1965 396 prototypes & test cars

[Bill W.]

How many 65 396 prototypes,test cars ,zone cars were built that were not to be sold to the public ? I know # 46 was a 396 prototype ,there are pictures in Nolands book . It has a serial number . I would think there were more used as test cars or given to the zone to drive. If they were serial numbered could they have made there way to the public or to known racers ?
Does anyone out there have a real 396 with a earlier serial number than #12864 ?

[Loren L.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

I'm not sure what your question is - 1965 #003 was built as a 427 prototype and obviously was sold - It was in Michigan for years and is now in Oklahoma.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

I'm not sure what your question is - 1965 #003 was built as a 427 prototype and obviously was sold - It was in Michigan for years and is now in Oklahoma.

What engine block was used in it and is that block still in existence?

[Loren L.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

Off the top of my head, I do not know/remember the casting # but I believe the block was still in the car when it attended the 1985 NCRS National Convention at the Sheraton 3 1/2 Hotel. Horror of horrors, it was DRIVEN to Boston from the Detroit area.

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

Loren , My question is were there any 396s built before #12864 that could have over time made it to the public . I see quite a few pre 12864 cars listed for sale and on the Corvette registry . Im sure most of them are clones . I was at the 1985 national I did not see the # 003 65 .

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

How many 65 396 prototypes,test cars ,zone cars were built that were not to be sold to the public ? I know # 46 was a 396 prototype ,there are pictures in Noland's book . It has a serial number . I would think there were more used as test cars or given to the zone to drive. If they were serial numbered could they have made there way to the public or to known racers ?
Does anyone out there have a real 396 with a earlier serial number than #12864 ?

Bill -- the subject of real L78's prior to #12864 has come up before (forgetting the prototypes and the mules for the moment). There's a long time member who is aware of 2 or 3 in the 12,xxx range that are earlier than Bill Mock's car. (Sorry, can't remember his name; maybe can be found in the related posts, below).

As for # 0003, I believe it had several GM reincarnations before showing up at the St. Louis NCRS National meet (1981 ?). I attach a few pics. Notice the jacking instructions were for a 36 gal w/KO's. Last shot is of the corroded door sill plate. A little early for belt retractors ?

65VIN00003 (Custom).jpg4800 dpi010 (Custom).jpg4800 dpi019 (Custom).jpg4800 dpi022 (Custom).jpg4800 dpi017 (Custom).jpgSt.Louis 1981.jpg

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

Wayne I wonder what happened to that car ? Its history would be very interesting .I have several cars on my list before 12864 one is #12201 that was listed as a Bowtie car in 1997 & 12682 that was a block for sale in the driveline in 1999 the others ????. I was at the 81 St Louis national . That was my first NCRS .I got hooked at the tech sessions . They were talking about original things I had never even thought of like radiator & gas caps , wiper blades , & date codes.WOW.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

interesting...Looks a lot like a modified '65 Fuelie emblem. The cross flags are a curiosity too, since the '65 fuel cars didn't have them.




Mike

[Loren L.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

Considering that it is certainly not a fuel car, why is it interesting? The emblems were made from scratch and, as a matter of fact, the car carried only 1 emblem at Boston because the owner was afraid of theft - ie, he wanted a brass model to recreate, if necessary.
I was unaware until now, because of Wayne's photos, that the car was at St Louis - which would probably be typical of the time.If you were a member in the early '80s, your focus of attention at those meets was almost exclusive to what you were working on.
I was judging 63/4 and probably missed the opportunity to meet the great personality that owned '65 #003 - it was corrected in 1985 in Boston, much to the appreciation of he, three guys from AZ, two from CA and two from Perth, Australia, all in the pool area where the security guard informed us was "Closed" at 7:30 PM PST.

[David B.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

Considering that it is certainly not a fuel car, why is it interesting? The emblems were made from scratch and, as a matter of fact, the car carried only 1 emblem at Boston because the owner was afraid of theft - ie, he wanted a brass model to recreate, if necessary.
I was unaware until now, because of Wayne's photos, that the car was at St Louis - which would probably be typical of the time.If you were a member in the early '80s, your focus of attention at those meets was almost exclusive to what you were working on.
I was judging 63/4 and probably missed the opportunity to meet the great personality that owned '65 #003 - it was corrected in 1985 in Boston, much to the appreciation of he, three guys from AZ, two from CA and two from Perth, Australia, all in the pool area where the security guard informed us was "Closed" at 7:30 PM PST.

Loren,
I believe the #03 '65 car you are referring to belonged to long time NCRS member Jack Pringle. Jack was a good friend who lived 3 blocks from me. He passed away about 2 years ago. The #03 car he owned for many years was an S O car built especially for Bunkie Knudson. Jack told me it was the first Corvette with a big block engine. The car had a pretty unique turquoise paint color that he tried to get from the Tech Center to duplicate. The interior had typical S O trim items. The shop order # was marked inside the door panels. The fender emblems were very special and unique to that car and jack would remove them at times for fear someone would steal them. I think Jack drove the car to the 1985 Boston meet and I believe photos of these emblems were in an issue of the Restorer at that time. I do not believe the 427 emblems shown in this thread were the ones on Jack's car. Prior to passing away, Jack's brother Hal sold the car to a collector to help pay medical bills.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

David, you are correct. However, now you're going to force me to find the photos I took in Boston of the car and the emblems - just in the hope that CRS disease has not taken total control. "Mark IV" is in the memory banks, but now I have to check. Other people who were at Boston might remember Jack and Larry Wheaton as wearing the two "worst" hats at an NCRS or any other meet. I also recall the Dale Pearman '62 "taxi" taking
us up the hill in the open trunk.

[David B.]

Re: 1965 396 prototypes & test cars

I thought CRS disease had already caught up with you. I was also there and remember it well due to the fact I had talked Frank Burrell into showing up to reunite with Dr Dick Thompson. I don't think he had seen Thomson since early 60s (LeManns ??).