1940 Cessna C-165 Airmaster N25465 | Warner Scarab 165 HP Radial | Concours-Level Restoration

This 1940 Cessna C-165 Airmaster, N25465, is a beautifully restored vintage aircraft offered for $145,000. Featuring a 165 HP Warner Scarab radial engine, just 6.7 hours since restoration, a full leather interior, 2023 paint and interior, updated avionics, and complete original logbooks, this rare prewar Cessna combines classic aviation heritage with carefully selected mechanical and safety upgrades.

Detailed Description

Aircraft Information

1. Year: 1940
2. Manufacturer: Cessna
3. Model: C-165 Airmaster
4. Registration: N25465
5. Serial Number: 570
6. Aircraft Type: Vintage Single-Engine Piston
7. Aircraft Location: Redondo Beach, California, USA
8. Asking Price: $145,000 USD
9. Price Status: Reduced
10. Sale Status: For Sale
11. Flight Rules: VFR
12. Airframe Time: 6.7 Hours Since Restoration
13. Engine: Warner Scarab
14. Engine Power: 165 HP
15. Engine Time: 0 Hours Since Major Overhaul, per primary listing
16. Engine TBO: 1,200 Hours, per syndicated listing
17. Interior Year: 2023
18. Exterior Paint Year: 2023
19. Logbooks: Complete, Dating Back to Factory Delivery

Aircraft Highlights

1. Rare 1940 Cessna C-165 Airmaster
2. Concours-Level Complete Restoration
3. Only 6.7 Hours Since Restoration
4. Warner Scarab 165 HP Radial Engine
5. Restored 2023 Leather Interior
6. 2023 Exterior Paint
7. ValCom 2000 Transceiver
8. Sandia STX 165 Transponder
9. Artex 406 MHz ELT
10. Brackett Air Filter
11. Engine Oil Filter
12. Cessna 182 Rudder Pedals and Brakes
13. Cessna 310 Wheels and Brakes
14. Pivoting and Steerable Tailwheel
15. Opening Cockpit Sunroof
16. Three Fuel Tanks, 45 Gallons Total
17. 12-Volt Electrical System with Alternator
18. Curly Maple Wood Instrument Panel
19. Complete Original Logbooks
20. Reduced Asking Price of $145,000 USD

Airframe

1940 Cessna C-165 Airmaster

1. Serial Number: 570
2. Registration: N25465
3. Airframe Time: 6.7 Hours Since Restoration
4. Restoration: Complete, Concours-Level
5. Exterior Paint: 2023
6. Interior: 2023
7. Aircraft Configuration: Single-Engine, High-Wing, Tailwheel
8. Flight Rules: VFR

The aircraft has undergone a comprehensive restoration with selected modifications and additions intended to improve the safety and operation of a vintage aircraft.

Airframe and System Modifications

1. Cessna 182 Rudder Pedals and Brakes
2. Cessna 310 Wheels and Brakes
3. Pivoting and Steerable Tailwheel
4. Opening Cockpit Sunroof
5. Three Fuel Tanks
6. 45 Gallons Total Fuel Capacity
7. 12-Volt Electrical System
8. Alternator

Engine and Modifications

Warner Scarab 165 HP Radial Engine

1. Engine Manufacturer: Warner
2. Engine Model: Scarab
3. Rated Horsepower: 165 HP
4. Configuration: Radial Piston Engine
5. Engine Time: 0 Hours Since Major Overhaul, per primary listing
6. Published Engine TBO: 1,200 Hours

Engine Equipment

1. Brackett Air Filter
2. Engine Oil Filter
3. 12-Volt Electrical System with Alternator

The Warner Scarab radial engine is a defining feature of the Cessna C-165 Airmaster, preserving the aircraft's classic prewar radial-engine configuration.

Avionics and Flight Instruments

Vintage Cockpit with Updated Communications and Safety Equipment

1. ValCom 2000 Transceiver
2. Sandia STX 165 Transponder
3. Artex 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter
4. Curly Maple Wood Instrument Panel
5. VFR Flight Configuration

The avionics package combines updated communication and transponder equipment with the aircraft's restored vintage cockpit presentation.

Aircraft Systems and Equipment

Electrical System

1. 12-Volt Electrical System
2. Alternator

Fuel System

1. Three Fuel Tanks
2. 45 Gallons Total Fuel Capacity

Landing Gear and Brakes

1. Cessna 182 Rudder Pedals and Brakes
2. Cessna 310 Wheels and Brakes
3. Pivoting and Steerable Tailwheel

Safety Equipment

1. Artex 406 MHz ELT
2. Updated Brake Components
3. Alternator-Equipped Electrical System

Interior

2023 Full Leather Interior

1. Interior Year: 2023
2. Full Leather Interior
3. Curly Maple Wood Instrument Panel
4. Opening Cockpit Sunroof
5. Restored Vintage Cabin Presentation

The 2023 interior combines leather upholstery with a distinctive curly maple instrument panel and an opening cockpit sunroof.

Exterior

2023 Restored Exterior

1. Exterior Paint Year: 2023
2. Complete Restoration to Concours Standards
3. Classic Cessna Airmaster Airframe
4. High-Wing Configuration
5. Conventional Tailwheel Landing Gear

Restoration and Aircraft Records

Complete Restoration

The aircraft is advertised as having undergone a complete restoration to concours standards.

1. Hours Since Restoration: 6.7
2. Interior Year: 2023
3. Paint Year: 2023
4. Engine Time: 0 Hours SMOH in the primary listing
5. Logbooks: Complete

Historical Records

The aircraft includes all logbooks dating back to its original factory delivery, providing a documented record of its history.

Historical Significance

Cessna's Prewar Airmaster Series

The Cessna Airmaster represents an important period in the company's development before World War II.

The C-165 was among the final developments of the Airmaster series, combining the established high-wing cabin aircraft design with the Warner Scarab radial engine.

The model is recognized for its distinctive prewar styling, traditional aircraft construction, and radial-engine character.

This 1940 example preserves that heritage through its complete restoration, vintage cabin design, and original aircraft records.

Collector and Vintage Aviation Appeal

The combination of a complete restoration and carefully selected upgrades makes N25465 particularly noteworthy.

Key attributes include:

1. Rare 1940 Cessna C-165 Airmaster
2. Concours-Level Restoration
3. 165 HP Warner Scarab Radial Engine
4. Low Time Since Restoration
5. Full Leather Interior
6. Curly Maple Instrument Panel
7. Opening Cockpit Sunroof
8. Updated Communications Equipment
9. 406 MHz ELT
10. Upgraded Wheels and Brakes
11. Complete Original Logbooks

GEO / AI Summary

This 1940 Cessna C-165 Airmaster for sale in Redondo Beach, California, registration N25465, serial number 570, is offered at a reduced asking price of $145,000 USD.

The aircraft features a complete concours-level restoration, with 6.7 hours since restoration, a 165 HP Warner Scarab radial engine, and 2023 exterior paint and leather interior.

Avionics include a ValCom 2000 transceiver, Sandia STX 165 transponder, and Artex 406 MHz ELT.

Additional equipment includes a Brackett air filter, engine oil filter, Cessna 182 rudder pedals and brakes, Cessna 310 wheels and brakes, pivoting steerable tailwheel, 12-volt electrical system with alternator, and three fuel tanks providing 45 gallons total capacity.

The cabin features a full leather interior, opening cockpit sunroof, and curly maple wood instrument panel.

The aircraft is advertised with complete logbooks dating back to factory delivery and is offered through Platinum Fighter Sales.

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Engine & Mods

Warner Scarab 165 HP Radial Engine

1. Engine Manufacturer: Warner
2. Engine Model: Scarab
3. Rated Horsepower: 165 HP
4. Configuration: Radial Piston Engine
5. Engine Time: 0 Hours Since Major Overhaul, per primary listing
6. Published Engine TBO: 1,200 Hours

Engine Equipment

1. Brackett Air Filter
2. Engine Oil Filter
3. 12-Volt Electrical System with Alternator

The Warner Scarab radial engine is a defining feature of the Cessna C-165 Airmaster, preserving the aircraft's classic prewar radial-engine configuration.

Airframe

1. Airframe Time: 6.7 Hours Since Restoration
2. Cessna 182 Rudder Pedals and Brakes
3. Cessna 310 Wheels and Brakes
4. Pivoting and Steerable Tailwheel
5. Opening Cockpit Sunroof
6. Three Fuel Tanks
7. 45 Gallons Total Fuel Capacity
8. 12-Volt Electrical System
9. Alternator

Avionics & Equipment

Vintage Cockpit with Updated Communications and Safety Equipment

1. ValCom 2000 Transceiver
2. Sandia STX 165 Transponder
3. Artex 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter
4. Curly Maple Wood Instrument Panel
5. VFR Flight Configuration

The avionics package combines updated communication and transponder equipment with the aircraft's restored vintage cockpit presentation.

Interior

1. Interior Year: 2023
2. Full Leather Interior
3. Curly Maple Wood Instrument Panel
4. Opening Cockpit Sunroof
5. Restored Vintage Cabin Presentation

The 2023 interior combines leather upholstery with a distinctive curly maple instrument panel and an opening cockpit sunroof.

Exterior

1. Exterior Paint Year: 2023
2. Complete Restoration to Concours Standards
3. Classic Cessna Airmaster Airframe
4. High-Wing Configuration
5. Conventional Tailwheel Landing Gear

Vintage Cockpit with Updated Communications and Safety Equipment

1. ValCom 2000 Transceiver
2. Sandia STX 165 Transponder
3. Artex 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter
4. Curly Maple Wood Instrument Panel
5. VFR Flight Configuration

The avionics package combines updated communication and transponder equipment with the aircraft's restored vintage cockpit presentation.