A Commodore 65 prototype listed on eBay Germany in March 2024 had reached a high bid of €20,249 after 39 bids, with several days left in the auction. That figure was a snapshot reported while bidding was still open—not a confirmed final price. The listing drew attention because the C65 was a cancelled Commodore project, and surviving prototypes are scarce and difficult to value with confidence.
What is a Commodore 65?
The Commodore 65, also called the C65 or C64DX, was an unfinished 8-bit computer developed around 1990–1991 as a more capable successor to the Commodore 64. It was designed to retain C64 compatibility while adding faster processing, upgraded graphics and a built-in disk drive. Commodore cancelled the project before a retail launch, so the C65 never became a mass-produced consumer computer.
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That history is central to the auction’s appeal: this was not an ordinary used home computer, but an engineering prototype from a product line that never reached stores.
What was included in the 2024 prototype listing?
HotHardware reported on 25 March 2024 that an eBay Germany seller had listed serial number 71. According to the listing, the machine was a revision-5 prototype, described as the last known mainboard revision before a final January 1992 revision. The seller said worldwide shipping was available.
#1 Best Overall
- High definition output at 720p via HDMI
- Pixel Perfect display, with US/Europe display modes and crt filter options
- Save game function. Supports software updates via USB flash drive
- 2 USB ports: plug in a USB keyboard and use as a fully functional home computer, or add a second joystick for 2-player games
- Included: The C64 Mini computer, Classic USB joystick, HDMI cable, USB cable for power, 64 preinstalled games, instruction manual. *AC USB adaptor not included
The reported package included audio/video cables, a PSM-65-2 power supply described as the last known example, a Turbo 2000 Super wireless gamepad and original documentation. The seller also highlighted the computer’s bottom trapdoor and said it had no yellowing and only minor scratches. These are listing claims, not findings from an independent inspection. The seller described the machine as “fully working”; HotHardware did not independently verify its operation.
How much did the C65 auction sell for?
A confirmed final sale price is not established by HotHardware’s report. It recorded a high bid of €20,249 from 39 bids while several days remained. An in-progress bid does not show whether the auction later closed, whether a winning bidder paid, or what the completed transaction price was. Treat €20,249 as a reported bidding snapshot, not a verified sale price or a reliable valuation for other prototypes.
Rank #2
- A glorious half-size recreation of the iconic C64 in a striking black finish
- 25 of the highest rated new games, including; Sam’s Journey, A Pig Quest, Steel Ranger and Knight ‘n’ Grail
- High Definition output at 720p 50 or 60Hz
- Play in original 4:3 or pixel perfect aspect ratios, with or without CRT filters
- Save your progress in one of four save-game slots per game, and return at any time
For a collector assessing a similar listing, the distinction matters: the reported number was attached to one auction at one point in time, for a seller-described machine with particular accessories and condition. It is not enough to establish a market price for the C65 as a whole.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow many C65 prototypes exist?
There is no definitive public census established by the cited accounts. Estimates range widely: HotHardware reported 50 to 2,000 estimated prototypes — HotHardware, 2024. That uncertainty makes an exact rarity claim inappropriate. Commodore.ca’s historical account describes prototypes, schematics, drawings, engineering notes and components entering the market after the company’s bankruptcy liquidation, but it does not settle how many complete machines survive.
Rank #3
- Vintage Computer design. Commodore - C64 - Uppercase Letter & Commodore - Lettering Blue/Red
- Commodore C64 Uppercase Letter & Commodore Blue / Red
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
For scale, HotHardware gave a similarly broad estimate for the much more common Commodore 64: 12.5 million to 70 million estimated C64 sales — HotHardware, 2024. These figures are estimates, not audited production or sales totals.
Is the Commodore 65 compatible with the C64?
C64 compatibility was part of the C65’s design intent, alongside newer graphics and storage capabilities. But the original computer remained an unfinished prototype project, so its compatibility should not be understood as a polished, retail-tested promise covering every C64 program or peripheral.
The ROM history also reflects that unfinished state. MEGA’s ROM-history page identifies 900321_prototype.bin as the first known C65 ROM, version 1.0, and describes 911210 as believed to be the last official Commodore ROM used shortly before development stopped. Later 92xxxx ROMs and other fixes are community or MEGA work, not original factory releases.
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Can you buy an original C65 today?
The March 2024 listing is a past auction report, not evidence that the same machine—or another original prototype—is currently for sale. The available account does not establish the auction’s final result, a buyer, or an ongoing listing. Any current offer would need to be assessed on its own provenance, condition, included hardware and seller documentation.
Best Value
- Inspired by the classics. Compatible with Windows 10(1903) or above, and Android 9.0 or above.
- Programmable keys, Dual Super Buttons, and Super Stick, with independent control panel.
- 87 keys. Top mount style with Kailh Box White Switches.
- Double-Shot ABS keycaps with SA profile. (C64 Edition only)
- Hot-swappable PCB. Support n-key rollover.
With a prototype, a claimed working state is not the same as an independent functional test. A buyer would also need to weigh the machine’s historical interest against the practical uncertainties of an unfinished design and aging hardware. A bid alone cannot settle those questions or establish what the item is worth to a particular collector.
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 offering C64/C65 compatibility, HD output, dual SD-card slots, Ethernet and extended memory. Its handbook says the MEGA65 core preserves compatibility with the incomplete original C65 ROM while also offering an open-source replacement.
That makes it a way to explore the C65 idea with modern features, rather than a substitute for the historical or collector value of an original prototype. MEGA’s 19 October 2021 pre-order announcement listed a €666.66 net launch price when production began; that is a historical launch figure, not a current price.
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