Ya my Dad got his every three years about then too.
Now here's the thing, if it was the fall of 64, then that makes it a very early production car and we know that the 396 was not put into production until mid year in 1965 at the Tonawanda plant. I am going to say that a 1965 Custom Sport purchased in October 1964 could not possibly have a 396.
It is possible that it was October 1965 in which case the car would be hanging around the lot as a new and unsold 1965 in which case it could be a late build and if the 396 was available that would be plausible.
Could have been Ray, but I remember the winter of '64 Xmas going North to Owen Sound in that anemic blue Chev because it got whacked coming home on highway 10 in Brampton. Hit by a drunk, I was asleep in the back seat and ended up on the floor. We got a cab to Clarkson from there and my dad got another 65 Chev, this one was brown. Kept it until "fall of '66 and got a new , wait for it FORD.
My dad is here visiting and I asked him (he will soon be 80) and he says I am out by 1 year as he had to keep the green Biscayne longer on an extended lease. So his mind is better than mine and you are probably correct with the fall of '65
1964 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray - The Perfect Pink Pearl
First 396-Powered Sting Ray Built For Chevy Boss' Wife
From the February, 2009 issue of Corvette Fever
By Scott Ross
Photography by Jerry Heasley
To many Corvette lovers, the midyears are the real gems. Among them, those that are specially-optioned and those with a distinctive history are even more prized.
Standing Tall ::: This Pink...
read full caption
Standing Tall ::: This Pink Pearl '64 Sting Ray was a special Chevrolet Styling/Engineering project by then-Chevy boss Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen for his wife, Florence. Along with the non-standard Pink Pearl paint, other cues that this midyear differs from other '64s are the domed hood, '65-style fender louvers and rocker panel trim, and the "396" fender badges. The pink color scheme extends to the "pinkwall" tires. Behind the three-prong knockoffs are prototype four-wheel disc brakes.
Even more highly treasured are the ones that combine the best of both...and more. Like the Pink Pearl '64 Corvette Sting Ray you see here. This one was specially-built by Chevrolet, with much input from its Engineering and Styling teams. Then-Chevy General Manager Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen ordered it up in the spring of 1964 for his wife, Florence.
This car is as much of a gem today as it was when Florence Knudsen first saw it, so says its current owner, Chevy dealer and noted Corvette collector Bob McDorman. "They can't believe it," he says of Corvette lovers who do a double-take when they lay eyes on it. "At first, they think that someone hot-rodded or customized it themselves. If I'm around, I tell them the story behind it-that it was built this way by Chevrolet."
Right away, you can tell it's not a production '64. Six taillights instead of four, the domed hood, and the Pink Pearl paint are the most obvious signs, as is the pink-and-cranberry interior, and the '65-style front fender louvers and rocker panel trim.
Under the hood is a 396-inch near-production version of what our brother-in-law mag, Hot Rod magazine, called "Chevy's Mystery V-8," when they saw it at Daytona in early 1963. Unlike the production 396 that graced the Corvette option list during the latter part of the '65 model run, this one has hydraulic instead of solid lifters. The transmission is a Powerglide, likely the first one ever bolted to a Mark IV big-block that wasn't a Chevy Engineering test mule, and the only one ever fitted by Chevrolet to a 396-powered Sting Ray.
To accommodate the 396, more than a few one-off and prototype parts were fabricated by Chevy's engineers as part of the project, which received the "GPV-61" project designation (and whose specially-made items carry the "0-" part numbers of an engineering special). Those include a front crossmember modified to clear the big-block's harmonic balancer, a modified right inner fender (again, for clearance), specially-fabricated front springs to handle the extra weight of the 396 over the production 327, a specially-fabricated radiator, and handmade fiberglass fan shroud.
in late December, 1964, a Malibu SS rolled off the assembly line at Chevrolets Baltimore, Maryland assembly plant. It was a nice SS and loaded with options, but really not that special: Regal Red with a black vinyl top and black interior and options were power steering, power brakes, power windows, tilt wheel, AM-FM radio, two speed wipers ..and a 300hp 327 with a four speed trans. It is probably not a coincidence that the car was equipped this way. According to former 1960s Chevrolet Engineering employee Art Armstrong, Engineering specified the equipment they wanted and the car was ordered by D.H. McPherson or a subordinate to have as many options and details as near their specifications for the Z16 as possible.
Upon completion the third week of December at the Baltimore plant, instead of the normal shipment to a dealer, this car was immediately shipped to the Chevrolet Engineering Tech Center in Detroit, Michigan where it arrived by December 21, 1964. The Engineering Center then began the task of converting this car into the first Z16. Many of the unique Z16 parts were, of course, not yet in production, so many of them were hand built and fitted. Apparently, once the prototype parts were deemed satisfactory, they were approved for production.
D.H. McPherson was the executive in charge of the project and reportedly drove this prototype for some months after it was built. Art Armstrong believes it very likely the car saw time at the Milford Proving Ground (Chevrolets test track and facility near Detroit) as was common with pilot cars and test mules. The official assignment of the car to the Engineering Center was for an experimental check. It was sold by Engineering (through a dealer) in February 1966.
Chevrolet General Manager Bunkie Knudsen, introduced the Z16 at Chevrolets Desert Proving Ground in Arizona in February or March, 1965. An article in the May, 1965 issue of Mechanix Illustrated confirms this. The first known Kansas City built production Z16 was built in late February, 1965, so it stands to reason that the two prototype pilot cars were two of the cars at the introduction.
While the #1 Z16 appears like all other normal Z16s at first glance, there are a great many small details that the Chevrolet enthusiast will pick up on. Sample, Experimental and vendor tags and markings on many parts make the #1 Z16 not only unlike any other Z16, but a true one-of-a-kind car!
All factory Mark IV big block Corvettes, Camaros, Novas, Impalas likely followed this car.None known have an earlier build date.
***
-- Edited by 68sd on Monday 20th of December 2010 10:05:23 PM
DESCRIPTION1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE, 1965 CORVETTE '396' COUPE #12,864. THIS CORVETTE IS RECOGNIZED AS THE "FIRST" BIG BLOCK CORVETTE PRODUCED AS A REGULAR PRODUCTION OPTION AT THE ST. LOUIS CORVETTE PLANT FOR CUSTOMER DELIVERY. TO DATE NO OTHER EARLIER REAL RPO-L78 CORVETTE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED. THROUGH HIS CONTACTS AT CHEVROLET, CORVETTE RACE CAR DRIVER CLIFF GOTTLOB 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 RALPH MILLER AND VINCE PIGGINS 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. 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(IN PICTURE). THIS MILESTONE CORVETTE IS OFFERED FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTION. PRICE IS $265,396.00.
and this is our latest so far canadian 409 car 1965 April 19th 196576637 409ci A (285 red) Saskatchewan link #761551 Custom Sport 2dr hrdtp M20 Tuxedo Black %% Oldsledguy
and earliest 396 car Nov.8th 1965 76657 hrdtp 396ci Y (578 black) Alberta link Grande parisienne Lemonwood yellow 66 Grande Guy E. Motors -Lethbridge Alberta
-- Edited by 68sd on Tuesday 21st of December 2010 12:19:45 AM
1966 Nov.8th 1965 76657 hrdtp 396ci Y (578 black) Alberta link Grande parisienne Lemonwood yellow 66 Grande Guy E. Motors -Lethbridge Alberta
-- Edited by 68sd on Tuesday 21st of December 2010 12:22:12 AM
I didn't know that! I'm sure more will surface over time though but the thought of my momentary fame is kind of enervating! I had vowed not to post any more on the forums until I had at least he front sheet metal back on the old girl, but based on how how absolulely terrible my attempts at making one good inner fender out of two bad ones is turning out, it was going to be quite a while, and I couldn't stand it.
( As I sidenote, it would appear that I just can't crank down the amperage on my little Lincolm Mig 180 enough to keep from burning through the sheet metal. i used to do most of my rust repair with a light hand and a small tip on the oxy acetylene and I may have to go back to that. Any suggestions from the pros would be welcome!
these are our earliest by model so far for big block 66s, i stopped at Feburary
1966 Nov.8th 1965 76657 hrdtp 396ci Y (578 black) Alberta link Grande parisienne Lemonwood yellow 66 Grande Guy E. Motors -Lethbridge Alberta
Nov. 16th 1965 16435 396ci L35 A (870 fawn) Alberta link Impala wagon M20 Tuxedo Black A01 A31 F40 G80 A75 G67 StedelBauer Chev Olds LTD.-Edmonton Alberta Nov. 26th 1965 76467 A51 396ci F (573 parchment & black) Alberta link #712693 Custom Sport conv. M40 Marina Blue /TP-10-white top A31 U75 spotted by sixtywagon
Dec.1st 1965 73617 A51 396ci L34 F (393 ivory) ontario link SD 396 2dr hrdtp M20 Marina Blue spot. by 427carl A02 F40 G80 K66 K02 P01 U80Brooks Pontiac Buick Ltd.-Nanaimo B.C Jan. 13th 1966 76657 396ci L35 Blue (parchment int.) Manitoba link Grande Parisienne 2 dr hrdtp M20 A51 Carl Stevenson Jan.17th 1966 76657 396ci L35 C (585 parchment & black) Alberta link Grande Parisienne 2dr hrdtp M20 Provincial White T-27 black vinyl top Kijiji College Service LTD. -Olds Alberta Jan. 17th 1966 13617 A51 L34 396ci M (790 med bronze bucket) link #234880 Malibu SS hrdtp M20 Aztec bronze A51 F40 G80 A02 P01 U16Kam Motors Ltd.Fort William Ontario Jan. 17th 1966 76467 A51 396ci R (571 red buckets) Alberta link #726335 Custom Sport conv. M40 Regal Red-Top 10-white Spotted by 66 Grande guy
Jan. 20th 1966 73617 A51 396ci L34 2D (387 blue) B.C link #834702 Sport Deluxe 2dr hrdtp M20 Mist Blue met. spot.jmont64
Jan. 21st1966 13667 396ci L34 Y (763 black ) Alberta link Malibu SS 396 conv. M20 Lemmonwood Yellow/Top-02 black top A51 C06 K05 N34 N40 P01 P65 U16 ,Caminokid Carter Chev Olds Ltd.-Winnipeg Manitoba
Feb. 1st 1966 76437 396ci L35 C (546 plum) B.C link Parisienne 2dr hrdtp M40 Provincial White kijiji A01 A39 F40 J50 K05 N10 N40 P01 P78 U63 U75 U80 Mayhew Motors Ltd.-Drayton Valley Alberta
Feb. 9th 1966 13617 A51 396ci L34 P (763 black) no pic #237829 Malibu SS 396 2dr hrdtp M20 Plum Mist met.
Feb. 18th 1966 16647 427ci L36 N (815 black) Ontario link Caprice 2dr hrdtp M40 Madeira Maroon/TP-27 black vinyl top A02 A39 C08 J50 N33 N40 P78 Belisle Automobiles Ltd.-Ottawa Ontario
-- Edited by 68sd on Wednesday 29th of December 2010 12:20:52 PM
I give up!!! My post looks goofy now for sure!!!
