396/4-Speed: 1965 Chevrolet Impala

I’m trying to remember the last time I heard a classic car owner say that they needed less power. Hmm, I can’t say that I can recall that ever happening. That sums up the story of this 1965 Impala. It started life with a small-block under the hood, but it is now home to a 396ci V8 and 4-speed manual transmission. That offers an intriguing recipe when the right foot is depressed, although the owner says that there is more to come from this classic. He has decided that it is a task that should fall to someone else, so he has listed the Impala for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Nashville, Indiana, and the owner has set the sale price at $21,900. A big thank you has to go out to Barn Finder Pat L for spotting this gem for us.

The 1965 Impala is a car with a genuine presence, and this one looks striking in its combination of Regal Red paint with a Black vinyl top. Its muscular stance is enhanced by the owner’s decision to bolt on a reasonably wide set of Cragar Wheels. The car presents well for a classic of this age. The paint continues to shine impressively, while there are no visible problems with the vinyl top. As we will see, the paint isn’t perfect, and the buyer may need to perform some restoration work to maintain its presentation. Reflections in the supplied photos make it difficult to be sure, but I can’t spot any significant dings or dents. The listing includes a decent selection of underside shots, and they reveal that the floors and frame are sound and free of corrosion problems. The owner admits that some rust is developing, but this is where the paint has lifted in a couple of spots. These areas aren’t clearly visible in the supplied photos, but they make me question whether the Impala may have received some prior repaint or restoration work. Only an in-person inspection would determine this and would also establish how far the rust has deteriorated. As I have previously mentioned, I view this as an essential part of any classic purchase.

When this Impala was new, its engine bay housed a small-block V8. That has gone the way of the dodo, with a previous owner slotting in a 396ci V8 and 4-speed manual transmission. The specifications of this new motor are unclear, but it is equipped with a new Edelbrock carburetor and a set of headers. The car runs and drives well, but it seems that this wasn’t enough to satisfy the seller. He says that the 396 is not a strong runner, which surprises me. Of course, that opinion might be a relative thing because the 325hp produced by the L-35 version would feel soft next to the 360-plus pumped out by the L-34. If his prior experience is with one of the more potent versions of the 396, that could explain his feeling. Regardless, he intended to fit the 396 with an upgraded camshaft and aluminum cylinder heads but scrapped those plans when he placed the car on the market. Once again, an in-person and a test drive will expose the truth about the engine’s performance. I am a strong advocate for that approach because it can save buyers from future heartache.

The interior of this Impala continues the car’s theme of presenting well but having potential for improvement. The owner has recently installed new carpet, while the dash, pad, console, and much of the remaining trim are also in good order. The front seats are starting to show some wear and “stressing” in the vinyl, suggesting they might be past their best. There are no rips or tears, but the visible deterioration could signify that they are becoming fragile. The factory radio has made way for a radio/cassette, and there are holes in the rear parcel tray where speakers used to reside. The buyer won’t need to source a trim kit to whip this interior into shape, but spending $540 on a complete seat upholstery set and $65 on a new rear parcel tray would enormously lift the interior.

As a project car, this ’65 Impala shows plenty of promise. It appears to be structurally sound, and its updated drivetrain combination should prove entertaining when the right pedal is depressed. It isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t appear that potential buyers would need to attend to any of its existing shortcomings immediately. It is a classic that looks like it has years of faithful service left in it, and I suspect someone will snap it up pretty quickly.