Here is a an OPPORTUNITY to own this second OWNER SURVIVOR 1965 Chevrolet Corvette L76 F40 Roadster Convertible with original LOW MILES.
This C2 is a genuine L76 with F40 suspension 4-speed in Silver Pearl. The Corvette was made on July 24, 1965. Delivered to the original owner August 28, 1965. I am the second owner. I purchased this gem May 22,1999 from the original owner (see picture of Mrs. Petak in gallery). I have owned this car 23 years. The Petak family purchased the Corvette at their local dealership Guaranty Chevrolet in Santa Ana California. The dealership is still open to this day. The Petaks lived in the local vicinity of Orange County now called City of Fullerton, CA. Mr. Petak’s pampered his car and kept the mileage low until retiring the car in 1969 as a second automobile for the occasional Sunday cruise only. Mr. Petak was an aerospace engineer and his Sting Ray was his pride and joy. He was extremely meticulous about keeping records, saving all the original corvette’s history of ownership, brochures, registration cards and his last journaled mileage entry of 26,949 on 11/18/88. On 04/29/99 the car had 27,340 miles. The odometer currently reads 29,505. I have only driven the C2 apprx. 2,165 miles in 23 years. The Sting Ray runs and drives great! It rips through the close ratio gears with ease and roars up towards 6,000+ rpm as the L76 hits third gear at over 90 mph. So much fun and a thrill to drive!
Factory original options include QQ Silver Pearl paint, numbers matching L76 327ci 365 Horsepower solid lifter V8 paired with a numbers-matching Muncie M21 close ratio four-speed manual transmission. F40 Special Front and Rear Suspension (sport-thicker sway bar, special coil springs, sport shocks; F40 suspension still intact and on car) 3.70 rear, G81Positraction, N11 Off-Road Exhaust (intact and on car), C07 Auxiliary Hardtop, 4-wheel disc brakes, Power windows, U69 AM/FM Radio, Power antenna, 01 Soft Ray tinted glass all windows (All original glass intact on car), owner added teak steering wheel, original seats super nice intact no rips black vinyl seats and door panels.
This C2 is offered with its original numbered keys, with locking glove box, and original spare tire lock, removable hardtop and stand, original owner’s manual, Warranty booklet “Protecto Plate”, AM/FM Radio brochure, AM/FM owner manual, yellow AM/FM Radio tag, Corvette Sting Ray Sales Brochure, Chevrolet Sales Brochure, Chevrolet Accessories Brochure, original California “Pink Slip” Certificate of Title (dated 1969 once the bank was paid off in 1969 it got sent to owner). manufacturer’s literature, some service records dating back to the 1965, and a clean California title from 1999 in my name. Believe it or not Mr. Petak saved every single California DMW automobile registration card since 1965 (see gallery for photos) of course I have been continuing the tradition and saved all my registration slips since 1999. Included are originals from 1965 to date.
This beautiful example of an American muscle shows zero signs of any traffic collisions, no rust, no visible stress cracks, super clean underside and frame. The C2 wears original unmolested suspension and engine components including the original dated 1965 alternator and expansion tank. The paint finish in gallery pictures looks great (no photo shop or enhancing). In person the paint finish shows her age with some wear and years of home garage storage with kiddos walking past her fetching toys etc. She has misc. chips, scratches, etc. See picture gallery for examples. Currently the C2 has an aftermarket AM/FM cassette player. The original factory AM/FM radio is included in the sale. The spare tire appears to be over 30 years old (Sears Bias ply) and is need of replacement.
In the last 23 years the only mechanic/s that have ever serviced or repaired the C2 has been the well-known long time NCRS member Carlos Vivas of C & S Corvette Restoration; may Carlos rest in peace. Thereafter for the last 22 years my C2 has only been serviced by the well experienced long time Corvette Mechanic and enthusiast Steven Luvisi of Automotive Expertise Unlimited in Huntington Beach California. The undercarriage shows super clean solid frame, floor pans, and perfect rockers as this car has been garaged in Orange County California all its life. With minimal efforts on some minor details this car can be a NCRS “Survivor” award winner.
The fiberglass body is finished in silver Pearl (QQ). Unfortunately, the original owner must have followed style of the 70’s and installed those vinyl body bumper side trims. Details include split bumpers, pop-up headlights, fender vents, cast rocker-panel accents, and dual exhaust outlets, a body-color hardtop and storage stand are included in the sale as shown in the gallery below. Mrs. Petak informed me around 1985 her small grandchild child once released the handbrake and reports the car ran into garage tool box at the lower valance grille area. She noted her husband elected to repaint the entire car then. I noted a 1966 grille installed instead of a 1965 on the photos. Pls Note. I have since installed correct factory 1965 grille insert. All the engine components are original to the car for the exception of fan clutch, starter, battery, and I believe possibly the water pump (I will confirm re the water pump). The original Holley 4brl was replaced by Guaranty Chevrolet in 1968 with the same correct type Holley and is dated per the service replacement. It was last rebuilt and cadium plated around 2014.
The interior features original interior bucket seats (clean no rips) upholstered in black vinyl along with a matching dashboard, door panels, and carpeting, in addition to a vertically mounted aftermarket AM/FM cassette radio. The original AM/FM radio is included in the sale. I added a teakwood steering wheel. The original woodgrain steering is included in the sale.
Instrumentation consists of a 160-mph speedometer, a 7000 rpm tach, a clock that functions (movement converted), and all the supplementary lights and gauges displaying amperage, fuel level, oil pressure, and coolant temperature all function as they should. The five-digit odometer shows approximately 29,505.
I have considered if it can be possible the C2 only has 29,505 miles? It appeared after the warranty period Mr. Petak performed service himself and all his entries list the low mileage. His last entry in the warranty booklet was 18,228 dated 12/21/75. The subsequent journal on an index card reads 2/25/87 at 26,133 and stops around his illness 11/18/88 at 26,949.00 miles. Mr. Petak passes and his wife keeps the car years until she preps it for sale in 1999 with a new battery and headlight switch etc. (see gallery for receipt) That receipt in 1999 shows miles at 27,340. Based on the originality of parts and performance of the car. I believe this Corvette to be a low mileage potential survivor category. Mr. Petak did retire the car to the garage in 1969 as the Sunday occasional cruiser. Mrs. Petak shared stories of the mistress in the garage that got all of the attention.
I do not want to make any guarantees or assumptions as to the correct actual mileage. I welcome the prospective buyer to inspect the suspension, interior, underside etc and determine for yourself. Less than 2,200 miles of which were added by me in the entire 23 years I have owned the C2.
Please be considerate with each others time. I have been honest and everything stated is accurate to the best of my knowledge and recollections. I will continue to add photos of engine bay, undercarriage, starting videos, and add description details. See gallery
I welcome serious qualified buyers to come and inspect this Corvette for his/her self. You can witness and hear the glorious music the solid lifter L76 makes with an Off Road (sport exhaust). Serious buyers can take a cruise in the California sun and see how F40 sport suspension hugs the pavement! I welcome your best offer…
