A Commodore 65 prototype was listed on eBay Germany in March 2024, but the reported €20,249 was an in-progress bid—not a confirmed sale price. The C65 was a real, unfinished Commodore project intended to follow the C64; it never reached retail, and surviving machines are rare collector artifacts rather than a model you can buy new from Commodore.
What is a Commodore 65?
The Commodore 65, also called the C65 or C64DX, was an unfinished successor to the Commodore 64 developed during 1990–1991. It was designed to retain C64 compatibility while offering a more capable 8-bit system, upgraded graphics and a built-in disk drive. Commodore cancelled the project before mass production or a retail launch.
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That makes the C65 more than a proposed product name: it was an engineering project that produced working prototypes and related technical materials. But a prototype is not the same as a finished consumer product. The project ended before Commodore released a final retail machine.
Why did the C65 never reach stores?
Commodore stopped work on the C65 before it could enter mass production. The company later went through liquidation, and prototypes, schematics, drawings, engineering notes and components entered the market. That history helps explain why surviving examples circulate among collectors while no production C65 was sold as a normal Commodore computer.
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The available estimate for surviving units is exceptionally broad: 50 to 2,000 estimated prototypes — HotHardware, 2024. It is an estimate, not a verified census or a confirmed production total, so it should not be read as an exact count. For scale, HotHardware reported 12.5 million to 70 million estimated C64 sales — HotHardware, 2024; that figure is also a range, not a single settled total.
What was included in the 2024 C65 auction listing?
HotHardware reported on 25 March 2024 that an eBay Germany seller had listed serial number 71. The reported lot included the prototype and several accessories:
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- A revision-5 mainboard, which the seller described as the last known board revision before the final January 1992 revision.
- Audio/video cables and a PSM-65-2 power supply, described in the report as the last known example of that supply.
- A Turbo 2000 Super wireless gamepad and original documentation.
The seller emphasized the machine’s bottom trapdoor, serial number, appearance and operation. HotHardware quoted the seller: “This C65 even has the trapdoor on the bottom side. Serial Number #71. It is in very well physical shape (no yellowing and just tiny minor scratches) and is fully working.” Those condition and functionality statements are the seller’s claims as reported by HotHardware, not an independent inspection or test.
How much did the Commodore 65 auction sell for?
No confirmed final sale price is established by the reported figure. When HotHardware published its article on 25 March 2024, the eBay Germany listing had a high bid of €20,249 from 39 bids, with several days remaining. That is a snapshot of bidding at the time, not proof that the auction closed at €20,249 or that a buyer paid that amount.
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Is the Commodore 65 compatible with the C64?
C64 compatibility was part of the C65’s intended design, alongside its more advanced graphics and storage concept. However, the original C65 remained an unfinished project, so compatibility should not be treated as a guarantee that every C64 program or peripheral works on every prototype. The reported auction article does not establish a compatibility test for serial number 71.
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- Style: Classic
- Fabric type: Except heather colours: 100% Cotton; Heather colours: 65% Polyester, 35% Cotton
- Fit type: Regular Fit
- Item length description: Standard Length
- Neck neck style: Crew Neck
There is also an important software distinction. MEGA’s ROM-history page identifies 900321_prototype.bin as the first known C65 ROM, version 1.0. It describes 911210 as believed to be the last official Commodore ROM version used shortly before the team had to stop work. Later 92xxxx ROMs and other fixes are community or MEGA work, not original factory ROM releases.
Can you buy an original Commodore 65 today?
The March 2024 listing shows that an original prototype could appear on a marketplace, but it does not establish present-day availability. Since Commodore never launched the C65 as a retail computer and the number of surviving prototypes is uncertain, an original is a rare collector purchase rather than a regularly stocked product.
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- COMMODORE - AMIGA: Boing Ball
- COMMODORE - AMIGA: Boing Ball
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
For a prospective buyer, the listing’s claims are not substitutes for verification. Provenance, board revision, included parts, physical condition and evidence that the computer works all matter. A seller’s description can help identify what is being offered, but it does not independently prove authenticity, completeness or operating condition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the MEGA65?
The MEGA65 is a modern, open-source realization of the C65 concept, not an original Commodore prototype. MEGA describes it as a “21st century realization of the C65” and lists C64/C65 compatibility, HD output, dual SD cards, Ethernet and extended memory. Its handbook explains that the MEGA65 core preserves compatibility with the incomplete original C65 ROM while also providing an open-source replacement.
MEGA announced pre-orders and the start of production on 19 October 2021 at a historical launch price of €666.66 net. That is a dated launch figure, not a current price or a statement of present stock. Anyone considering a MEGA65 should check the official project’s current availability and terms rather than infer them from the 2021 announcement.
Quick Recap
Original C65 prototype vs. MEGA65
| Consideration | Original Commodore C65 prototype | MEGA65 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A 1990–1991 Commodore engineering prototype from a cancelled project. | A modern, open-source realization of the C65 concept. |
| Historical authenticity | An actual Commodore-era machine; authenticity and provenance must be assessed for each unit. | A modern implementation, not an original Commodore computer. |
| Rarity and collector context | HotHardware reported 50 to 2,000 estimated surviving prototypes in 2024; no definitive census is established. | A manufactured modern product; the cited sources do not state a current unit count. |
| Usability and features | The auction seller described serial number 71 as fully working, but that claim was not independently tested in the report. | MEGA lists HD output, dual SD cards, Ethernet and extended memory. |
| Software lineage | The original project stopped with an incomplete ROM; 911210 is believed to be the last official Commodore version. |
The core preserves compatibility with the incomplete original ROM and also offers an open-source replacement. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
