1965 Chevrolet Corvette

1965 Corvette Stingray– One of a kind, Corvette Magazine featured Restomod 

Meticulously owner built, Corvette Stingray streetcar utilizing the finest engine, suspension, brakes and transmission components money can buy. A new all aluminum Donovan 515 cubic inch big block was the foundation for the old school muscle, naturally aspirated, everything fits under a stock hood with parts of USA origin and manufacture. Dyno verified 700hp at the crank and runs 10.86 at the ¼ mile on 9” drag radials. The car is fast and beautiful.

Was featured in a 5 page spread in Corvette Magazine in October 2013.

https://www.corvette-mag.com/issues/86/articles/snake-bite-kit

This is not just a show car. It was owner driven for a pass at the track to demonstrate its capabilities. No nitrous, no power shifting. An easy pass yielded a 10 second slip and then promptly retired from the race track.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umtZJefSXnY

The heart and soul of the car is a hand built precisely blueprinted and balanced Donovan big block. Kathy Donovan still runs Ed Donovan Engineering who built top fuel aluminum blocks in the 60's. She was kind enough to oversee the casting and delivery of this special project block.

The car won a local Cars & Coffee dyno event at the Creative Workshop in Hollywood Florida and still stands as one of the most powerful naturally aspirated, pump gas street cars ever on their dyno.

https://youtu.be/Uf1oUuUbdPg

The original born with matching numbers engine and transmission are included with the sale in well preserved condition. It is an L79, 327/350hp and M-21 4 speed. The differential case is original as well. Minimal dressing up and it would make a nice display item.

Detailed Engine Specs:

4.530” bore x 4” stroke - 515 cubic inches. 10.4to 1 compression ratio.  Runs on 93octane pump gas.

Only the best for the short block, Callies Dragonslayer Crank, Oliver Steel Billet rods, Air Flow Research 315 CNC heads, all ARP fasteners.

Valve train consists of a hydraulic roller camshaft custom designed by Jones Engineering.  Jesel 1.75 shaft mounted aluminum rockers, nitrated beehive springs and hollow stem valves.

JE Pistons and CP pins.  Total Seal gapless rings. Pistons have ceramic coated tops with dry film lubricated skirts. Coated Callies bearings.

An Edelbrock low rise dual quad intake was fully ported and topped twin Edelbrock (Carter)800 cfm AVS carbs. Initial tune and daily monitoring is via a dual onboard wideband O2 sensor system. Instant A/F ratio is displayed on a monitor inside the glove box.

Billet Specialties Tru-Trac serpentine belt system with air conditioning compressor, power steering pump and 100 amp billet alternator. The A/C blows nice and cold.

The large aluminum radiator pus twin electric fans keeps her cool even in the Florida heat.

Exhaust:

Custom Stahl side pipe headers fully ceramic coated and leading into 4” Random Technology metal catalytic converters plus two 4” Magnaflow stainless mufflers per side and 3” turnouts.  All covered by GM factory side pipe covers with innovative spacer fabrication work. The system was designed to be as quiet as you can get at this power level with side pipes. It sounds amazing.

Transmission Specs:

A full custom built Kiesler Engineering TKO 600 5 speed.

All internal gear sets cryogenically treated to increase torque capacity.

Carbon fiber syncro blockers to enable high RPM shifting. (6800 rpm)

Ceramic clutch with hydraulic actuation system.

Rear End:

“Tom's Differentials” Stage 7 tuned and polished posi carrier, Richmond 3.55 gears, 1350kit utilizing 3 ½” half shafts and forged fine spline steel axles. It's a bulletproof IRS.

Brakes:

One of a kind Wilwood racing system. Aluminum 6 piston fronts, 4 piston backs, Dual Wilwood master cylinders (front & rear) with a bias balance bar under dash, highspeed balanced slotted rotors. All mounting and brackets designed to maintain stock wheel offsets.

 Suspension:

A Vette Brakes and Products full Performance Plus system including fabricated control arms, front and rear transverse fiberglass springs, offset rear trailing arms.  All mounting points steel or urethane.

QA1 aluminum2 way adjustable shocks.

Custom built shortened rear sway bar and mounting system.

“Steeroids” power rack & pinion steering.  

Factory frame strengthened in key areas, differential cross member mounted solid.

Wheels and Tires:

Billet Specialties Profile Collection “Stilettos” 17x7 and 17x8s.

Dunlop Z1tires. 235/40/17 front and 255/40/17 rear.

Interior:

All stock appearing Al Koch 1965 factory black leather seats new foam and headrests with new door panels a fully restored factory instrument cluster and even an NOS working clock. New premium black convertible top that has only been up a couple times.  The entire inside of the interior was fully dynomated including underneath the door panels.

Teak steering wheel reproduction that is 1 inch smaller diameter than original for use with the power steering.

The sound system consists of a vintage looking radio coupled to JL Audio 800 watt 4channel amp, dual high end speakers under front factory grille 3 way stealth speakers lower kick panels, dual JL subwoofers in the back mounted in a custom  designed subwoofer box. Not used much as most of the music comes from the side pipes.

Paint:

House of Kolor Brandywine Kandy over Galaxy Grey base coat.

The car was fully abrasively stripped to reveal a truly no hit body will all original bonding strips in place. Entire car block sanded by hand (for many days) after primer and again block sanded after multiple coats of HOK Klear. Nine layers of paint total.

Show winning performances:

Upon the car's debut in 2014, entered into and won big at major car shows with national level judges.

This car has been with me for 11 years and it's really spectacular. She draws a crowd any where she goes and will give you the adrenalin rush of your life.  I've put 2200 miles on her since she was completed and have enjoyed them all. Just time to build something new.

Questions welcome.

Also published at eBay.com

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