4.14
G81	Positraction	$43.05	19,965	84.73
G91	3.08:1 rear axle ratio	$2.20	1,886	8.00
J50	Power brakes	$43.05	4,044	17.16
J61	Drum brakes (credit)	-$64.50	316	1.34
K66	Transistor ignition	$75.35	3,686	15.64
L75	327-cid, 300-hp	$53.80	8,358	35.35
L76	327-cid, 365-hp	$129.15	5,011	21.27
L78	396-cid, 425-hp	$292.70	2,157	9.15
L79	327-cid, 350-hp	$107.60	4,716	20.02
L84	327-cid, 375-hp (F.I.)	$538.00	771	3.27
M20	4-speed manual transmission ⁽²⁾	$188.30	21,107	55.7
M22	Heavy duty 4-speed manual transmission	$236.95	4,716	100.0
M35	Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission ⁽¹⁾	$199.10	2,021	18.53
N03	36-gallon fuel tank (coupe only)	$202.30	41	0.50
N11	Off-road exhaust system	$37.70	2,468	10.48
N14	Side mount exhaust system	$134.50	759	3.22
N36	Telescopic steering column	$43.05	3,917	16.62
N40	Power steering	$96.85	3,236	13.73
P48	Cast aluminum knock-off wheels	$322.80	1,116	4.74
P91	6.70 x 15 nylon blackwall *	$15.70	168	0.71
P92	6.70 x 15 rayon whitewall *	$31.85	19,300	81.91
T01	7.75 x 15 nylon gold stripe *	$50.05	989	4.20
U69	AM/FM radio	$203.40	22,113	93.85
Z01	Comfort & Convenience Group	$16.15	15,397	65.35
* Images may be representations of the option >> The 327-cid, 250-hp engine, 3-speed manual transmission, vinyl interior, and a soft top (convertible) were included in the base price. >> The 7,787 C07 quantity included 1,277 in lieu of soft tops at no extra cost. >> The 2,432 C60 quantity was split 1,551 coupes and 872 convertibles. >> The 2,021 M35 quantity was split 663 with 250-hp and 1,358 with 300-hp. >> The P91 blackwall tire option was a nylon replacement for the standard rayon blackwall and was available briefly early in production. >> The Z01 option included backup lights and a inside rearview mirror. ⁽¹⁾ Since the Powerglide was not an option with the 327/365, 327/375, or 396/425 engines, their total was deducted from total Corvette sales numbers leaving only 10,907 Corvettes the Powerglide was available with. ⁽²⁾ The 21,107 M20 quantity was split 10,538 with wide ratio 250-hp and 300-hp engines; 8,496 with close ratio 350-hp, 365-hp and 375-hp engines. > Tachometer redline→

1965 Exterior/Interior Colors

RPO	Color	Interior Color Choices	Units	%
AA	Tuxedo Black	Blue - Black - Green - Red - Maroon - Saddle - Silver - White	1,191	5.05
CC	Ermine White	Blue - Black - Green - Red - Maroon - Saddle - Silver - White	2,216	9.40
FF	Nassau Blue	Blue - Black - White	6,022	25.56
GG	Glen Green	Black - Green - Saddle - White	3,782	16.05
MM	Milano Maroon	Black - Maroon - Red - Saddle - White	2,831	12.02
QQ	Silver Pearl	Black - Red - Silver	2,552	10.83
UU	Rally Red	Black - Red - White	3,688	15.65
XX	Goldwood Yellow	Black - White	1,275	5.41
The 1965 trim tags show paint as 900xx where 'xx' are the letters AA, CC, etc.
Convertible top available in black, beige, and white with any exterior color

Interior Trim Codes

RPO	Color/Material
Standard	Black vinyl
402	Black leather
407	Red vinyl
408	Red leather
414	Blue vinyl
415	Blue leather
420	Saddle vinyl
421	Saddle leather
426	Silver vinyl
427	Silver leather
430	Green vinyl
431	Green leather
435	Maroon vinyl
437	White vinyl with Black accents
443	White vinyl with Red accents
450	White vinyl with Blue accents
468, 444, 451	White leather
436	Maroon leather

1965 OEM Supplier Paint Colors

Color	Valspar Code	PPG Code	DuPont Code	RM Code	SW Code	WA Code
AA - Tuxedo Black	K090	9300	99	946	n/a	n/a
CC - Ermine White	W612	8259	4024	1199	1911	2661
FF - Nassau Blue	L176	13057	4690	1747	2455	3364
GG - Glen Green	G1157	43412	4691	1745	2456	3366
MM - Milano Maroon	R2402	50706	4689	1746M	2454	3365
QQ - Silver Pearl	S536	32449	4621	1708	2422	3314
UU - Rally Red	R1163L	71491	4688	1744	2453	3395
YY - Goldwood Yellow	Y663	81450	4530	1612	2346	n/a

Mechanical Specifications

Wheelbase	98.0 inches
Track Front/Rear (inches)	56.8 / 57.6
Overall Length	175.1
Width	69.6 inches
Height	49.8 inches (folding top & coupe) 49.6 inches (hard top)
Curb Weight	3,145 pounds - convertible 3,153 pounds - convertible with hardtop 3,135 pounds - coupe Powerglide - add 23.3 lbs. 4-speed - add 1.9 lbs.
Coolant Capacity	19.0 quarts with heater/18.0 quarts without - 350 engine 22.0 quarts with heater/21.0 quarts without - 396 engine
Fuel Capacity	20.0 gallons
Oil Capacity	5.0 quarts

1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967

GM Heritage PDF file of specifications/options/etc.

1965 Corvette Sales Brochure PDF file