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Post Info TOPIC: Original 1965 L78 M21 drive
73SC


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Original 1965 L78 M21 drive
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Got behind the wheel of my cousin's 1965 Big Block Corvette this morning for about an hour. L78 425 HP 396 with and M21 4speed and 4.11 rear axle ratio. 

I had a blast. Car can be a beast and docile enough to drive for for groceries. I was impressed. Not going to say how fast I took it per advice from our good legal minded friend Hillar. Stable as a rock pulls like nothing I ever drove in third.

Screenshot_20230825_154958_Messages~2.jpg



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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
CdnGMfan


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State of the art chassis for the time, combined with brute force. A true vintage year and model. Did it have sidepipes? They add about 50 horsepower & 30 mph to your speed (not really),,, judging by the sound.

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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.

In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...

Cam, Toronto.


I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
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73SC


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CdnGMfan wrote:

State of the art chassis for the time, combined with brute force. A true vintage year and model. Did it have sidepipes? They add about 50 horsepower & 30 mph to your speed (not really),,, judging by the sound.

 Off Road exhaust, no mufflers, no need for a radio, the music they produce is sheer joy.



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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
DonSSDD


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They are a beautiful car, best looking Corvette ever, the C2.

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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC.
1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada

Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
cdnpont


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They sure are quite the machine Ray. Must have been a blast.

I had a chance years ago to drive 66 4 speed rag with the L79, side pipes, and even with the small bock it was quite a beast. One could only imagine another 100ft/lbs or torque.

You want to get attention, these are the cars.

 



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 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 69 Parisienne Convertible.
 
4SPEED427


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DonSSDD wrote:

They are a beautiful car, best looking Corvette ever, the C2.

 For sure. And that hood or the stinger hood, two of the most beautiful hoods ever.



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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
65 SD L79


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great to get into one these and go for a blast, only trouble is getting back out of it when the ride is over cry



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73SC


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I just read that there were 618 L78 Coupes sold in 1965, a pretty special car to drive. This one is a 97 point car, my cousin right into the NCRS and judging. I was very grateful he let me behind the wheel. 

Kevin is 100% right though, very hard to step away from this car. Everything posted so far is bang on,, the hood, the torque, the sound, the chassis - manual steering here but not an issue. Even just cruising  along the country roads of Tiny Township in 4th doing 75 or so was a sheer delight. Seeing a stop sign ahead was a chance to gear it down, so good, then leaving from a standstill  - Hee Haw!!

I think I want a big block 4 speed!!

 

PS: a bit nostalgic but I couldn't help but think back to the glory days of LeMans and Sebring etc.. when a car like this was side by side with Ferraris and Cobras. Wowsa!



-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 26th of August 2023 10:57:02 AM

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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
65 SD L79


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I took a guy that knew Corvettes inside and out with me when i was shopping for a 69. He kept steering me to the 63-67 years. He was not much for the 69 style at all



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73SC


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65 SD L79 wrote:

I took a guy that knew Corvettes inside and out with me when i was shopping for a 69. He kept steering me to the 63-67 years. He was not much for the 69 style at all

 I'm partial to a 1969 427 myself, but looking out over that 65 big block hood and the tips of the pontoon fenders is really working to change my mind.



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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
65 SD L79


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73SC wrote:
65 SD L79 wrote:

I took a guy that knew Corvettes inside and out with me when i was shopping for a 69. He kept steering me to the 63-67 years. He was not much for the 69 style at all

 I'm partial to a 1969 427 myself, but looking out over that 65 big block hood and the tips of the pontoon fenders is really working to change my mind.

 I drove to London to look at a 69 427 tri power 400hp factory ac but it was an automatic. I settled on a 350 350 hp 4 speed



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CdnGMfan


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Ray, if you get a chance, ask your NCRS cousin about chrome vs. painted valve covers on big block C2 & C3 'vettes. I used to assume that all BBC Corvettes from '65 - '70 (& '71 LS6) used chrome but that is clearly wrong.



-- Edited by CdnGMfan on Sunday 27th of August 2023 04:11:09 PM

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67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.

In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...

Cam, Toronto.


I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
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73SC


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The 65 L78 pictured has the engine all painted orange including valve covers,  air cleaner is open element flat/satin black with the familiar Turbo Jet crossed flags decal except this one says 425 HP. There is no Tonawanda Team decal on valve cover either, that came later. No chrome on the engine at all. It is rather subdued looking, hahaha!



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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
wagon64sd


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trust me ,, there is no better thrill then taking my 66' roaster L/72 for a blast!!! the torque the sound of the solid lifters shooting out of the side exhaust,,you never get tired of itbiggrin



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73SC


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wagon64sd wrote:

trust me ,, there is no better thrill then taking my 66' roaster L/72 for a blast!!! the torque the sound of the solid lifters shooting out of the side exhaust,,you never get tired of itbiggrin

 Where do we line up?



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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
DonSSDD


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Its a 67 but.. Ottawa car. https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1967-chevrolet-corvette-ottawa-on-395773?utm_medium=email&utm_source=daily_marketplace



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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC.
1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada

Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
73SC


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DonSSDD wrote:

Its a 67 but.. Ottawa car. https://www.hemmings.com/listing/1967-chevrolet-corvette-ottawa-on-395773?utm_medium=email&utm_source=daily_marketplace

 Actually 67 hardtop convertible is my all time favourite, I prefer Nassau Blue but Glen Green is nice too.



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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
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bjburnout


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Beautiful coupe. The 65 395 is my holy grail.....biggrin.

Here's a video of my buddy's 65 in summer 1966 on Lynvalley in Scarboro.

At the time I had a 63 tan/tan coupe (didn't call them 'split window' yet) no - we used to cruise all the Harvey's together.smile

http://youtu.be/lGhtkm8eeHE



-- Edited by bjburnout on Saturday 31st of August 2024 07:35:47 AM

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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better

 happy motoring :burnout
73SC


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bjburnout wrote:

Beautiful coupe. The 65 395 is my holy grail.....biggrin.

Here's a video of my buddy's 65 in summer 1966 on Lynvalley in Scarboro.

At the time I had a 63 tan/tan coupe (didn't call them 'split window' yet) no - we used to cruise all the Harvey's together.smile

http://youtu.be/lGhtkm8eeHE



-- Edited by bjburnout on Saturday 31st of August 2024 07:35:47 AM

 Pretty cool super 8, Love the knock offs on the Roadster! Now complete the picture and tell us the green 4 dr. Ford was packing a 390 !!



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Ray White, Toronto ON

Formerly - The one and only 1973 LeMans 454 "Astro-Jet"

Built March 9, 1973 - Oshawa ON

1993 Corvette Convertible LT 1

Built January 10, 1993 - Bowling Green Kentucky 

 
bjburnout


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73SC wrote:
bjburnout wrote:

Beautiful coupe. The 65 395 is my holy grail.....biggrin.

Here's a video of my buddy's 65 in summer 1966 on Lynvalley in Scarboro.

At the time I had a 63 tan/tan coupe (didn't call them 'split window' yet) no - we used to cruise all the Harvey's together.smile

http://youtu.be/lGhtkm8eeHE



-- Edited by bjburnout on Saturday 31st of August 2024 07:35:47 AM

 Pretty cool super 8, Love the knock offs on the Roadster! Now complete the picture and tell us the green 4 dr. Ford was packing a 390 !!

 Sorry Ray, what you may see as knock-offs are the original 65 wheel covers (Bob had painted the centers to look like knock offs) and alas the big Ford didn't quite have 8 cylinders..hmm.



-- Edited by bjburnout on Sunday 1st of September 2024 10:34:40 AM

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......big block, 4 speed, bench seat, it doesn't get much better

 happy motoring :burnout
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