1965 original L78s ?

[Joel T.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

All;

Well, today, July 28th is the birthday of my L78.. It is 46 years old but does not look her age! Vin# is 23316 and the car was delivered to a dealership in northern Virginia. Again, I suspect this particular car has seen its share of abuse over the years and was in need of much TLC when I bought it in late 2006. After an 18 month frame off restoration she looks and drives like a million bucks! I still have work to do on her and it will come off the road for a spell in the not too distant future.. What I have found out is that restoring a classic Corvette is a journey (a somewhat expensive one!)... there is always more to do!

[Gary C.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

Just added up the L78's on the C2 Registery.
Total L78 = 69
Coupe = 36
Conv. = 33

Vin Range 1881???? to 23564

So there are quite a few missing.....

[Mike M.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

i've got a pair of 396's, both nassau blue. the roadsater, vin 221373, is an origianal drivetrain vet with 38K miles. the coupe, vin 18503, lost its orignal block before i bought it. i found a 396 out of another 65 vette which is ready to install in the coupe. i didn't deck the block, gonna show it with correct machine assembly stamping, correct factory broach marks and of course i'll take a 25 point deduct for the incorrect vin stamping. mike

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

I also have a Maroon Conv. with orig side exhaust . and without a radio.(missing original block #17346.) I have about 285 396s on my list dated back to about 1981.

[William D.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

I own number 21326. Complete original drivetrain. Car just earned a 4 star Bowtie award at July national. Maroon/blk coupe with sidepipes, F40, and 411's. I'm the second registered owner.

Bill

[Steven B.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

'back in '65 there was an early Nassau Blue, black interior, black soft top 396, side exhaust owned by Ron Hadley, of Fort Wayne, IN "Trolley Bar" fame, who used to run Sundays at the Avilla, IN 1/8 mile track. That car would run straight out of the box! It sounds similiar to Mike's. Also, a 396 Nassau Blue coupe named "Indignity" use to run at the Nationals in Indy. Anyone know where these cars are now??

Steve

[James W.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

Here's a picture of 1965 396 convertible red/black w/white top VIN 22161 in its present condition. This is an original drivetrain car. Hope to have it completed by the KC National Convention.

Thanks,

James West

[Mark L.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

We have an early L78, Black Conv with white leather SN 15055. It has SN 15227 IF block in it, like Mike we did not deck it. Been looking for 15055 IF block since 2004. Still looking....

This car was a basket case but it had all the right parts (less original engine of course).

There are four L78 converts in central CT that I'm aware of, two blue and two black. Seem like an unusual concentration for such a small state

[Dick W.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

We restored two, one very early white/maroon coupe, late March or early April car, received Duntov in about 1995, and a maroon/black coupe, May or June car the best I can remember. There was another vert in my shop about two years ago, maroon/black, late 15,000 VIN

[Pancho T.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

I have a triple black roadster with side exhaust with 28K miles.Original down to the paint.I bought the car in 1987 with 6,500 miles on it!

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

..... Also, a 396 Nassau Blue coupe named "Indignity" use to run at the Nationals in Indy. Anyone know where these cars are now?? ....

Here's one from the '67 Indy Nationals. Yellow with black vinyl. Shreveport LA dealer VIN 21841. Offered on eBay within the last year. While doing research down there on the origins of mine (same colors but no match on the VIN, MSO'd to dealer 30 miles east of Shreveport), talked to original owner of '841', and the subsequent owner/racer and his mechanic who trailered it to Indianapolis. They were top time in C/Sp, but disqualified because spare tire carrier removed.

These 396 cars were bought to race; no *****yfoot boulevard cruising; it's a wonder so many remain.

P.S. By the asterisks, looks like the software censor didn't like my reference to a small cat .

[Ara G.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

I own number 21326. Complete original drivetrain. Car just earned a 4 star Bowtie award at July national. Maroon/blk coupe with sidepipes, F40, and 411's. I'm the second registered owner.

Bill

Bill
I saw your wonderful car at the Nationals this year and spent quite a bit of time admiring/learning from it. It is a stunning car (my favorite color). I think when I got done OJ'ing for the day, I spent at least an hour looking over your car. Truly wonderful car. Thanks for bringing it to the Nationals this year for all of us to learn from...and I am a former fellow Bostonian too...
ARA

[Steven B.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

Wayne, I was at the '67 Nationals. I will check my pictures but I don't recall having a yellow one in the album.

Steve

[Ray K.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

I am aware of 4 1965 L78's here in the DFW area.

Ray

[Ridge K.]

Re: 1965 original L78s ?

My WAG is that only about 50% of any C2 production total is still around. As for the 396, I agree that a disproportionate number were doing double duty at the drag strip (moreso than the % of L72s or L71s). I'd think that no more than 200 or 300 still have their original L78 engine.

I saw this car in San Diego decades ago. IIRC, it claimed to have an original M22.

I have absoluiely no proof or factual evidence to back this up, but....

I agree with Wayne's WAG that roughly 50% of C2 production is still around.

Simply based on looking at these cars, and hearing accounts of such for 40+ years.