Top 10 Convertibles 1965 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

If you wanted the single greatest open-top car of 1965, the Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible 🏆 BEST OVERALL earned the crown — a fuel-injected American sports car that combined genuine 150-mph ambition with a folding roof, at a 1965 MSRP of $4,106. The smartest money, though, went to the Ford Mustang Convertible 💎 BEST VALUE, which delivered four-seat, top-down style and a strong 289 V-8 option for a remarkable 1965 MSRP of $2,557. 1965 was the golden age of the American drop-top, a year when Detroit and Britain alike treated the convertible as the most desirable body style on the lot rather than a fading novelty.

This retrospective ranks the ten that mattered most, then and now.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We scored each 1965 convertible against six weighted criteria, drawing on period road tests and modern collector data:

• Open-top character & style — 25%: how special it felt with the roof folded, and how the design has aged.
• Performance — 20%: period engine output, real-world acceleration, and handling for the era.
• Value in period — 15%: what a 1965 buyer got for the 1965 dollar.
• Comfort & cruising — 15%: ride quality, interior, and long-distance manners.
• Reliability — 10%: how dependable the car was when new and how serviceable it remains.
• Collectibility now — 15%: current market desirability and direction of values.

Sources include period *Road & Track*, *Car and Driver*, and *Motor Trend* tests, plus the Hagerty Valuation Tools, RM Sotheby's and Mecum auction records, ClassicCars.com and Classic.com market data, and the respective Wikipedia model pages.

1. Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Convertible 🏆 BEST OVERALL

1965 MSRP: $4,106 | Best for: the enthusiast who wanted America's only true sports car, roof down

The 1965 C2 Sting Ray was the high-water mark of the mid-year Corvette, and the convertible was its purest form. Buyers could option the small-block 327 from a 250-hp base up to the legendary 375-hp L84 fuel-injected unit, and 1965 introduced the 396 "Turbo-Jet" big-block rated at 425 hp — the first big-block ever offered in a Corvette.

Four-wheel disc brakes arrived the same year, finally matching the chassis to the power, and the manually folding top stowed cleanly under a hinged rear deck. Today a well-sorted 1965 convertible commonly trades from the high five figures into six figures, with fuel-injected and 396 cars climbing well over $100,000 at auction.

It was fast, beautiful, and uniquely American — the obvious overall winner.

Pros:

• Genuine sports-car performance with 327 fuel injection or the new 396 big-block
• Four-wheel disc brakes new for 1965, a real engineering leap
• Iconic Bill Mitchell styling that still defines the era
• Strong, rising collector values across every engine variant

Cons:

• Most expensive American car here when new, and pricey to buy now
• Two seats only — no family duty

Verdict: The 1965 Corvette Sting Ray Convertible was the most complete drop-top of its year and remains the benchmark.

2. Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 Roadster 💎 (runner-up icon)

1965 MSRP: $5,580 | Best for: the buyer who wanted the most beautiful car in the world

Enzo Ferrari reportedly called the E-Type the most beautiful car ever made, and the 1965 Series 1 roadster earned that reverence. The new 4.2-litre XK straight-six made 265 hp (gross), good for a genuine 150-mph top speed and a 0-60 sprint near seven seconds — supercar numbers for 1965.

The 4.2 brought a better gearbox and more torque than the earlier 3.8 for only a token price increase, and the folding soft-top suited the long, sculpted body perfectly. Series 1 4.2 roadsters are blue-chip classics today, with excellent examples valued well over $120,000 by Hagerty and top cars reaching far higher.

It loses the overall title only on period reliability and Detroit-beating value, not on desire.

Pros:

• Breathtaking styling that defined British sports-car glamour
• Real 150-mph performance from the smooth 4.2 six
• Improved gearbox and torque over the outgoing 3.8
• Blue-chip collectibility with strong upward values

Cons:

• Lucas electrics and cooling demanded patient ownership
• Pricier than nearly every American rival when new

Verdict: The most beautiful drop-top of 1965, and a forever investment-grade classic.

3. Pontiac GTO Convertible

1965 MSRP: $3,057 | Best for: the muscle-car pioneer who wanted wind in the hair

The 1965 GTO refined the car that effectively launched the muscle-car era. Its 389 V-8 made 335 hp in base form and 360 hp with the famous Tri-Power triple-two-barrel setup, hurling the mid-size Tempest-based convertible to low-15-second quarter miles. Stacked headlamps gave the 1965 a meaner face, and the drop-top body made the GTO a genuine boulevard star as well as a stoplight terror.

Open GTOs are among the most coveted muscle convertibles today, with Tri-Power 4-speed cars routinely bringing $60,000 to over $100,000 at Mecum and Barrett-Jackson. It is the definitive American performance convertible of the year after the Corvette.

Pros:

• Tri-Power 389 V-8 with 360 hp on tap
• Founding muscle-car credentials that collectors prize
• Aggressive stacked-headlamp restyle for 1965
• Strong auction demand for documented Tri-Power cars

Cons:

• Drum brakes struggled with the straight-line speed
• Numbers-matching Tri-Power cars now command big premiums

Verdict: The muscle convertible that mattered most in 1965, and a blue-chip today.

4. Sunbeam Tiger Mk1

1965 MSRP: $3,499 | Best for: the buyer who wanted Cobra thrills on a budget

Carroll Shelby helped shoehorn a Ford 260 V-8 making 164 hp into the pretty little Sunbeam Alpine body, and the Tiger became the affordable Anglo-American giant-killer. It was light, quick, and charismatic, blending British roadster looks with American small-block torque and a Top Loader four-speed.

The folding top and roll-up windows made it more civilized than many sports cars of the day. Once overlooked, the Tiger has become a sought-after collectible, with clean Mk1 cars now trading from the high $50,000s to over $100,000 for the best examples. It punched far above its modest price.

Pros:

• Ford V-8 muscle in a featherweight British body
• Shelby-developed giant-killer credentials
• Civilized roadster with roll-up windows
• Rising, still-attainable collector values

Cons:

• Cramped engine bay makes service a knuckle-buster
• Authenticity verification matters — Alpine conversions exist

Verdict: A pocket Cobra that delivered outsized thrills for the money.

5. Cadillac DeVille Convertible

1965 MSRP: $5,419 | Best for: the luxury cruiser who wanted to arrive in style

For sheer presence, nothing on this list matched the 1965 DeVille convertible. Its 429 V-8 produced 340 hp, gliding the long, low body on a 129.5-inch wheelbase with a power top, power everything, and a freshly restyled body for 1965. This was the all-American boulevard cruiser, the car of movie stars and country clubs, prioritizing serene comfort over apex-carving.

Roughly 19,200 were built, so survivors remain attainable: good drivers often sell in the $20,000s, with show cars reaching the $40,000s. As a top-down cruiser, it had no peer in opulence.

Pros:

• Effortless 340-hp 429 V-8 for silent cruising
• Genuine luxury with power top and full equipment
• Commanding presence and crisp 1965 restyle
• Still affordable relative to its grandeur

Cons:

• Vast size and thirst make it a special-occasion car
• Not remotely a corner-carver

Verdict: The most luxurious open-air experience of 1965, and a relative bargain now.

6. Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III

1965 MSRP: $3,495 | Best for: the rally-bred purist who loved a big British roadster

The "Big Healey" reached its finest form as the 1965 Mk III BJ8. Its 2,912cc inline-six made roughly 150 hp through twin SU carburetors, giving the burly roadster a glorious exhaust note and real long-legged pace. The Mk III added a walnut dashboard and wind-up windows, civilizing the rally-hardened machine without dulling its character.

Big Healeys are firmly collectible, with Hagerty valuing good 1965 cars around $40,000 and concours examples well into the $60,000s and beyond. Rugged, handsome, and full of voice, it remains a touchstone British roadster.

Pros:

• Charismatic 2.9-litre six with an unforgettable sound
• Rally-proven toughness and long-distance ability
• Walnut-trimmed Mk III comfort upgrades
• Steady, respected collector demand

Cons:

• Low-slung exhaust meant notoriously little ground clearance
• Hot, snug cockpit on summer drives

Verdict: The definitive big British roadster, and a rewarding modern classic.

7. Ford Thunderbird Convertible

1965 MSRP: $4,953 | Best for: the personal-luxury buyer who wanted style over sport

The 1965 Thunderbird was the personal-luxury coupe perfected, and the convertible was its most glamorous form. A 390 V-8 made 300 hp, motivating the sleek "flair bird" with smooth, quiet authority rather than muscle. The complex power top was a showpiece, folding completely out of sight under a clamshell deck, and the cockpit-style interior felt like an aircraft.

Convertible production was limited, which keeps them desirable today; good cars sell in the $20,000s to $30,000s, with the finest examples higher. It was about elegance and theater more than acceleration — and it delivered both.

Pros:

• Theatrical hidden power top that hides completely
• Smooth 300-hp 390 V-8 cruising
• Distinctive "flair bird" styling and cockpit interior
• Limited convertible numbers support values

Cons:

• Heavy and soft — no pretense of sport
• Complex top mechanism needs careful upkeep

Verdict: The most stylish personal-luxury drop-top of 1965.

8. Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible

1965 MSRP: $3,212 | Best for: the buyer who wanted a big, handsome American convertible

The all-new 1965 full-size Chevrolet was a sales sensation, and the Impala SS convertible was its sportiest open expression. Buyers ranged from a mild six up to the new 396 Turbo-Jet V-8 making up to 425 hp, with the classic 327 in between, all under the curvaceous restyled body with bucket seats and SS trim.

It was roomy, comfortable, and good-looking — a true family-friendly drop-top with genuine performance potential. Today, 396 SS convertibles draw the most money, often in the $40,000-to-$60,000 range, while small-block cars remain accessible. It captured 1965 mainstream America perfectly.

Pros:

• Big-block 396 option with up to 425 hp
• Handsome all-new 1965 styling and SS bucket-seat trim
• Roomy, comfortable full-size cruising
• Broad parts and club support today

Cons:

• Soft full-size handling by sports-car standards
• Top-spec 396 cars carry a premium

Verdict: The quintessential big American convertible of 1965, with real muscle available.

9. Triumph TR4

1965 MSRP: $2,849 | Best for: the budget enthusiast who wanted Michelotti style

The Triumph TR4 brought crisp Italian-penned Michelotti styling and real usability to the affordable-roadster class. Its 2,138cc four-cylinder made about 105 hp, modest on paper but lively in a light car, and the TR4 pioneered roll-up windows and a true wind-up-glass cabin in its segment — a comfort leap over older British roadsters.

The fold-flat top and optional surrey hardtop added versatility. TR4s remain among the most affordable ways into 1965 open-top motoring, with good cars often in the $15,000-to-$25,000 range. It blended style, sense, and accessibility.

Pros:

• Sharp Michelotti styling that still looks modern
• Roll-up windows and a genuinely usable cabin
• Affordable, simple, fixable ownership
• Strong parts supply and club backing

Cons:

• Only 105 hp — brisk, not fast
• Live rear axle on the TR4 (IRS came with the TR4A)

Verdict: The smart, stylish budget roadster of 1965.

10. MG MGB Roadster

1965 MSRP: $2,600 | Best for: the first-time enthusiast who wanted classic top-down fun for the least money

No car democratized the open-top experience like the MGB. Its 1.8-litre (1,798cc) four made roughly 95 hp, modest output that felt plenty entertaining in the nimble, lightweight body. The MGB offered roll-up windows, a comfortable cockpit, and famously easy maintenance, making it the everyman's sports car on both sides of the Atlantic.

It remains the most affordable classic convertible here, with tidy 1965 examples frequently trading from the low teens to the low $20,000s. For pure, accessible joy-per-dollar, nothing beat it.

Pros:

• Lowest price of any car on this list, then and now
• Easy, cheap maintenance and superb parts supply
• Genuinely fun handling in a light body
• Huge club and enthusiast community

Cons:

• Only around 95 hp — leisurely by modern standards
• Values have plateaued versus rarer rivals

Verdict: The best-value classic convertible of all, and the friendliest entry into the hobby.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 1965 Convertible (Then and as a Classic Now)

• Top condition: inspect the soft-top fabric, rear window, frame, and folding mechanism; a new top and rebuilt frame are costly, and power-top motors (Cadillac, Thunderbird) add complexity.
• Rust: convertibles flex more than coupes, so check floors, rockers, frame rails, trunk pans, and the area around the top well, where trapped water does its worst.
• Originality: matching-numbers engines and documented options (Tri-Power, fuel injection, 396, factory color) drive value sharply upward on muscle and sports cars.
• Mechanical health: look for honest service history, good compression, straight panels, and tight body structure over a glossy respray.
• Matters less than nostalgia implies: outright horsepower numbers matter less than honest condition and provenance — a clean, well-documented base car will reward you more than a tired, modified high-output example that looks fast on the spec sheet.

FAQ

What was the best-selling convertible of 1965? The Ford Mustang convertible was the runaway volume leader, helped by its low price and broad engine range; the full-size Chevrolet Impala line and the Cadillac DeVille were also strong sellers.

Which 1965 convertible is worth the most today? The Jaguar E-Type 4.2 roadster and fuel-injected or 396 Corvette Sting Ray convertibles top the list, with the best examples reaching deep into six figures at auction.

Was 1965 really a golden age for convertibles? Yes. Open-top body styles were offered across nearly every segment, from economy roadsters to flagship luxury cars, and the convertible was treated as the most desirable trim rather than a niche — a peak it would not hold for long.

Which 1965 convertible is the best value to buy now? The MG MGB roadster and Triumph TR4 remain the most affordable, while the Ford Mustang convertible offers the best blend of price, parts support, and classic appeal.

Did 1965 convertibles have power tops? Many did, especially the luxury models — the Cadillac DeVille and Ford Thunderbird featured elaborate power tops, while most British roadsters used a simple, quick-folding manual top.

Which 1965 convertible was the fastest? The Jaguar E-Type 4.2 and the big-block 396 Corvette were the quickest, both capable of around or over 150 mph in the right specification.

Bottom Line

1965 stands as the high point of the American drop-top, a year when the convertible was the star of the showroom rather than an afterthought. The Corvette Sting Ray Convertible earned Best Overall for marrying real sports-car performance to open-air drama, while the Ford Mustang Convertible took Best Value by putting top-down style and V-8 muscle within reach of ordinary buyers.

Whether you wanted the gorgeous Jaguar E-Type, the muscle of the GTO, the opulence of a DeVille, or the honest fun of an MGB, 1965 offered a convertible for every taste and budget — and every one of these ten remains a rewarding classic today.

Sources

• Hagerty Valuation Tools — 1965 Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Jaguar E-Type SI 4.2, Austin-Healey 3000, MG MGB, Cadillac DeVille, Triumph TR4 (hagerty.com)
• Supercars.net — 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray L78 396/425 HP and L84 327/375 HP profiles (supercars.net)
• CorvSport — "1965 C2 Corvette: History, Performance & More" (corvsport.com)
• Supercars.net & Wikipedia — 1965 Pontiac GTO 389 Tri-Power specifications (supercars.net, en.wikipedia.org)
• Classic.com & Mecum/RM Sotheby's auction records — 1965 GTO, Corvette, and Impala SS convertible sales data (classic.com)
• Conceptcarz — 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mk1 and 1965 MG MGB Mk I specifications (conceptcarz.com)
• Gooding & Company and Autosport Designs — 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 roadster listings (goodingco.com)
• ClassicCars.com — 1965 Cadillac DeVille, Thunderbird, and Austin-Healey 3000 market listings (classiccars.com)
• Wikipedia model pages — Triumph TR4, MG MGB, Sunbeam Tiger, Austin-Healey 3000, Jaguar E-Type (en.wikipedia.org)
• CJ Pony Parts — "Mustang Prices Over Time / Ford Mustang MSRP" historical pricing (cjponyparts.com)

*Convertible review — 1965 convertible reviews, rating, best convertible 1965, and a retrospective review of the top vintage drop-top picks for buyers and collectors.*