The Chevy Impala would have its best sales year ever in 1965, thanks in part to a successful redesign that carried the nameplate through 1970. The 2-door hardtop was always a popular choice and most came with a V8 engine. What makes this car different is that it’s one of just 7% of Impalas that came from the factory with a straight-six motor that year. This ’65 Chevy has been in storage for nearly 40 years and runs but will need a rebuild. Located in Eakly, Oklahoma, it’s available here on eBay where bidding has reached $6,500.
Full-size Chevies weren’t the only all-new cars to come out of the Bow-Tie Brigade in 1965. The second (and final) generation of the quirky compact Corvair was also redone. As part of the changes made to the Impala/Bel Air/Biscayne, Chevy dropped the X-frame used in the cars in favor of a perimeter frame, and the Super Sport would be promoted to series status. The accountants were no doubt thrilled by the public’s response to these autos, as overall division production would reach 2,382,500 units with 1,647,600 of them being the full-size editions.
Half of full-size sales for ‘65 was the Impala, or 803,400 cars. Some 93% of all the Impala’s that rolled off the assembly line had a V8 engine. 93%. That means about 56,600 had an inline-six to power this rather large car. Two sixes were available, and we don’t know which one is in the seller’s Chevy. The 230 cubic inch motor good for 140 horsepower or the 250, good for 150 hp.
Here’s what we do know about this particular car. It’s spent the last 40 years in storage in Oklahoma and it was a minimally equipped car, with the Powerglide automatic likely being the most important option. No power steering, no power brakes, no factory air conditioning. Despite its lengthy hibernation, the seller was able to get the car running after putting in a new gas tank, fuel sending unit and lines, carburetor, water pump and an aluminum radiator. It’s has been driven around the block, but further work will be needed. The engine smokes badly, so a rebuild is likely needed. Also, the brakes aren’t likely to do you much good in a 60 to 0 panic stop.
The body has managed to come through the last four decades in decent shape. There is surface rust, which is to be expected, and a few small holes in the floor of the trunk. The undercarriage is said to be pretty solid, including the floorboards. Some of the exterior trim pieces are not attached as they were removed many moons ago in anticipation of a paint job that never happened. What the seller got his hands on will come with the car. That would explain the primer on the passenger side front fender. For those into patina, you’ve got your wish here.
Inside the Impala, the seats were redone in the 1970s and may have those plastic see-through seat covers, you know the kind your grandmother put of the living room sofa. The carpeting is going to need replacing and the door panels may need some attention, too. The headliner is sagging, and the dash pad cracked, i.e., the usual kind of stuff you might expect on a 56-year-old-car. The car wears a set of Rally wheels without their rings or caps, but they are mismatched.
As a bonus – and another $1,000 – the seller has a 454 big-block V8 from the 1980s that the buyer can have if he wants to upgrade the output under the hood. The motor has a lot of new stuff and seems to be complete except for the oil pan. What would you do? Transform the car into a fire-breather or leave it with the inline-six which would certainly be a novelty at Cars & Coffee.
I would probably mess with everybody’s head and drop a 4.2 Vortec in the engine bay to keep the 6 cylinder vibe. The 270 horsepower is a nice upgrade.
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/83758-chevrolet-vortec-4200-inline-six-engine/
I was thinking the same thing.
Actually, ‘patina’ nowadays means ‘looks like crap.’
Would not waste any coin on a ride so wide…
Had a ‘66 and it’s name
… was Clyde,
Met a girl who sat by my side, and we took a ride,
It didn’t corner so well,
Thought we were destined to hell, when we rolled…whereupon my girl landed on my lap…
We named the child,
Clyde McJunior.
That was that.
Minor ‘patina’ (formerly known as ‘rust’).
Yeah, and it NEVER sleeps!
Great starter project. These cars have beautiful lines.
This one won’t break the bank at the body shop having body panels replaced, which comes with an often ignored benefit, time. The number of bids and bidders indicate lots of interest, for a good reason.
Steve R
I had a substitute teacher when I was in junior high school that had this exact car, of course she had it from new. I thought a 2 door hardtop was a bit of an odd choice for a late middle aged woman until I noticed her car had no V8 badges on it.
Just yesterday (March 10th 2021) I saw a 65 Impala ” peeking out ” from an open garage here in Florida. That one was the very popular (at the time) turquoise green with a turquoise green interior, but not a 2 door hardtop, I think either a 4 door sedan or hardtop or wagon.
One of my uncles had a 65 Impala convertible, and have thought ever since that the 65 was Chevys sexiest mass market car.
The 1965 Vehicle Information Kit gives a net horsepower rating of 120 HP for the 230 V6 which, in a 3600 lb. car would equal about 30 pounds per HP—pretty leisurely acceleration even without power assists. Was the 250 even available in ’65? In any case, if I lived on the flat expanses of western OK, I’d probably pick style over performance too. This model is the prettiest big Chevy ever IMO.
I’d grab the big block too but, not for this ride. I see no reason to change the current set-up. Clean it up as best I can, a quick paint job then, make it into my good weather daily driver.
Woof woof…..WAY too heavy a ride for a naturally aspirated 6.
I had same engine in a 67 Chevelle. Plenty of torque. Would pull that Impala no problem.
Semi trucks have TONS of torque, not fun to drive.
U need HP and torque together!
Motorcityman,
I got that when I got the F-350 Turbo Diesel.
Hopping up an in-line 6 is a pretty cool idea for some early iron. Just connect the right trans, rears and DTR you go!
I am seriously considering this for a new project.
That’s AFTER I finish the ‘30 A, the ‘53 V, and the ‘39 TuDr.
Projects are easy if you use a bar/chart timeline.
You can actually do two or more at the same time.
Of course, if the purse can handle it. 💸💵💰💳🪙
My mother bought a 1965 Chevy Belair 2-door post brand new for $2600. It came with a 230 cid 6-cylinder and a “three-on-the-tree” column shifter. It’s only option was the BelAir trim package (a notch above the base Biscayne model) and an AM radio. I got my driver’s license in that Chevy and went on my honeymoon in that car. Mom gave me the car in 1972 when I was a college student. My then-fiancé’s father passed away during our Freshman year and we both had to use the BelAir to get to and from college. I put a trailer hitch on the car and we loaded all of my stuff into its huge trunk and back seat and all of her stuff went into a 5×8 U-Haul. That six-cylinder handled the load without any struggle. However, the ’65s had weak rear springs so I put air shocks on the back. Big mistake as one of the upper shock mounts tore out and had to weld a new one in place. I replaced the rear springs with a pair from a ’66 Chevy station wagon and that leveled the car up nicely. In 1980 I installed a NOS under dash AC unit in the car. It will cruise nicely on the Interstate at 75 mph and has no problem passing when needed so don’t bash that 230! It’s a tough and dependable engine. I would keep this car original as the 6-cylinder models are really rare nowadays.
Bill, my story is much like yours. My parents bought a 65 Impala, 2 door coupe, with the 230 six cylender. I bought it from them for 2 thousand dollars in 1971 when I started Colledge. I thought that fee was a lot for a vehicle that was 6 years old. It did only have 18,000 miles on it. But I told myself I would keep it until I recalled my 2,000. After colledge I started a job that provided a company car. So it’s been in the garage in storage since. I posted a picture on Facebook at Only 1965 Chevys. I get lots of positive comments along with several negitive ones. So I am considering replacing it with a big block but keeping the original 6.
love it , my first car in 1976 was a 65 impala 2 dr hardtop aqua in and out stright six /auto loved that car wish i still had it
I bet this was good in the snow.
Imagine how slow a much heavier ’72 would be with this motor & emission controls.
Heck of a reach for the spark plugs – might as well climb in under the hood & stand between the motor & fender. lol
I’ll admit, that 6 looks a bit lonely in there. I don’t remember many Impalas with a 6, more for the cheaper Bel Air, and while many still wanted a 6, it was foolish to option an Impala this way. 2 door ’65 Chevy’s were all the rage, my ex- brother in law raced one. Amazing this car escaped that fate, and probably what saved it. The 6 would be okay for me, I’m in no hurry, but I’m sure it’s going to be adios for the 6 popper.
Howard,
Had a H.S. Buddy who got ahold of a ‘67 4dr. Ex-USAF car. It had a 6.
It would hardly move.
These impalas were big and heavy. Total dog of a car.
However, my folks got a new ‘68 Imp. It had the 307? Took it up to Pismo Beach on Senior Ditch day.
Got the car up to 100 M.P.H. on that wet sand at high tide. It nearly became airborne a time or two… crazy stuff.
Smoothest ride in a car I’ve ever had!
Can’t do that stuff anymore. 😬
Maybe the best looking full size Chevy I’ve ever seen, not this one, but the ’65 in general. I will admit the very sight of that 6 popper completely deflated my interest. What were the top choices anyways, I know the 396 was available but also some early build ’65’s got the 409. I figure most had the 327 without being mr. research.
Growing up in that era being born in 1950 I seen more 283 65 impalas than any other motor
Cars like this are the starting point for an upgrade to a 502 or 572 CI big-block Chevy.
I have a ’66 Impala in the Barn awaiting renewal. It’s not a hell of a lot, a 283 with power steering and brakes, and an engine that is generally uncooperative and is a mess. So far the car has disc brakes installed and the 283 has been pulled awaiting a 327 on the way. It’s Lucerne Blue with a matching interior and
a ton of patina. I forgot; it has factory A/C. Very bizarre. So I’ll make a car out of it and it will become a driver.
This car: If I owned it, and ’65s were beauties, I would do the same thing.
Probably don’t need rebuilding,chevy especially those years had a problem with the oil drain holes in the heads,they get plugged up.take off valve covers run a wire cloths hanger in the holes.whats happening is the holes are plugged so the oil has no where to drain so it seaps thru the valve guides yhats the cause of the smoking. Saved you money on rebuild so remember me when you want to get rid of it,who ever buys it.i would buy it right now but health won’t let me.
Couldn’t u do that unplugging a lot of motors that r using oil?
Most of the newer and older engine had bigger drain holes,there was I think3 years where they changed the design of the heads 64,65,66
I read before that the 2007 or so Toyota Camrys had a problem with small drain holes and if u didn’t change the oil on time they would plug up with sludge.
Padded dash was an option.
My momma traded in a ’59 Impala convertible for a new ’65 Impala 2D. It had the 6 cylinder engine (don’t know which one; I was only 11), a three-on-the-tree transmission and a AM radio. I learned how drive in that car.
U could fit 2 of those 6’s in that studio apartment of a engine bay!! 😄
Hmmm…
Twin engine Impala…
You might be on to something. Pulling tractors use multiple engines.
This is a awesome car!!! Redo the brakes, carpeting and clearcoat the beautiful patina white, get the matching S10 rims with beauty trim rings and drive it everyday!!!!!
Mark it only needs the rf room replaced. I’d throw on some rwL tires and do what you want to do! Classic cruiser!!
Interior was perfect for the drive-in back in the day, front & back.
I bet that coil is original – careful on aftermkt replacement ones – many today are not made for pts & condenser & using the factory resistor wire.
Most mechanics THESE DAYS do not want to be bothered changing the intake exhaust manifold gasket on the chevy strait 6(& proably the other makes too) because most of the bolts holding it on will probably break off & then you have to drill them out – unless there is a trick to getting 50 yr or older bolts out?
Can i assume a lot more of these would still be around if the frame was
not so susceptible to rust? Not sure if the older X frame was more durable.
A turbo muffler & a ’68 air cleaner with a taller ’82 camaro v6 air filter should improve performance.
I inherited a white on red interior 65 hardtop from my great aunt in 1991. 50,000 actual. She won the car in 1965 at our church raffle. 283 PG. It was never hit, but being a NY car already had a rotted drivers floor board. Parking under pine trees complicated the rust. I shoveled pounds of them put of the floor vents. Anyway, daily drove that car adding 100,000 miles. Never let me sit. Went in snow and ice. Great heater. Then in 2000, some idiot in a hurry ram a red light. Smash. Still drivable. Found a used orig paint header and grille at Carlisle. Took car to local tech school and they had it a year. All fixed. Drove it a bit and rust was getting bad in the trunk. Sold it for $500. Stupid.
Leave the patina and clear coat it… Put a modern engine and trans….some old Cragers…A/C..PB…PS..& drive it till the wheels fall off
first car was a 65 impala, purchased for 175 dollars. drove it for 3 years and thought i got a hell of a deal selling it for 795 dollars. would buy a case of warm beer and put it on the hood then head down 94 for a few miles, drive back to town and we had cold beer the rest of the night. miss that old car.