Commodore C65 Serial No 000097

Updated 1 April 2024

There are not many of the legendary Commodore C65s in existance any more. Rumour has it that there were as little as 200 development mules produced and sold at the time of bankruptcy. I has been a while since a Commodore C65 has been available on the open market. Serial No 000097 transferred ownership in 2017. This may be one of the last Commodore C65s sold. We look at the eBay listing of the Commodore C65 serial no 000097.

Introduction to the Commodore C65 Serial 000097

The Commodore C65, a project shrouded in ambition and ultimately, mystery, embarked on its development journey at a pivotal moment in computing history. Before Commodore International faced its financial downfall, leading to bankruptcy in 1994, the company was at work on what was envisioned to be a revolutionary product. The C65 was conceptualized to bridge the gap between affordability and high performance, targeting first-time buyers with a proposition that was nearly unrivaled at the time. It promised to deliver advanced capabilities at a price point that would democratize access to powerful computing.

The decision to shelve the C65 project was not made lightly. It was a casualty of Commodore's broader financial difficulties and a changing market that was moving towards more standardized PC platforms. The discontinuation of the C65 project, even as it neared completion, is a testament to the volatile nature of the computing industry at the time. Only a handful of development units ever left the production line, estimated at around 200 units, making the C65 one of the rarest pieces of computer history.

This scarcity has cemented the Commodore C65's status among collectors and enthusiasts as a holy grail of sorts. The limited number of units, combined with the C65's ambitious vision, has fueled a mythology around the device, enhancing its allure. For collectors, owning a C65 is not just about possessing a rare piece of technology; it's about holding a fragment of what could have been a different path for the home computing industry.

Commodore C65 000097 eBay Auction Listing

Ebay Listing 232557339756 (wayback)

Described as a Commodore C65 for sale in the listing as:

The device is in very good condition and was only used for a short time, or tried, no yellowing, no housing cracks, board is in top condition. The original C65 power supply is new. Computer and power supply have been kept warm and dry in the cupboard over the years. The ROM version 910523 is installed on the C65 board. It is an EPROM in this case. The EPROM has no labeled sticker. The version numbers of the chipset can be found in the photos. The board is called C64 DX REV 2B. The device is functional*.

Watch the Commodore C65 in action:

Commodore C65 Claimed Sale Price

We say claimed in the sale price. It is not because we dispute the vailidty of the transaction. Bidding for this auction was serious with over 30 bids recorded for this auction. It is because we were unable to verify the sale. At a transaction price of €24,000+, this auction item was for the serious collector or as a museum piece.