Beginning in 1958, Chevrolet started producing its Biscayne to fill the need for consumers seeking a full-size car with a less expensive price than their other offerings. This was accomplished by using fewer trim pieces on the outside and a less fancy interior, making the car also attractive for fleet markets. The Biscayne name lasted all the way through the 1975 year model. with the third-generation car introduced in 1961 and staying in production until 1964. The third-gen was basically a stripped-down Impala, but it still had a wide range of engines available, all the way up to a 409 cubic inch V8. Early 60’s Biscayne coupes with the big motor under the hood and a minimalist look everywhere else were sort of factory sleepers, so to speak, and if this type of combo appeals to you this 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne may be worth checking out. It’s located in Alexandria, Alabama, and can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $29,000.
While the Biscayne looks stunning from every angle and certainly gives the appearance of a 37,000-mile car, it’s unfortunate that we don’t get much background information regarding the car’s history. The seller believes his Biscayne to be a rust-free midwestern car, with numerous parts he thinks are original, including the bumpers, trim, grille, and all of the glass. The Ember Red lacquer paint presents beautifully, but no word on when it was sprayed or if any bodywork was done prior to its application.
Things are looking really good inside as well, with the red interior stated to be in excellent condition. There’s just something that gets my juices flowing every time with any stick-shift car that has a bench seat, especially ones prior to the days of headrests. The Biscayne has a factory tach and all of the gauges are said to be functioning, including the cigarette lighter, plus there are no tunes as this was a radio-delete car. Door jambs are said to be unpainted, and there’s even an oil change sticker from ’67 on the driver’s side.
You’ve got to love how well even a 409 fits under the hood, with plenty of room to work under there, and it makes me long for the days of simplicity when a do-it-yourselfer could perform a complete tune-up in an afternoon. While things are about as neat and tidy as can be in the engine compartment, the 409 is not original to the Biscayne, and the seller says it’s a 1965 replacement block. The car is said to run and drive great, with no rattles and a smooth cruise at 65 MPH.
Inside the trunk looks just as nice as everything upfront, and the seller thinks the jack and spare tire may be original. We get one photo of the underside, and things down below from the back are looking solid and well-preserved. This is also a no reserve listing, so the high-bidder will be taking this car home. What are your thoughts on this 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne?
Dang this car is cool… I wish I wish I wish…seatbelt delete too!! So cool…if only… my fantasy would be to get a tad wider in the rear tires,improve suspension and hide enough performance upgrades to not be obvious … 21st century sleeper fo sure..those posts look sick.. love it
Seatbelts were OPTIONAL…
Seat belts were optional until 12-31-63. On 1-1-64 they were required on cars built after that date. However, a customer could order the car ‘belt delete’ for a credit if they so desired. The seat belt delete credit continued into the 65 models.
If a feature is optional and was never ordered, it is not a delete. This car never came standard with a radio, so it was not deleted.
Sear belts weren’t a delete either since they weren’t even optional in 64.
Seat belts were mandated in `64. You got `em whether you wanted them or not.
The real question is why someone hasn’t put some in now. Gee whiz people, that is a no brainer.
Seat belts were dealer GM accys in the late 50s. Floor anchors were included for front belts beginning in 62. I know they were a factory-installed option in 63, and I believe 62 as well. They were required effective 1/1/64, so on earlier build 64s they were still an option.
The most inconvenient seat belt setup, but probably even safer than modern belts! were the infinitely adjustable GM SEPARATE lap & shoulder belts of ’68?-’73 – which “locked you in place” – with no play like on modern inertia belts. But using BOTH were VERY inconvenient if you had to run a lot of errands.
Most people used only the lap belt – if even that.
& using the shoulder belt could prevent you from reaching the radio or HVAC controls on some cars. lol
The worse seat belts tho i have ever encountered were on ’74 firebirds. & possibly later ones. True it was a combo lap & shoulder belt with freedom of movement of your upper part. But the lower part lap belt was a rachet type – so if you inhaled too much or moved around, it could click 1 notch too tight – & then you would have to completely unbuckle it to loosen it up & readjust over & over again – ridiculous – but not as much as what Mr. Haney used as a lap belt on his truck on Green Acres – a rope! lol
Joenywf64,
Check online for photos of the 1955 to 1958 Packards and Studebakers with factory front seatbelts.
I used to have a 1956 Packard Patrician sedan with the factory installed seat belts for the front seat occupants. The belt sections closest to the center of the car had the airplane type buckles that gripped the other half of the belt using friction, and they were attached to the floor.
But the outer half of the belt is where things got strange. The outer section wasn’t attached to the floor, they were fastened to the lower rear corner of the DOOR!. This was [in theory] to keep the door shut during an accident. But if the door was forced open during the accident, it might just come close to cutting the wearer in half or rearranging some internal organs! It would also make it difficult to open the door to aid people trapped in the car.
But the real pain in the a** was what you had to do with that outer seat belt. Towards the front of the interior door panel was a chrome steel clip, where the user was supposed to clip the belt into before getting out of the car. That’s fine for the passenger side, but due to the steering wheel it was not easy to reach the clip before opening the door. Failing to secure the seat belt into the clip resulted in the belt hanging out of the car when the door was closed. Driving with it outside the door quickly destroyed the belt.
The reality was, most of the ’55 & ’56 Packard cars were not equipped with seatbelts, and those that were equipped with them soon lost the outer belts to aftermarket versions that mounted to the floor. I bought my ’56 from the original owner in 1972, and he said he never used them, so they were still present.
The included photo shows the seat belt attached to the door of a 1958 Packard Hawk, and you can see where it clips to the door panel near the front of the door.
seat belts where also a option on all 1956 Ford’s parents bought a new 1956 Fairlane had seat belts and optional padded dash
Never knew any of that.
By the length of that belt on the door, almost looks like it could go under the rear wheel, then things could get real interesting.
Kind of like making sure the bowline on a boat isn’t long enough to meet the prop.
Paul R,
“By the length of that belt on the door, almost looks like it could go under the rear wheel, then things could get real interesting.”
I never thought about that, and you are certainly correct for the 2-door cars. As strong as the webbing on the belt is, I can see a situation as you describe where the strap gets run over and results in some serious metal damage to the door and door shut panel, as the 1/8″ HSS chromed steel piece is basically wedged in the gap between the quarter panel and the door assembly. something is gonna have to give if the webbing holds even for a few seconds.
The car in the photo is basically a Studebaker Hawk, and they had poorly designed door latches that failed if the gap between the post and the door widened. So the webbing snaps and the door warps enough to pop the door open, and of course the passenger wasn’t wearing their seat belt . . .
That must have been incredible to go down to the dealer and order up a car exactly the way you wanted. I came of age when the hottest engine you could get in a new American car was 225hp. And no 18 year old could afford a Corvette, or it’s insurance.
I ordered my 69 Corvette that way. The good old days. Now it’s black, white, red and silver for colors. Options today are set-up to screw the customer.
On some “cars” today, you have to pay thousands $s more & buy an option pkg just to get blue or red paint! Forget choices of FULL interior colors, let alone the comfy cloth seat material of the ’80s.
Some “cars” today ain’t avail in even ONE shade of blue!
2 door cars always cost less money than 4 doors. Guess what “choices” you have today!
As late as 2007, the cheapest Toyota of all – around $10,950, the Yaris 2 door 5 speed manual came in 13 different colors – including 3 shades of blue, 2 shades of red, Olive mist metallic, & Jade sea metallic, besides the usual ugly “colors” seen today.
Today u can’t even get a 4 door Yaris, let alone the 2 door – the car is gone!
Ck how many shades of blue, etc, here!
https://www.firstgenmc.com/tech/72colors.jpg
I have mixed emtions about this car, I like it allott, but I feel like there is something, I am missing. But bottom line is ,if it doesn’t sky rocker into a price point that is insane, I think it would be a great car.
Hasn’t it appeared on BF before?
Giddy-yup.
Brian Wilson
Sweet car, love it.
I’d have to put a radio in, maybe a retro look with Bluetooth.
How else could you tune in the Beachboys ?
Most people nowadays have access to their favorite music on their phones meaning you don’t need to install the head unit in the dash. That’s a clean way to solve the issue in vehicles with rare radio delete plates
Man the 409 part of it alone is just awesome to me. She’s real fine… my 409!
At a time when the “Corvette” 327 could be ordered in these cars imagine the cool guy who ordered a 409, even the base 340 hp model with the 2 speed PG. Magical times.
I grew up at the right time for HP 66-73. I got my first ride in 73. Teens in my area had jobs and therefore were able to buy 10yr old Muscle cars as they were plentiful. This booming city sported 454 chevy’s 428 Fords 426 Hemi’s and every hot motor imaginable. As I got older I took to the great handling 80’s cars, but no HP. Now older I can’t justify spending so much to get both. So any given era had its drawbacks. Hopefully, the new generation will figure out how to get it all.
Niggling correction to the opening paragraph…
For 1958, the Biscayne was NOT the bottom-feeder trim, it was the middle trim. Below that was the Del Ray trim, mostly for taxicabs and cop cars. The Del Ray was gone for ’59, leaving the Biscayne at the bottom.
you are right the top model was the Bel aire the new for that year Impala was not a model but a option pkg for the Bel aire
Not crazy about Poor Old Nine motors, too many blew up after 6,000 rpms.
This is a beautiful car! With that motor in the Plain Jane Biscayne, it would definitely a very fun sleeper. I would have removed the motor emblems and replaced them with some 6 cylinder emblems, but stay away from Dodges with 426 dual quad wedge engines or Fords with 427 R-code motors. Still I would love to own it.
Very nice indeed. To find one without rust is such a plus. This one you can drive. The cast manifold and 1-AFB indicates a 340 HP/409 CI. Gas is still available at 91 octane. Did not see the rear end ratio, but would not go above a 3:55 for a show and daily cruiser. Someone is going to get a nice one…..keep it as is!
I had one just like this !!! Except it was gold , had a six cyl with a powerglide , a steering wheel as big as an ocean liner’s and was rusted everywhere .. lol
37k miles, 1/4 and a time, still want it.
daily driver? hell yes.
Gorgeous! What a cherry sedan! Absolutely perfect!
Will Fox – You are correct, in the US front seatbelts were mandated in 1964, I wrongly believed it was 65. I know both my 59 Karman Ghia and 64 Bug had factory branded seatbelts,
Seatbelts weren’t mandatory nationwide until 1968, with Federal law starting later .
Wrong, my friend. All cars built after 1-1-64 were required to have front belts included as standard (so they simply bumped the prices a few bucks).
Would be a blast to drive. Has all the right boxes checked..I don’t need a radio. I want to listen to each shift and rumble of the 409.
Except if you are going to have to go down a very long & steep mountain. & this car still has its ORIGINAL single reservoir brake mast cylinder & 4 wheel brake shoes & wheel cylinders, & tires!
lol
I love to see the trunk area when a car is up for sale and I got to admit the drunkenness 64 looks great wish they always show a picture but they don’t thanks for the trunk shot
Stop me if you heard this one, too late, here it is anyway. In the mid 80’s, me and my ex-BIL went to Nashville( from Wisconsin) to find a classic car to bring home. I’ll spare you the details of the trip, but we looked at a couple cars( a 65 Falcon wagon and a mint ’55 Chrysler with no motor were a few) and settled on a ’63 Biscayne 2 door similar to this. It was a 6 and a stick, but looked just like this, same color, poverty hub caps. $300 bucks, and I drove it home.
What happened to it?
If any changes are needed, it would be seat belts, easy to install. There are plugs already there from the factory. The only other issue is the fan shroud, looks to a small V8 one, the 09’s were only about 6 1/2 inches deep, and you can see the fan tips half in half out. It just may not cool enough with this one. Very minor issue….
Just always wanted to get pulled over and be able to tell the Cop, no seat belts sir, that’s how the car came which makes it quite legal .
Oh yeah !
4sdqpt409
Looks to be a keeper, but why no pictures of any critical area’s that always rust. If it was a lifelong Alabama car that would be great. Dirt and rock roads ate these car up.
29-5 oh boy!
It was built in the Janesville, Wisconsin plant. Of course it could have gone anywhere in the years since.
It’s beautiful, but I doubt it was a factory 4-speed car. The trim tag doesn’t show the Group 2 accessory code “L” for an M-20 4-speed transmission.
Seat belts were made mandatory in 1968. Google it
Wayne,
The first FMVSS [Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards] regulations were introduced for 1 January 1964. All vehicles manufactured and sold as new after that date had to have seat belts for 2 people in the front seat.
In 1 January 1968 the FMVSS was revised to now require seat belts in the back seat as well.
Well………………..Here goes. I think I owned this car. It was a put together car but it looked very nice. It was put together by a fellow in Iowa. I had pictures of the build. The body and interior was perfect. It was a 340 HP 409. The intake manifold was steel but painted to represent an Aluminum Intake. It seems to me it also had a solid lifter cam. I traded it to a dealer who traded it to another customer. All these transactions occurred in Wisconsin. None the less the car is worth more than current bidding. One other comment. The Biscayne was the lowest priced full size Chev. The Del Ray ended prior to 64 but was definitely above the Biscayne. I have a 54 and a 56 210 Del Ray
as ubitiqutous as the mini-van was, small suv now, these were seen coast to coast in 1/2 the driveways of surburbia.
Too bad da guy fancied it up so much. I congradulate him in his enthusasium. Would rather a restore. Some ‘social economic markers’ like these deserve true restorations. Ex: I love seeing the mechanical breaks, cloth covered wires, oe glass’n upholstry, etc ona 30’s tudor. This 1 is built beddah den da factory (esp under the hood’n in the trunk).