1965 Chevy Corvette Mark IV Pilot Car Auction Bound
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This 1965 Chevy Corvette convertible Mark IV Pilot Car is a one-of-a-kind that is sure to keep collectors up at night. Before we get to the Corvette, let’s dive into a bit of history.
Chevy’s first Big Block V8s were the 348 and 409, also known as the W-Head or Mark I engines. The introduction of the Small Block V8 in 1955 was a revelation for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and of course the Corvette. However, Chevy’s medium- and heavy-duty trucks needed more power and torque than the Small Block could muster. The answer to the problem came in the form of the 348 cubic-inch Turbo Thrust Mark I Big Block that debuted in 1958 and produced between 250 and 315 horsepower depending on carburetion. Designed with trucks in mind, the 348 quickly found its way into full-size passenger cars. By 1961, a high-performance version of the 348 was available, making 350 horsepower when equipped with triple two-barrel carbs.
The 409 cubic-inch W-Head bowed for the 1961 model year, rated at 360 horsepower with a single four-barrel. Available as a mid-year option on the Impala Super Sport, the Turbo-Fire 409 featured an aluminum intake manifold, Carter four-barrel carb, solid lifter camshaft, and 11.25:1 compression. Only 142 Impala Super Sports left the factory in 1961.
The Big Block program progressed, and the Mark I engines were retired in 1965, when the Mark IV Big Block arrived. Mark IV engines were different from the W-Heads in that the chambers were not in the engine block, but rather in the heads. The valves now opened away from the combustion chamber and cylinder walls, allowing greater volumetric efficiency at higher revs. Spark plugs were relocated, eliminating the need for the valve covers that gave the W-Head engines their name.
This brings us to our 1965 Chevy Corvette Pilot Car. A Chevy pilot car is like a proof-of-concept model or test mule, allowing engineers to ensure the design will work before production. This Corvette Pilot Car was the first non-competition model to be powered by the new Mark IV Big Block. However, instead of using one of the soon-to-be production 396 cubic-inch Big Blocks, this example is powered by a 427 cube variant, a displacement that would not be available in production Corvettes until the following year.
This first 1965 Chevy Corvette, serial number 003, body number 01, began life as an Ermine White over Saddle Leather interior convertible with a 327 Fuelie engine. In early August 1964, it left the St. Louis assembly plant bound for GM Engineering to be used in the Mark IV Development Program. The 327 was swapped for the 427, one of only two 427s used in the program – all others were 396s. (The other 427 was secreted away by Zora Arkus-Duntov for use in his racing program).
Changes made to the Chevy Corvette included modifying the front crossmember to accommodate the fresh Big Block, adding the prototype components for the Special Front and Rear Suspension with one-inch-thick front and rear sway bars, a handmade fiberglass fan shroud and Big Block hood, prototype disc brake parts, side-mounted exhaust, chrome valve covers, clutch arm, and overflow tank. The color was changed to Cadillac Firemist Green Metallic, the interior was dyed Light Green, and the carpet was swapped for the more luxuriant Cadillac variety. Mark IV emblems were added to the front fenders. The Corvette was designated GM Styling Exercise number 5807, and the 5807 decal still remains in the rear window of the hard top.
The Chevy Corvette is well equipped with both soft top and hard top, power windows, AM/FM radio, a teakwood steering wheel, paint-to-match steering column, and knock-off wheels with goldline tires. Before being sold to its first retail customer, Bud Volmer, the prototype 427 was replaced with an L72 427.
This Chevy Corvette has had a fastidious restoration by the legendary Naber Brothers of Houston, Texas. It has a complete ownership history and documentation from new. It was the test bed for so many Corvette “firsts,” and as such, has a special place in Corvette history.
This remarkable Chevy Corvette will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Indy Spring Classic taking place at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds May 13th through the 21st.
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The “Mark IV” was commonly known as the “Porcupine Head” due to the valve angles and was sort of an answer to Chrysler’s Hemi that was beating everyone in NASCAR. Never saw or heard of those Mark IV fender emblems and the ’66 C2 did not have them.
You’re right. They only made them for the pilot car.
Since when is a pilot car a collectible? the car you featured was wlll optioned and the subeseunt owners probably fixed what GM did not.But…collecctible?…I think not.
Certainly is a collectible for someone that collects “One-off” vehicles.
I certainly would like to “collect” it!
There was also a 454 cu in big block…I remember them being built about the same time at the Tonawanda Motor Plant when I first started there. Almost shortly after the ZR1 Aluminum big block was being assembled separately in the dust free room there.
Wayne the car was FIRST a pilot line car then rerouted to GM engineering to become the an engineering prototype, the first regular production big block corvette ever produced. Engineering had to use this car to figure out how to do it. Then it was simultaneously redone as a show car with Bill Mitchell floor grates etc. cannot get more historical than that eh?
My gosh…
It’s so hard to believe that GM once made great cars; decades ago.
The 350 hp 348 had 3 two barrels, not 2 4s. When you make a simple error like that, it casts doubt on the rest of the article.
Thanks for catching the error. The article has been corrected.
Nice, my dad had a 1946 chevy truck with a 348 4 speed back in the day. My uncle still has two impala ss, one has 409 single 4 bbl and the other is a 409 2 4bbl. Both 4 speed cars and a 1963 split window 327/375. I am the proud owner of a 1990 ZR-1 #2822, a sweet ride. Being exposed to all these cool cars as a kid has stuck with me all these years, my son has the vette bug too, he owns a C6 Zo6. This 65 is a cool machine.
By the time.the 427 was put in the car it was well developed by smoky yunick.racing..in 1963..it ran daytona.hard out.and failed at the end..with the exceptes.of the cams..I think gm had the motor figured.out.lots of power.in a 60s vette.its heavy on the frontend..braking and cooling the motor with rads..were the.biggest problems. Front springs and tract.bars.were issues..the rest is a big block has all small block.mtns.and move the.cross.membs back..should fit..exhaust will be tight..lots of motor and it will get hot.r
I had 66chevimpala SS 427 4 speed convertible new with bucket seats . Blue with a white top.