The collector car market, in your inbox
Classic car news, hand-picked vehicles, and auction coverage. Choose what lands in your inbox.
Dodge's first-year Coronet doesn't get the attention the later B-bodies do, and that's exactly why this one is worth watching. A 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 Hardtop Coupe now bidding on Hagerty Marketplace shows about 76,000 miles that are believed to be original, runs a 361 big-block V8, and is being sold with no reserve. As of Wednesday, September 23, bidding had reached $14,250 after 24 bids, with the auction set to close Tuesday, September 29, at 2:15 p.m. EDT. The car is located in Ocala, Florida.
The Top-Shelf Coronet
The Coronet name came back to Dodge's lineup in 1965 after a few years away, this time on the new mid-size B-body platform with a 117-inch wheelbase. There were three series: the base Coronet, the 440, and the 500. The 500 sat at the top. It came only as a two-door hardtop or convertible, and it got bucket seats, a center console, and its own exterior trim. Hagerty's model notes put total 1965 Coronet sales at 209,393, a big jump over Dodge's mid-size numbers from the year before.
The chassis number on this car, W451297839, backs up the listing. The "W" marks a Coronet V8, the "4" identifies the 500 series, the "5" is the 1965 model year, and the "1" points to the Lynch Road plant in Detroit.
Red-Orange, White Top, 361 Power
This hardtop wears red-orange paint with a white vinyl top, a pairing that makes the pillarless roofline and wraparound rear window stand out. Inside, the black vinyl interior has the buckets, console, padded dash, and deluxe trim the 500 was known for. The listing also calls out power steering, front disc brakes, backup lights, and front seat belts.
Power comes from a 361-cubic-inch V8 paired with a three-speed automatic, with dual exhaust out back. The engine has been dressed up with Edelbrock carburetion, an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, and Edelbrock chrome valve covers, and it now fires through a Mallory ignition. Other changes include 15-inch American Racing wheels on General Altimax RT tires, an aftermarket water temperature gauge, and a Dual digital radio with USB and AUX inputs. Most of these are bolt-on changes that a future owner could reverse for a more factory look.
What a Buyer Should Know
The seller is upfront about the cosmetics. The known flaws are paint chips and a scrape along the edge of the rear deck lid, and the gallery of more than 100 photos shows the condition in detail. After bidders asked in the comments, the seller also added undercarriage photos and running videos, which is worth a look for anyone serious about a six-decade-old unibody Mopar.
The car comes with its owner's manual, a spare tire with cover, and a clean Florida title. It's being offered by BurnyzzLLC as part of the Burnyzz Collection, with a Broad Arrow Auctions specialist handling the sale as the owner's agent. As with any collector car sold as-is, a pre-purchase inspection is welcomed.
Where the Market Sits
This is where the no-reserve format gets interesting. Hagerty's Valuation Tools list a 1965 Coronet 500 two-door with the 361 at $25,600 in #3 (Good) condition as of July 2026, with a range of roughly $21,300 to $27,900. That value is flat for the quarter and down 7.9 percent over the past year, but it's still up 15.8 percent over three years. A 383-equipped 500 coupe carries a similar #3 value of $24,600, while the rare 426 Hemi version climbs to $38,100.
The current $14,250 bid sits well under that #3 figure, though there are still six days to go. Keep in mind that the modifications and the deck lid damage could keep this car from reaching full guide value, but the low mileage and complete 500 equipment work in its favor.
Recent sales give some useful context. Hagerty's data shows 26 examples of the 1965 to 1967 Coronet sold in the past 12 months, with an average sale price of $42,100 and total volume of about $1.1 million. The number of cars sold was up 30 percent. Convertibles pull the top dollar: a 1965 Coronet 500 convertible brought $73,700 at Mecum in June, and another sold for $43,740 at GAA in February. Hardtops tend to trade lower, and a 1967 Coronet 500 hardtop crossed the block at Barrett-Jackson for $17,050 earlier this month.
A Mid-Size Mopar That's Still Within Reach
The 1965 Coronet laid the groundwork for everything Dodge did with its B-body in the muscle car years, from the 1966 Charger that shared its platform to the later Coronet R/T Hemi cars that command serious money today. Early Coronets also have a racing pedigree, as this A990 race Hemi tribute shows. Survivor-grade B-bodies like this unrestored 1967 Coronet 440 convertible have been drawing plenty of attention, and its Plymouth cousins, like this 1965 Belvedere, remain popular with Mopar builders.
For a buyer who wants a top-trim, big-block 1965 Mopar they can drive and enjoy, this Coronet 500 is a solid candidate. With no reserve, it will sell to the high bidder on September 29.
