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1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE, 1965 CORVETTE 396 COUPE #12,864. THIS CORVETTE IS THE VERY FIRST 396 BIG BLOCK CORVETTE PRODUCED AS A REGULAR PRODUCTION OPTION AT THE ST. LOUIS CORVETTE PLANT FOR CUSTOMER DELIVERY. IT WAS ORDERED BY CLIFF GOTTLOB, A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH A PASSION FOR POWERFUL ENGINES. CLIFF AT THE AGE OF 19 SET A WORLD DRAG RACING RECORD IN 1960 WITH A 1959 FUEL INJECTED CORVETTE(A RECORD THAT STLL STANDS TODAY) AND GOT THE ATTENTION OF CHEVROLET AND SOON BECAME CONNECTED THE GMS BIG BLOCK GURU, VINCE PIGGINS, WHO TOOK CLIFF UNDER HIS ARM. THAT IS WHY CLIFF WAS FIRST IN LINE TO GET THE FIRST 396 BIG BLOCK CORVETTE. THROUGH HIS CONTACTS AT CHEVROLET, CLIFF KNEW THAT CHEVROLET WAS PLANNING TO OFFER A BIG BLOCK ENGINE OPTION IN THE CORVETTE. IN OCTOBER 1964, CLIFF, WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES OVERSEAS, PLACED A SPECIAL ORDER FOR THE FIRST 396 CORVETTE WITH THE HELP OF VINCE PIGGINS AND RALPH MILLER OF CHEVROLET. AFTER MANY DELAYS CORVETTE #194375S112864 WAS FINALLY BUILT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 19,1965. IT WAS DELIVERED TO QUALITY CHEVROLET IN WICHITA,KS AND WAS SHOWROOM DISPLAYED UNTIL RELEASED TO CLIFF ON FRIDAY, MARCH 26,1965. WHEN THE CAR WAS DELIVERED THE EXHAUST WAS DUMPED AND SLICKS INSTALLED AND IT WOULD COSISTENTLY TURN HIGH 11S AND 114 MPH IN THE QUARTER MILE. THE CAR WAS DRAG RACED EXTENSIVELY THE FIRST YEAR OF ITS LIFE AND PROVED THE DOMINANCE OF THE BIG BLOCK ENGINE. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT MODIFIED AND SURVIVES TODAY AS A TRIBUTE TO THE BIRTH OF THE BIG BLOCK ENGINE(IN 1967 CLIFF ORDERED THE 1967 L-88 CORVETTE THAT HE RACED UNTIL HE SOLD IT TO DAVID BURROUGHS). ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT OPTIONS ORDERED BY CLIFF WERE THE 425HP396 ENGINE,CLOSE RATIO 4-SPEED TRANSMISSION,4:11 POSITRACTION REAR AXLE,TANSISTORIZED IGNITION,TINTED GLASS,AM-FM RADIO AND GOLD LINE TIRES. SIDE EXHAUST AND KNOCK-OFF WHEELS WERE ADDED AT A LATER DATE. THE CAR HAS SPENT ALL OF ITS LIFE IN KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA(I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 1985). THE CAR WAS INVITED TO THE 1995 BLOOMINGTON GOLD SPECIAL COLLECTION - TRIBUTE TO THE 1963-1967 STING RAY CORVETTES(PICTURE #7) AND WAS INDUCTED INTO THE GREAT HALL(THE BLOOMINGTON GOLD CORVETTE HALL OF FAME) ON JUNE 28,2013(PICTURE #8 WITH BILL and #9 WITH CAROLYN,CLIFF AND BILL). THIS MILESTONE CORVETTE IS OFFERED FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTION. PRICE IS $1,425,396.65. BILL MOCK, (918)333-0748 OR (918)214-5206 CELL, BARTLESVILLE,OK. vin #194375S112864
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