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Awake Deep Sleep: 1965 Chevrolet Impala Wagon

65 Chevy wagon front

This extremely clean and original 1965 Chevrolet Impala wagon, offered on here on eBay, with no reserve and a starting bid of $4,500, looks like it might be a reasonable deal, especially compared to some of the other original sixties cars we have seen lately.

65 Chev Wagon rear

This is a six seat wagon with the very reliable but low grunt two barrel carb 283 ci V8 and Powerglide transmission. It has a few options too, most notably factory A/C, an AM Deluxe push-button radio, the not so frequently seen front seat seat belts, wheel opening moldings, and lastly, rocker moldings.

65 Chev Wagon sid

The car came painted in Sierra Tan Metallic with Cameo Beige Top, and its paint is still all original, while the interior color is an attractive saddle color. This Impala shows an original 113,000 miles and cosmetically it’s in good condition, especially for being a 50 year old station wagon. I’ve always though 1965 was a great year for American car design, and the full size Chevrolets of this year are particularly attractive. These cars were once common family haulers, but time has taken its toll, and finding an original wagon in solid cosmetic condition is no longer all that easy.

65 Chev Wagon interior

The buyer has written a good description of the car, covering body, mechanical and interior condition in terrific detail. For example, the seller points out that that it has “some minor dings and paint chips, there has been some minor body repair work done on the left rear quarter panel which does show.” As for the rest of the body, it’s not perfect either: “the hood has some hail dents, and there are some minor dents on the right side above the center body line……There are no rust holes showing in the body, but both front fenders have some brown spots in the lower area behind the rocker moldings, there also looks to be some rust under the rocker molding on the left rear quarter panel under the lower molding behind the rear tire only.”

65 Chev Wagon interior 2

The glass is good, but there is a crack in the windshield. There is a very complete description of the interior, backed up with excellent photos. You can see some issues with the driver’s side front seat, with the dash and with the tailgate inner cover (not surprising considering how wagons are used in daily life).

65 Chev wagon far back

Clearly this Chevy family hauler was well cared for during its working life and must have been stored in reasonably safe conditions as well.

65 Chev Wagon engine

However, it is mechanically where the biggest issues arise. Since the car has been sitting (evidently in dry storage) since 1977, the engine will not turn over. There’s an excellent chance the engine will need a complete tear down and rebuild, or if you don’t care about originality, you could drop in almost any Chevy small block or a new crate engine and probably be on your way, but only after rebuilding the brakes, since they don’t work either. Not unexpected after almost forty years of sitting.

65 Chev wagon under

Even with the work that is needed to get this wagon on the road, it looks like a good starting point for a daily driver with incredible charm and curb appeal. Since as of this writing there have not been any bids, it may well be that $4,500 is just too much for a non-running full size sixties wagon. Still, the current hot wagon market shows no sign of cooling off, so it seems likely that this car will find a new home. Perhaps one of our readers will make an offer. What do you think it should sell for in this condition?

s-l1600

The car can be found in Great Bend, Kansas. The VIN is 16435S144772. Its seller has more pictures and will be glad to answer questions by phone or email.

Comments

  1. Avatar jim s

    it now has a bid, but not from me. i put this in my watch list when it first showed up on ebay for some reason! my family bought one of these, in a bel air, new with the 283/powerglide. i remember reading that owners manual many times as i waited my turn to drive it. we had it for 7 years, over 100000miles, with at least 4 different drivers and no major issues. great car for date night at the drive in. great find.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Rspcharger

    I’m such a sucker for round taillight clusters. I Love this! Wish I had the time, space & money to snatch it up & get her back on the road.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar randy

    I was going to agree that $4500.00 was too high for a non runner, at least for me. If these continue to go up, $4500.00 will be a bargain for a looker like this. I was told the small block Chevy’s are inexpensive to build, and I agree. I’ll also be watching this one.

    It’s a 6K with three days left. WOW!

    Like 0
    • Avatar 64 bonneville

      Even though it appears to be in real good condition, except for the interior, and with the brakes needing gone through and an engine rebuild to get running. classic car market evaluation would put it about the $4500 opening bid. May be that someone in the rust belt sates values it more highly than me.

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  4. Avatar Charles

    This should be fairly easy car to re-commission even if it requires an engine and transmission overhaul. Have the front seat recovered and the rust spots professionally repaired. Blend the paint the best one can, knowing that it won’t match, but that’s OK.. Call the rest of it patina and enjoy! Nice find!

    Like 0
  5. Avatar MountainMan

    Seems as though someone really wants THIS car. I’ve been watching the wagon market recently up here in the PNW. Locally, on the list of Craig I have seen numerous examples comparable to this old Chevy that are drivable and have moderate needs priced near this and some priced lower. Just like anything else I suppose some sellers value there stuff much more than I do.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar randy

    It’s not the sellers MountainMan, it’s the bidders bidding up the prices.

    I am still wanting one, but I’ll have to wait it looks like.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Luke Fitzgerald

    Over 7 large now – market for these things is starting to jump

    Like 0
  8. Avatar piper62j

    Funny how market demand changes everyones opinion about value with these older wagons.. They just don’t make them like this any more..

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Dougm

    tired of kicking myself, please feel free…..sold my parents family ’68 “camping” wagon about 8 years ago for pennies, faux wood panels, auto on the column, 307(?), no ac/power steer/brakes, some rust thru, but the power tailgate window still worked!
    dumber than dumber……

    Like 0
  10. Avatar jim s

    sold for $ 7302.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Brandon C

    It’s a good hauler, 327 rebuilt powerglide, A/C works. Need to change the springs in the front end and get some new seat covers and carpeting. What a good car….

    Like 0

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