1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

[Joe L.]

I don't normally get into this area but it so happens that I recently became aware that a friend of mine was the original owner of a 1965 Corvette with 36 gallon tank and FI options. The car was originally Milano Maroon with black interior. It was purchased new at Johnny Londoff Chevrolet in Ferguson, MO (St. Louis metro area). Unfortunately, my friend has no remaining records which show the VIN number. However, there were so few cars with N-03 built in 1965 it might be identifiable without the VIN number. I'll bet this was likely the only one ever sold by Johnny Londoff Chevrolet.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of this car, I can put them in touch with the original owner. He lived in the St. Louis area at the time, but he's been in California for a very long time now.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

... became aware that a friend of mine was the original owner of a 1965 Corvette with 36 gallon tank and FI options. The car was originally Milano Maroon with black interior. ...... However, there were so few cars with N-03 built in 1965 it might be identifiable without the VIN number.....

Good data find, Joe. For 30 years I've been keeping an informal list of all C2 tankers that I hear about. I show only one Maroon/blk '65 N03 car, and just off the top of my head, it was in the VIN range 20xxx, based on the pressure test date scribbled on the tank. The 36.5 gal components, not the car, were for sale at Carlisle nearly 20 years ago. I took a pic, IIRC. Believe it was member Bob Young [upstate NY ?] who told me it came from a Maroon car. Bob may also have been the person who removed the parts, and would know more of the story. He knows his tankers, as he restored a '65 Green/green L76 w/C60.

Jim Gessner may know more from the L84 side.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

Good data find, Joe. For 30 years I've been keeping an informal list of all C2 tankers that I hear about. I show only one Maroon/blk '65 N03 car, and just off the top of my head, it was in the VIN range 20xxx, based on the pressure test date scribbled on the tank. The 36.5 gal components, not the car, were for sale at Carlisle nearly 20 years ago. I took a pic, IIRC. Believe it was member Bob Young [upstate NY ?] who told me it came from a Maroon car. Bob may also have been the person who removed the parts, and would know more of the story. He knows his tankers, as he restored a '65 Green/green L76 w/C60.

Jim Gessner may know more from the L84 side.

Bob has never logged on the TDB, but his email contact is rlyoung63@aol.com

[James G.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

Bob has never logged on the TDB, but his email contact is rlyoung63@aol.com

Bob is in Virginia. I have his 704 area phone.

I don't have record of this car. There is a nassau blue / blue car also.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

I don't normally get into this area but it so happens that I recently became aware that a friend of mine was the original owner of a 1965 Corvette with 36 gallon tank and FI options. The car was originally Milano Maroon with black interior. It was purchased new at Johnny Londoff Chevrolet in Ferguson, MO (St. Louis metro area). Unfortunately, my friend has no remaining records which show the VIN number. However, there were so few cars with N-03 built in 1965 it might be identifiable without the VIN number. I'll bet this was likely the only one ever sold by Johnny Londoff Chevrolet.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of this car, I can put them in touch with the original owner. He lived in the St. Louis area at the time, but he's been in California for a very long time now.

Joe,

Johnny Londoff is in Florissant, Mo which is next to Ferguson. They have been in the same location for many many years and have never moved. Johnny Sr. has retired and his son runs the business. Someone may want to contact them to see if the have any info on that car. I use to buy a lot of corvette parts from them as they always gave corvette people great discounts and they would always go the extra mile to help you find those hard to find parts.

Mike

[Dick W.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

Bob is in Virginia. I have his 704 area phone.

I don't have record of this car. There is a nassau blue / blue car also.

North Carolina Jim, Waxhaw to be exact

[William L.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

The guy I would get a hold of at Londoff is Steve Schumann. He is a retired salesman that hangs out at Londoff and he is a Corvette guy. I don't think they have any old paper work. The phone # at Londoff is
314 837 1800

[Robert Y.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

Good data find, Joe. For 30 years I've been keeping an informal list of all C2 tankers that I hear about. I show only one Maroon/blk '65 N03 car, and just off the top of my head, it was in the VIN range 20xxx, based on the pressure test date scribbled on the tank. The 36.5 gal components, not the car, were for sale at Carlisle nearly 20 years ago. I took a pic, IIRC. Believe it was member Bob Young [upstate NY ?] who told me it came from a Maroon car. Bob may also have been the person who removed the parts, and would know more of the story. He knows his tankers, as he restored a '65 Green/green L76 w/C60.

Jim Gessner may know more from the L84 side.

Hi Wayne....long time, no see! Glad to note that you are still involved with those N03 cars - certainly my favorite option on the mid-years. You mentioned the Green '65 coupe....it is now in Charlotte and belongs to a great friend, STILL looks great after all of these years and is certainly the one car I should have bought back!

Regarding that N03 set-up and the maroon '65 coupe it came from - I am unsure if it is the same tank set-up you referred to having taken pics of it at Carlisle; could have been providing it went back home with the seller. I did purchase a complete tank set-up, less fender caps, from a NCRS member back in '80's. I recall his name was Gary, lived in upstate NY I think, and took my friend that needed one for his Z06 with me to visit him. "Gary" was restoring a '56 turquoise Corvette at the time, and I do not recall his last name but he did run the car through the system, believe he Duntoved it.

Maybe Gary will chime in and fill us all in on the story - know he is out there, probably currently waxing that beautiful '56 and rearranging his blue ribbons.

In any event, when we inquired about the source of the tank, he stated it came from a maroon coupe that was local to him at the time (unsure if he purchased the car, or the parts from owner of the car - believe the latter). Seeing that CRS has dimmed my memories, that is about all I can recall on the parts and that particular maroon car. I would not have a clue if it belonged to the owner mentioned in this thread, but always that chance. The tank set-up did find a good home in a silver/black Z06!

Wonder if that current owner looked under the rear carpet or noticed that the wheels had a bit of a bulge to them?

I also know that in MI there is, or was a few years ago, a red Z06 running around that was purchased with tank set-up missing, remainder of the parts also removed and the car was resold with NOM 327. I would not even want to guess what it would cost to put one back original these days, but estimate the rare parts alone would push $75K!

Presume your ol'yeller is still pounding the pavement when the sun shines up there! One last thing, am located, as noted in one of the following threads, in Waxhaw, NC, and active in the Carolinas Chapter.

Bob

[James G.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

Hi Wayne....long time, no see! Glad to note that you are still involved with those N03 cars - certainly my favorite option on the mid-years. You mentioned the Green '65 coupe....it is now in Charlotte and belongs to a great friend, STILL looks great after all of these years and is certainly the one car I should have bought back!

Regarding that N03 set-up and the maroon '65 coupe it came from - I am unsure if it is the same tank set-up you referred to having taken pics of it at Carlisle; could have been providing it went back home with the seller. I did purchase a complete tank set-up, less fender caps, from a NCRS member back in '80's. I recall his name was Gary, lived in upstate NY I think, and took my friend that needed one for his Z06 with me to visit him. "Gary" was restoring a '56 turquoise Corvette at the time, and I do not recall his last name but he did run the car through the system, believe he Duntoved it.

Maybe Gary will chime in and fill us all in on the story - know he is out there, probably currently waxing that beautiful '56 and rearranging his blue ribbons.

In any event, when we inquired about the source of the tank, he stated it came from a maroon coupe that was local to him at the time (unsure if he purchased the car, or the parts from owner of the car - believe the latter). Seeing that CRS has dimmed my memories, that is about all I can recall on the parts and that particular maroon car. I would not have a clue if it belonged to the owner mentioned in this thread, but always that chance. The tank set-up did find a good home in a silver/black Z06!

Wonder if that current owner looked under the rear carpet or noticed that the wheels had a bit of a bulge to them?

I also know that in MI there is, or was a few years ago, a red Z06 running around that was purchased with tank set-up missing, remainder of the parts also removed and the car was resold with NOM 327. I would not even want to guess what it would cost to put one back original these days, but estimate the rare parts alone would push $75K!

Presume your ol'yeller is still pounding the pavement when the sun shines up there! One last thing, am located, as noted in one of the following threads, in Waxhaw, NC, and active in the Carolinas Chapter.

Bob

Hi Bob,
Glad to hear your are doing well. My first thought on the GARY from New York, is GARY PRONESTI who used to be in upstate New York, near Syracuse. He now lives in Zelwood, Florida. I saw him at Carlisle in 2009. Gary "Always" has played with RPO BIG BRAKE stuff for 57-62 cars ans Z0-6 Tank stuff as well. I have his phone if anyone wants to chase this story further. He will probebly be at Kissimmee month end.

Glad to hear the green car is in a good home.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

......Regarding that N03 set-up and the maroon '65 coupe it came from - I am unsure if it is the same tank set-up you referred to having taken pics of it at Carlisle; could have been providing it went back home with the seller. ...... In any event, when we inquired about the source of the tank, he [Gary] stated it came from a maroon coupe that was local to him at the time (unsure if he purchased the car, or the parts from owner of the car - believe the latter). ....

Bob -- glad to hear you're still Corvette-active and live in a warm part of the country . Haven't had ol'Yeller out for a spin in at least 6 months; this winter has been brutal -- ever notice the North American jet stream on the TV weather forecasts ? Frigid zone dips down to Texas !! -- been stationary for months.

Found the picture I remember taking -- turns out it was Carlisle 1997. I zoomed in on the crayon pressure test date (6/28/65). 3rd pic is of misc. parts in the box. I can identify the filler tube with pie-plate; also can make out both wheel well filler caps, an NOS tank strap, the underbody reinforcement bracket for the strap tie-down brackets; the roof panel vent duct, including filler panel (for blower delete on '65 and '64 tankers). Don't see the cover side strips; maybe under the cover. Like you say; pricey parts.

So if this was off a '65 Maroon car, the VIN range was probably around 22,5xx.

[Robert Y.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with N-03 and L-84

Bob -- glad to hear you're still Corvette-active and live in a warm part of the country . Haven't had ol'Yeller out for a spin in at least 6 months; this winter has been brutal -- ever notice the North American jet stream on the TV weather forecasts ? Frigid zone dips down to Texas !! -- been stationary for months.

Found the picture I remember taking -- turns out it was Carlisle 1997. I zoomed in on the crayon pressure test date (6/28/65). 3rd pic is of misc. parts in the box. I can identify the filler tube with pie-plate; also can make out both wheel well filler caps, an NOS tank strap, the underbody reinforcement bracket for the strap tie-down brackets; the roof panel vent duct, including filler panel (for blower delete on '65 and '64 tankers). Don't see the cover side strips; maybe under the cover. Like you say; pricey parts.

So if this was off a '65 Maroon car, the VIN range was probably around 22,5xx.

Hey Wayne....NOW I know why it has been freezing the past few months around here - will politely tell you to keep it there, please! Nice pictures you have and for sure I was there at Carlisle that year - do not recall seeing those parts, and I do not believe that we purchased more than the tank, cover, filler neck and cup. Possibly included the tank straps with the original set-up, but most likely a different one than yours.

I did chat with my friend that purchased the parts today, and between both of us, still cannot recall where we went to purchase the tank. He also remembers the '56 under restoration, and I came up with the name Gary Fickens (sp??) - believe he was in the printing business back then. Now, if we could only locate him, might resolve the maroon '65 former tanker the parts came off.

Good to hear from you, and am not a bit surprised that you could come up with pics taken back almost 20 yrs ago! Best Regards, Bob.