1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

[Tom M.]

Anyone know how many 1965 coupes were made with the 396 engine, and or how many of these 396 coupes were built with the radio delete

[Jim T.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

From the 2,157 65 Corvettes with the 396 have no idea how many were coupes.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

There was no such thing as "radio delete" in 1965 because the base models did not have radios as standard equipment. They are simply "no radio jobs." A heater/defroster was standard, and there was a heater/defroster delete option.

Individual option quantities are stated in several sources including the NCRS Specification Guides, but there is no way to definitively determine option combinations or how they were distributed among the different models (coupe or convert.) for each year unless they were model specific like the 36.5 gallon fuel tank that was only available on Coupes.

So if someone says they have the one and only '65 black/red 396 Coupe, no radio, heater delete, big tank ever built by St. Louis there is no way to verify the claim unless original authentic documentation such as the dealer copy of the plant production order can be produced.

Duke

[Steven B.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Tom, as Jim and Duke said "no idea." Combination numbers were not collected by Chevy as they had no value in the day. Years ago I spoke with David E. Davis at Amelia Island about his time doing Corvette for Campbell-Ewald, the Chevy advertising agency until recently. One of the discussions we had included options, the number of individual options, colors, etc. As he had a very good relationship with Chevy, especially Corvette, and inside access I asked him if there were any records, existant or destroyed, identifying RPO, color, etc. combinations. He chuckled and said "No", and it would have been a waste of money and time to do so BUT he wished he had that info. for his current Roman Red '62 FI. The listing would have been pretty big considering all of the available RPO's, body colors, interior colors. Steve

[Tom M.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Thanks for the information, I picked up a 65 396 coupe awhile back with no radio, and was curious as to how many of these were built like this, and or how many were round.

[John D.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

So the term Radio Delete has been deleted. Now it's "No radio job".
I had a "cousin" who Clem knows that used to order a new Corvette every year. I remember he ordered a 65 with disc brake delete aka no disc brakes and also no radio job.
Do you remember this Clem? JD

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Tom I have been tracking 396 info sense about 1980 . There were about 1451 65s built without the U69 (radio) option . I have 402 cars ( claiming to be real 396s ) on my list and only 8 including mine do not have radios . Mine #17346 was ordered for drag racing . What is your vin you could be # 9 .

[Tom M.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Thanks Bill, mine is #16496, do you know how many of the 402-396's your tracking are coupes?

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Tom yours was #9 . Of the cars that I have that information on there were 133 coupes and 155 Conv. The two I have closest to yours are 16492 & 16538 . If you send me a email at pondpeoplel78@gmail.com with all your known original options and colors I will add you to my list . Please include the rear ratio and if its a St Louis or AOS car . Thanks Bill.

[Tom M.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Thanks Bill, I will email you the information in the morning/Tom

[Joe R.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

So the term Radio Delete has been deleted. Now it's "No radio job".
I had a "cousin" who Clem knows that used to order a new Corvette every year. I remember he ordered a 65 with disc brake delete aka no disc brakes and also no radio job.
Do you remember this Clem? JD

Hey JD,

Don't think Clem is on this board anymore. Nobody will pay his registration so he dropped out!
And this ain't the Vetteheads board! You OK or had a stroke?

JR

[Carl N.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Tom, is it white with red interior? Like Bill I have been tracking these cars for years and have about 42% coupes 58% verts - but this number is NOT a real indication of what left St. Louis - just what I have seen over the last 40+ yearsCarl

[Carl N.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Bill, Info I have on 16492 is red with white interior convertible, side pipes (might or might not be factory), tinted glass, hard top, white soft top and AM/FM radio. Agree on 16538 coupe w/o radio.Carl

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Carl The info I have on 16492 is from 1997. It was at Effingham Il & was Blue /Black belonging to a person named Jay & was restored . I also have info from 2010 and it was Red /white at that time ??????

[Tom M.]

Re: 1965 Corvette Coupe with 396 engine

Bill-Carl: The car is red with red interior and white seats, white door trim etc., not sure what the original was, number is 116496, trim is 402 AA, paint is 900XX which I think was a yellow, body number is S2972, I'm not with the car now, so I need to see what rear end is in it. My buddy has a few of these 65 396's, one is 116698, you have that one in your system?