- (month unknown)
- Chevrolet sells Corvette Grand Sport coupes #003 and #004 to John Mecom. [3.53] [133.94] [151.90] [332.87] [580.180]
- Chevrolet sells Corvette Grand Sport coupe #005 to Jim Hall. [3.53] [133.94] [151.90] [332.87] [580.180] (John Mecom sells #005 to Jim Hall [534.45])
- John Mecom sells Corvette Grand Sport coupe #004 to Delmo Johnson for $4000. [534.45] [580.180] [628.37] (sold by General Motors [888.71])
- March
- The CERV II test car is driven for the first time. [381.49] [580.249]
- March 21
- At the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held.
- Finishing 1st in Grand Touring +5000 class, 16th overall, is the Nickey Chevrolet #9 Corvette, driven by Skip Hudson and Jerry Grant.
- Finishing 4th in Prototype GT +3000 class, 18th overall, is the McKean Chevrolet #4 Corvette Grand Sport #005, driven by Roger Penske and Jim Hall.
- Finishing 5th in Prototype GT +3000 class, 23rd overall, is the Mecom Racing Team #2 Corvette Grand Sport #003, driven by A.J. Foyt and John Cannon. Foyt started the race in 62nd place; by the end of the first lap, he had passed 50 cars, setting a new record.
- Finishing 6th in Prototype GT +3000 class, 32nd overall, is the Johnson Chevrolet #3 Corvette Grand Sport #004, driven by Delmo Johnson and Dave Morgan.
- George Robertson and Dick Boo drive Robertson's #6 Corvette in Grand Touring +5000 class. After 52 laps, the car retires with a failed clutch. They place 51st overall.
[104.151] [106.8] [112.82] [206.67] [254.76] [263] [309.12] [322.40] [332.87] [337.64,66] [423] [454.92] [534.45] [580.181] [585.98]
- April
- Zora Arkus-Duntov proposes buiding a mid-engine GS 3 race Corvette, and two lightweight production Corvettes. [774.100]
- May 14
- Ford and Chrysler resume support of stock car racing. (Though General Motors is not pleased, the 1957 AMA racing suppoprt ban slowly fades away.) [579.8]
- May
- General Motors' Chairman Frederic Donner reaffirms to reporters and vice-presidents that General Motors would continue to comply with the Automobile Manufacturers Association's ban on factory-supported racing. [293.90]
- (month unknown)
- Several modifications are made to CERV I: the nose is rebuilt to eliminate unused side scoops, the fuel injection unit is changed to a Hilborn unit on a 377-ci engine, and the headrest is removed. At General Motors' Milford test track, the CERV I is run at over 200-MPH. [314.46] [579.163]
- The CERV II vehicle is completed. It features 377-ci 500-hp mid-mounted V8 engine, and four-wheel drive. It performs at up to 210 mph, and 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds. [35.10] [210.40] [314.46]
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- Chevrolet engineer Frank Winchell begins building the XP-819 rear-engined test car, with Larry Shinoda designing the body. [17] [42.86] [179.14] (1965 [35.44])
- The CERV II single-seat mid-engine test car makes a brief appearance at Pike's Peak Hill Climb in Colorado. [1]
- The Pontiac division creates and shows the XP-833 Banshee, a sports car looking similar to the Corvette. [312.39]
- July
- Production ends on the 1964 model Corvette. [30] [148.42]
- August
- Production of 1965 model Corvettes begins. This Corvette is designated model number 194, series 9000. [148.44] [311.28] [453.53] (September [265.129])
- At the Bonneville salt flats in Utah the 16th Annual Bonneville Nationals Speed Trials are held.
- Bob Hirsch and Bill Scace set the Class A Grand Touring record of 155.132-MPH in a Corvette.
- Jack Lufkin races a 1962 Corvette frame with replica Corvette body and destroked engine to 204.248-MPH two-way average in C Sports-Racing class.
[337.22] [354.65] [580.125,201]
- September
- The CBS television network cancels the Route 66 show. [33.46] [281.553]
- September 13
- At Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the Road America 500 race is held. Finishing 3rd overall is the Corvette Grand Sport #005 driven by Jim Hall, Hap Sharp, and Roger Penske. [206.68] [423] [488.24] [580.182]
- September 18
- The CBS television network airs the last episode of the Route 66 show. [50.725] [51.554] [274.48]
- September 26
- Chevrolet unveils the 1965 Corvette. [179.27]
- (month unknown)
- Roger Penske buys Corvette Grand Sport #005 from Jim Hall. [332.87] [534.45] [580.182] (1965 [140.79])
- Roger Penske races Corvette Grand Sport #005 at Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. [206.48]
- In a Pennsylvania car race, Ben Moore races Roger Penske's Corvette Grand Sport #005 in C/Modified class, finishing first overall. [206.68]
- The program to develop the CERV II test car is ended. [381.49]
- At the end of the racing season, Frank Dominianni is points champion in SCCA B Production class, driving a 1962 Corvette. This is Corvette's eighth consecutive win in this class. [3.124] [133.72] [337.60] [356.32] [394.12]
- Option P91, nylon cord blackwall tires, is cancelled. [148.45]
- The 1965 model Corvette option RPO L84 fuel-injected 327-ci engine is cancelled. [205.39]
- November
- The Carrera Pan Americana race is held in Mexico. Delmo Johnson races Grand Sport #003 to 2nd place overall. [337.66] [888.72]
- Delmo Johnson sells the Corvette Grand Sport #003. [888.72]
- November 15
- At the Riverside International Raceway in California, the American Road Race of Champions final races of the SCCA Club Racing series are held. This is the first year of the SCCA holding an end of season competition among the best amateurs of the year.
- Finishing 3rd in A Production class and 3rd overall is the #62 Corvette Sting Ray driven by Dick Guldstrand.
- Finishing 2nd in B Production class and 5th overall is the #33 Corvette driven by Paul Canary.
- Finishing 5th in B Production class and 8th overall is the #63 Corvette driven by Fred Sutherland.
- Finishing 7th in B Production class and 10th overall is the #11 Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
- Finishing 8th in B Production class and 11th overall is the #62 Corvette driven by John Coyle.
- Finishing 9th in B Production class and 12th overall is the #12 Corvette driven by John Bushell.
- Finishing 10th in B Production class and 14th overall is the #43 Corvette driven by Brad Brooker.
- Finishing 12th in B Production class and 16th overall is the #44 Corvette driven by Jerry Henderson.
[394.4] [423]
- November 28
- The Nassau Sprint race is held in the Bahamas. Finishing 1st overall is the John Mecom Corvette Grand Sport #003 driven by Roger Penske. [423]
- November 30
- The Tourist Trophy race of the Nassau Speed Week is held in the Bahamas. Finishing 1st overall is the #82 Corvette Grand Sport #005 driven by Roger Penske. He also sets a new lap record. This win is the last Corvette victory over the Ford-powered Cobras for years to come. [1] [106.8] [133.94] [309.13] [332.87] [337.66] [534.47] (December [5.89] [206.68] [260.48] [580.182])
- December
- Roger Penske sells Corvette Grand Sport #005 to George Wintersteen. [206.68] [534.47] [580.182] (1965 [572.45])
- December 4
- The Governor's Cup race of the Nassau Speed Week is held in the Bahamas.
- Jack Saunders races John Mecom's Corvette Grand Sport coupe #003 in the Governor's Cup at Nassau, but does not finish the race (10th place).
- George Wintersteen races the #12 Corvette Grand Sport #005, but does not finish.
[206.68] [423] (November [106.8])
- December 6
- The 250-mile Nassau Trophy race of the Nassau Speed Week is held in the Bahamas. Finishing 23rd overall is the George Wintersteen #12 Corvette Grand Sport #005 driven by George Wintersteen. [206.68] [423]
- December
- At Nassau Speed Weeks, Ken Hablow's 1963 coupe with an early 396-ci engine places 1st in GT class, 11th overall. [147.20]
1965
- January
- Production of the Turbo Jet 396 engine for the Corvette begins. [75.108] [345.15] [580.195]
- John Mecom sells his Grand Sport Corvette coupe #003 to Allen and Ed Sevadjian of Arlington, Texas, for about US$7500. [106.8] [112.82] [332.87] [534.47] [564.58]
- March
- The Shark show car is renamed Mako Shark I. The Mako Shark is now called Mako Shark II. [3.36,70] [104.138] [332.72] [454.131] [580.204] [774.22]
- The Mako Shark II show car is displayed for publicity photos. [104.66] [112.22]
- The L78 option Turbo-Jet engine debuts on the Corvette. It is a 396-ci 425-hp Mark IV V8 engine, available for US$292.70. [75.108] [127.54] [148.44] [176.20] [205.39] [230.64] [257.18] [325.55] [452.44] (April [226.46a] [345.15] [580.195])
- March 27
- In Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held.
- Finishing 2nd in Prototype GT +4000 class, 6th in GTP class, 14th overall, is the George Wintersteen #2 Corvette Grand Sport #005, driven by George Wintersteen, Peter Goetz, and Milton Diehl.
- Finishing 1st in Grand Touring +5000 class, 33rd overall, is the George Robertson #5 Corvette, driven by George Robertson and Dick Boo.
- Finishing 3rd in Prototype GT +4000 class, 36th overall, is the Ridgeway Racing #1 Corvette Grand Sport #003, driven by Delmo Johnson and Dave Morgan. The car has a development L88 engine, and runs up to 180-mph.
- Don Yenko and John Bushell drive the Ken Hablow #6 Corvette in Grand Touring +5000 class. After 61 laps it retires after losing a wheel and suspension failure. They place 51st overall.
[104.151] [106.8] [263] [332.87] [337.64,66] [348] [423] [534.47] [580.182] [585.98] [720.25] (GS #005 finishes 11th [206.68])
- (month unknown)
- A Chevrolet team begins secret work on a powerful production-based engine. (This will become the L88 engine.) [345.15]
- April
- In New York, the 9th International Automobile Show is held. The Mako Shark II (project XP-830) makes its public debut appearance. The non-running full-size model cost nearly US$3 million to create. It includes a 396-ci Mark IV engine. [1] [3.69] [5.159] [6] [42.60] [90] [104.66] [104.138] [140.8] [155.82] [156.59] [294] [322.8] [454.131] [774.29]
- (month unknown)
- The Mako Shark II is displayed to the public at the General Motors Pavilion at the New York World's Fair. A 1965 Corvette cut-away is on display. [79.59] [889.40]
- General Motors management forces a final end to a secret Corvette group project to build an overhead cam engine for Grand Sport racing. [196.32]
- Car and Driver magazine readers vote the Corvette as Best Value for Money. [580.231]
- August
- Production of 1965 model Corvettes ends. [148.44] [311.29]
- At the Bonneville salt flats races, Barry Brock sets the A Grand Touring record of 169.654-MPH in a 396-ci Corvette. [337.22] [580.201]
- August 30
- A.O. Smith completes the first Corvette body for the 1966 model Corvette. [775.90]
- September 2
- Production of 1966 model Corvettes begins. [148.46] [242.85] [775.90]
- September
- Delmo Johnson sells Grand Sport #004 to David Greenblatt for about US$8000. [534.47]
- October 5
- The second Mako Shark II show car, a running version, is shown to the automotive press at the GM Tech Center in Michigan. This version is fully drivable, with a 427-ci engine. [3.69] [104.68,138] [140.8] [155.82] [322.8] [454.131] [539.64] [580.205] [774.29] [908.8]
- October 7
- The Mako Shark II show car debuts at the Paris Auto Show in France. [104.68,138] [454.131] [539.64] [580.205] [774.30]
- October
- Chevrolet completes initial builds of a new high-performance engine, code name L88, ready for testing. [251.32] [309.22] [345.15]
- (month unknown)
- The horsepower rating of Corvette 427 engines is lowered, from 400 to 390, and 450 to 425. [242.85]
- Roger Penske enters his Corvette Grand Sport at the Tourist Trophy Race at Bahamas Speed Week. He wins at a record pace of 93 MPH. [140.79]
- November
- The body style of the next-generation Corvette is essentially complete, and an engineering prototype is tested at Michigan's Milford proving grounds. [90] [104.66] [454.132]
- November 28
- At the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, the American Road Race of Champions final races of the SCCA Club Racing series are held. Finishing 3rd in B Production class and 6th overall is the Corvette driven by Don Yenko. [394.4] [423]
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