Three vertical fender vents
Three working vertical slots in each front fender, in place of the earlier horizontal dummy louvers.12one source
Class of '65 · Chevrolet Corvette · 1964–1966 body · second generation (c2)
1965Chevrolet Corvette
Disc brakes on all four wheels, three working fender vents, the first big-block 396 from March, the last fuel injection until 1982, and 23,562 built.
The year in brief
Four-wheel disc brakes became standard. Drum brakes could still be ordered as a credit option while supplies lasted, and 316 cars had them, by the Black Book's count.1one source
In mid-March the first big-block came: the 396 with 425 hp and its own hood, at $292.70. Fuel injection cost $538.00 and found 771 buyers; it was its last year until 1982.12one source
Side-mounted exhaust pipes were new, an option on 759 cars by the Black Book's count.12one source
How to spot a 1965
What tells it apart from a 1964.
Smooth hood
No recesses in the hood; the 396 came with its own special hood.12one source
Black grille bars
The horizontal grille bars are black, inside a bright surround.1one source
Disc brakes
Four-wheel disc brakes as standard; 1964 had drums.12one source
Production124
23,562 cars, by body.
Every trim line
| Body | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Sport coupe | Corvette | 8,186 |
| All sport coupes | 8,186 | |
| Convertible | Corvette | 15,376 |
| All convertibles | 15,376 | |
| Total | 23,562 | |
The Black Book's split, 23,562 in all. Its own month-by-month table and fact note put the last VIN at 123564, two higher, and it says it is not certain whether the total is wrong or two numbers were not used. Consumer Guide's table has 15,378 convertibles, so its rows add up to 23,564 (our sum); Wikipedia and Consumer Guide's text give 23,562. See the ruling.
Engines13
6 engines. Chevrolet's regular production option (RPO) code from GM's own option and engine lists; «Std.» is the standard engine. The 1963–67 VIN carries no engine code.
Gross ratings and RPO codes from GM's engine page; GM's power-team page gives the carburetors. The 396 came in mid-March 1965, by the Black Book's account.
Price when new123
Base retail prices in 1965 dollars, before options.
The Black Book (and Wikipedia for the convertible) give $4,321 and $4,106; the price schedule in GM's own kit gives $4,233 and $4,022, $88 and $84 less (our arithmetic). See the ruling.
Colors1one source
8 factory colors, by number of cars. The color names come from one source1one source; the swatches are approximate screen colors, not paint matches.
Nassau BlueFF
Glen GreenGG
Rally RedUU
Milano MaroonMM
Silver PearlQQ
Ermine WhiteCC
Goldwood YellowXX
Tuxedo BlackAA
The Black Book's counts and codes, one source. They add up to 23,557 (our sum); with the 5 cars it lists in non-standard paint or primer that makes the year's 23,562.
Reading the VIN13
A 1965 VIN has 13 characters, or 12 without the plant letter. Type one in, and the decoder reads it against the code tables on this page.
1946751020003one source · GM's own example for 1965: the 2000th Corvette of the year, a model 19467 convertible. It has 12 characters and no plant letter; the Black Book's numbers for the year have the S (194375S100001 to 194375S123562), 13 characters. The decoder reads both.
The code table
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Type of vehicle: passenger car |
| 9437 · 9467 | Model: sport coupe · convertible |
| 5 | Model year (1965) |
| S | Assembly plant: St. Louis, Missouri (in the Black Book's numbers; not on GM's 1965 sheet) |
| 100001 → | Unit number, counted for all Corvettes of the year |
Where to find it: Not in our sources for 1965. The 1966 kit puts it on a metal plate riveted to a horizontal body support under the glove box door.5one source
Questions about the 1965
How many 1965 Chevrolet Corvettes were made?
23,562 by the count we use: 8,186 sport coupes, 15,376 convertibles. The sources disagree on the total; the ruling on this page explains which figure we show and why.124sources disagree
How can you tell a 1965 Corvette from a 1964?
Four signs, each explained under «How to spot» on this page: three vertical fender vents; smooth hood; black grille bars; disc brakes.12one source
What engines did the 1965 Chevrolet Corvette have?
Six engines, from the 327 cu in V8 to the 396 cu in V8. The engine table on this page gives every code and rating, and the rulings cover the disputed ones.13
How much did a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette cost new?
Base retail prices, before options: Sport coupe $4,321 or $4,233 (open ruling); convertible $4,106 or $4,022 (open ruling).123
What colors did the 1965 Chevrolet Corvette come in?
Corvette Black Book (Michael Bruce Associates), reprinted in GM's 1965 kit counts 8 factory colors. The most common was Nassau Blue, on 6,022 cars.1one source
Where is the VIN on a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette?
Not in our sources for 1965. The 1966 kit puts it on a metal plate riveted to a horizontal body support under the glove box door.5one source
Where the sources disagree
Every conflict we found for 1965, and how we settled it. All rulings.
Open
The 1965 base prices
Our ruling: Unresolved. The Black Book gives $4,321 and $4,106 (Consumer Guide's table and Wikipedia repeat them, so they are one source); the price schedule in GM's own 1965 kit gives $4,233 and $4,022, $88 and $84 less (our arithmetic). No source we have explains the difference.
What each source says (2)
- $4,321 for the sport coupe and $4,106 for the convertible1one source
- $4,233 and $4,022 (manufacturer's suggested retail price)3one source
Open
1965 production: 23,562 or 23,564
Our ruling: Unresolved. We show 23,562, the Black Book's published build figure, which Wikipedia and Consumer Guide's text repeat. The Black Book's own month table ends at 123564, and Consumer Guide's table rows add up to 23,564 (our sum). The Black Book itself says it is not certain whether the total is wrong or two numbers were not used, and every figure here comes from the same track.
What each source says (2)
- 23,562 built (8,186 coupes, 15,376 convertibles), but the last VIN ended in 123564; «It isn't certain if the total is wrong, or if two VINs weren't used»1one source
- 15,378 convertibles in its table, so its rows add up to 23,564 (our sum); 23,562 in its text4one source
Sources
- 1965 Corvette: production, numbers, facts, options and colors Corvette Black Book (Michael Bruce Associates), reprinted in GM's 1965 kit · read 2026-10-11
- Chevrolet Corvette (C2) Wikipedia · read 2026-10-11
- 1965 Chevrolet Corvette – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-11
- 1965 Corvette HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-11
- 1966 Corvette vehicle identification number (explanatory page) Explanatory pages reprinted in GM's 1966 Corvette kit (publisher not named) · read 2026-10-11
Keep going
Three more years.
1963Chevrolet CorvetteThe first Sting Ray: an all-new body and chassis, the first Corvette coupe with its split rear window, hidden headlamps, and 21,513 built.21,513 built1964Chevrolet CorvetteOne rear window instead of two, a cleaner hood, 365 and 375 hp at the top, and 22,229 built.22,229 built
1966Chevrolet CorvetteThe 427 arrives at 390 and 425 hp, fuel injection is gone, the grille turns to an egg-crate, and 27,720 are built, the most of the five years.27,720 builtSee the whole second generation (c2).
Dimensions, production year by year and every ruling, 1963–1967.