Although its name implies something swankier (like the bay in Florida), the Biscayne spent its 18 years in the Chevrolet portfolio at the bottom of the totem pole. Launched in 1958 when Chevy redesigned its automobiles, it remained below the Bel Air, Impala, and (later) Caprice in the pecking order. That made it attractive for fleet purchases (like taxi cabs). This 1964 edition is said to be a barn find, though no barns are in sight. It’s a running machine that needs some TLC. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this survivor is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,500 OBO or trade.
In 1964, if you were looking for zero frills in a new, full-size car, the Biscayne was your cup of tea. Minimum chrome trim, rubber floor mats, and twin versus triple taillights (as on the Impala). A 230 cubic inch inline-6 was standard, and that’s what’s in the seller’s Chevy at 87,000 miles. The original owner opted to get an automatic transmission, the 2-speed Powerglide. And maybe an AM radio. So, the MSRP sticker had a lot of white space on it.
Only three body styles were offered and none of them were hardtops or convertible. The seller’s is a 2-door pillared sedan which didn’t sell as well as the 4-door because the latter only cost a few dollars extra and was more practical if people transport was the goal. We’re told this bare-bones Biscayne has only had two owners (we assume excluding the seller as he/she has a lot of cars for sale). Per the seller, the vehicle runs, drives, and stops (but we’re not told how well it performs these functions).
The body and paint are mostly good, at least if a daily driver is your goal. Interior work is said to be needed (floors?) though the upholstery appears to have already been redone and upgraded in the process. There is a small hole in the trunk, and we’re told a wiring harness needs to be hooked up if you want backlights. The seller doesn’t seem anxious to unload the Biscayne but would like to find an Impala of the same model year. Thanks for another vintage tip, Barn Finder Ted!
A couple options but not much, Grandma was fiscally responsible and pennywise
Had an Uncle with the same car but in black, bought it from the little old lady down the street!
Anyone who has started, driven, or ridden in one of these Chevrolet’s know that they have a distinctive whistle.
I think at this price it will go pretty quick, if the underside is in decent condition. I’m sure somebody will yank that six and the slipandslide and go for a modern powertrain. It looks decent and theses are getting thin on the ground in stock condition. Even rusted out hulks are advertised for 15 to 20k because sellers “know what they have”. I remember when I worked in the gas station in ’74-’76 an old lady had one of these. Hers was a six with 3-on-the-tree and only 17,000 miles on it. It was still getting kind of rusty. I always wondered what happened to that one.
My dad a military mechanic had this 1964 model new being a Biscayne in dessert beige with the 283 engine and tan interior.
He drove it nine years and sold to a relative .
The two door had basics with no AC and automatic.
My dad purchased it new but had to rebuild the front end and put a new rear window seal as it leaked. He always joked that it was built on a Friday .
He sent a letter , GM diagnosed issues and receipts to GM and was reimbursed etc. (free labor 😏)
Once reconditioned the car had no issues and ran 130,000 miles with no issues.
I always have a sweet spot for these basic Chevy cars.
This would be a great canvas to create a 409 clone, frame off, 4 speed, upgraded suspension, red rims, retro wides in the rear and dog dish hubcaps.
What in the world happened to that poor Monte Carlo behind it ?!?!
It was attacked by a set of 26” wheels and lost.
Steve R
Fuel heater
Upholstry must be original as there’s a tear in the back seat and duct tape on the driver’s side seatback. Definitely replace floor boards and trunk floor and add rubber mats. I’d update at least the front brakes.
FWIW, in 1958 the Delray was beneath the lowly Biscayne. No armrests/door pulls, driver side sun visor only……a la Studebaker Scotsman.
Like Rosie Donell, thats a mighty small engine to haul such a big ass around
We have the identical car here but in a 1963 version which I personally like way better than a 64. I don’t know why but I NEVER have liked the more square look of the 1964. I have several 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 models, but stay away from 64’s. I even like 1964 Chevelle’s and have a couple of those, but not the full size 1964’s…
All the interesting details were gone with the 64. The least attractive of the 60-64s.
But a Biscayne form any of those years even as “highly optioned” as this one gets my pulse to race.
Six, rubber floor mats, 3 speed on the column, ideal though the PG is pretty cool. I’d rather have that than a modern CVT
The only thing better would be a 57 Studebaker Scotsman.
My grandfather bought the 4-door in 1964 but I convinced him to upgrade to the Bel Air using the leverage of better seats. His daughter, my mom, got to use the car a few days a week for our family errands and it was shiny, red, with the 6 cylinder PowerGlide, a big improvement over the ’51 Chevy he used to have.
My grandfather bought the 4-door in 1964 but I convinced him to upgrade to the Bel Air using the leverage of better seats. His daughter, my mom, got to use the car a few days a week for our family errands and it was shiny, red, with the 6 cylinder PowerGlide, a big improvement over the ’51 Chevy he used to have.
My best buddy’s first wife (of 3…he finally got it right with this one) bought one of these exact versions (in greyish blue) in the early 70s for $150. It had about 100K on it then. I recall one Saturday morning driving with him to get a new queen size mattress, putting it on top of the Chevy with some thin string, and having to drive about 10 miles to his house with our arms out of the windows holding the front of it from flying up…and off. We loaded it with a couple of canoes and drove to the Chattooga River (the Deliverance river) to do the rapids (from Chapel Hill to the SC/Georgia border and back). She put another 100K on it, only changing the oil regularly, and sold it for $200. Not much to look at, but pretty darn dependable.
Since he’s into Monte’s, I’m thinkin maybe trade my ’87 aerocoupe for it?
I had a 1963 Biscayne back I high school. It was the automatic and the straight 6. It drove like a boat. And didn’t actually stop on a dime. It had drum brakes all around. I paid $150.00 for it in 1973. I was one of the few guys that had my own car and drove it to high school. It held 6 comfortably. No power, road like a boat, poor brakes , bare bones but it was mine. Not exactly a chic magnet, but having a car did score me points. All in all a decent first car.
My parents traded-in their 1958 Chevy Impala Convertible on a 1964 Chevy Super Sport Impala convertible (no, they didn’t have the venerable 409!). I believe they had a 283, same as their ’57 and ’58. I was driving a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor V-8 at the time, so I didn’t care. As for LOOKS on these Chevys, I liked the 1955, 1957, 1958, 1962, and 1964. I thought the 1959 was hideous, and I still do. The 1960 tame-down improved things somewhat. The 1961 was ungainly, but the 1962 was sharp-looking. The 1963, I didn’t much care for; but the squared-off 1964 was truly classic, in my view. My parents’ ’64 seemed to last “for ever”, and they finally gave it away to someone who needed a car. But I would love to find a 1964 Chevrolet Impala 4 door hardtop sedan, in near-perfect survivor condition. Too bad that the ’64 has gone so high in price. NO thanks, on the ’63.
My parents traded-in their 1958 Chevy Impala Convertible on a 1964 Chevy Super Sport Impala convertible (no, they didn’t have the venerable 409!). I believe they had a 283, same as their ’57 and ’58. I was driving a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor V-8 at the time, so I didn’t care. As for LOOKS on these Chevys, I liked the 1955, 1957, 1958, 1962, and 1964. I thought the 1959 was hideous, and I still do. The 1960 tame-down improved things somewhat. The 1961 was ungainly, but the 1962 was sharp-looking. The 1963, I didn’t much care for; but the squared-off 1964 was truly classic, in my view. My parents’ ’64 seemed to last “for ever”, and they finally gave it away to someone who needed a car. But I would love to find a 1964 Chevrolet Impala 4 door hardtop sedan, in near-perfect survivor condition. Too bad that the ’64 has gone so high in price. NO thanks, on the ’63. As I recollect, the early all-transistor radio in that ’64 Impala veritably SUCKED: my ’46 Ford radio was vastly better in every way. In the Schenectady area, New York City stations during the day sounded all hazy and scratchy in that Impala, but clear as a local in my Ford — and no comparison on the tone-quality.
My grandfather bought a new 1964 Chevrolet Impala wagon. His was tan with a tan vinyl interior. It was equipped with a 327 V-8, 4 barrel carb, dual exhausts ps, pb, and a am radio. It had an automatic transmission. Can someone here tell me if they think it was a 2 speed or a 3 speed? He pulled a 21 ft travel trailer with it. I drove it but can’t recall the gear selector. He wanted to give me the car in the summer of 1970, I was 16 and dad said no because I’d kill myself with the 327.
Brings back memories.. My Dad had a 1966 Biscayne with the L72 427 with a 4 speed transmission. With the steel wheels and little round hubcaps, the car was not a head turner, but he had some fun “fishing” other cars with it, as it was the ultimate sleeper car. Man, to have that car back today would be epic.
My dad bought an Artesian turquoise with white interior 65 Impala SS 327/300 2 speed demo from Preston Ropp Chevrolet in Glasgow, Ky. I was barely old enough to remember it when he brought it home but there was snow on the ground. It was beautiful sitting in the driveway against that snow as mom took pics of it. He traded it for a 68 Sedan Seville in 70. I wish I could find those pictures.
All the interesting details were gone with the 64. The least attractive of the 60-64s.
But a Biscayne form any of those years even as “highly optioned” as this one gets my pulse to race.
Six, rubber floor mats, 3 speed on the column, ideal though the PG is pretty cool. I’d rather have that than a modern CVT
The only thing better would be a 57 Studebaker Scotsman.
My second favorite year for the 60s full sized Chevies up through 1967. The ’61 was/is my absolute favorite. Not a big fan of the ’63 either and the 1968 is just plain fugly!
To Bostwick9: it takes all kinds to make a world! To me, the 1962 and 1964 were the nicest of the 1959-’64s. And the ’59 was the ugliest. What I particularly liked about the ’64, was the smooth and graceful presentation, without oddities to break it up and distract you from the overall presentation. The lack of those “interesting details” is exactly what I especially LIKE about the ’64: nothing gets in the way.
Thank for picking this one to write up, Russ! There was quite a nice discussion about it in the comments!