63 - 67 Sting Ray Registry
We are the proud sixth owners of this '65 Coupe which we purchased in 1998. Its equipped with original factory air, 4-speed, positraction, comfort and convenience group, power steering, AM-FM and a teak steering wheel. It was frame-off restored to NCRS specifications in 1990 by the previous owner, a doctor in Jacksonville Florida. He trailered the car to NCRS Regional meets in the South, winning three Top Flight Awards during the period of his ownership.
We have also followed the NCRS trail with three more Top Flights including a National in 2000 at the National Corvette Museum. We have also entered the '65 in AACA (Antique Auto Club) Regionals and its achieved a First Senior Award.
This Corvette has an interesting history in that it was driven for years by its first owners on the tiny island of Andros in the Bahamas. The car was shipped there when the original owner took a job with General Electric at a U.S. Government underwater research facility on the island. In the early 70s the car was sold, later shipped back to the U.S., changed hands a few more times and ended up in a shed in South Carolina for many years. It was sold in the late 80's to a Corvette dealer in Jacksonville where the doctor found it. He was attracted to it because it was a solid all-original, factory-air car that had never been hit. He did a lot of research after getting the car even finding titles from all the prior owners. But he could never locate the original owners who purchased the car from Jim Rathmann Chevrolet in Melbourne Florida. After we bought the car in March '98, I figured I had nothing to lose and did an internet search. We were lucky enough to locate the first owners who now lived in West Palm Beach. They were delighted that the car was still on the road and being pampered. They even were kind enough to send me some photos they still had of them with the '65 way back in 1966. Was I happy!
We drive the car (admittedly in good weather only). It's never been on a trailer since we have owned it. After our NCRS ambitions were satisfied we decided to remove the original steel wheels, hubcaps and bias ply tires and install repro knockoffs and goldline radials. It is a much more pleasant (and safer) car to tool around in now. In June 2003 we were pleased to participate in the Corvette's 50th Anniversary Celebration in Nashville. The '65 was one of the NCCC display cars at the Titans Stadium downtown. It was an event to remember.
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Ed and Lorna Barrett's '65 Coupe
, Knoxville, TN