That’s the question, will two extra doors on a car known for its dashing two-door hardtop, coke bottle styling adversely affect its value? This ’65 Impala four-door sedan has a lot of positive features in its plus column so maybe the extra portals won’t matter. Let’s be objective and do a deep dive and see what’s really here. This Impala is located in Fort Edward, New York and is available, here on craigslist for $17,000. It’s also being auctioned here on Clasiq where the bidding has reached $2,000.
According to the listing, this Chevy underwent a sort-of at home restoration which started back in 2016. Originally finished in Ermine White, it was resprayed, in that same shade, three years ago and comes, as the seller states, “with a light patina in the form of some dings and scratches“. Dings and scratches seem more like carelessness than patina but that blasted “P” word is so overused, well, OK. Regardless, the exterior presents very well and doesn’t seem to show signs of corrosion or rust-through. This Impala was built in Tarrytown, NY, and resides in Ford Edward, so it may, or may not be a lifelong resident of the Empire State – and that thought is what turns one’s thoughts towards the possibility of a potential rust problem. The four-door sedan’s lines are OK, pretty typical for the era, and, IMO, a notch below those of the smoother four-door hardtop (“Sport Sedan” in Chevyese). The Ridler chrome wheels are a fair upgrade, they brighten up the exterior with some added flair but you have to like bling to fully appreciate them. There’s a very brief underside video included.
The listing mentions that the original 292 CI, in-line, six-cylinder engine was deep-sixed for a replacement 350 CI V8 which generates a “whopping” 300 HP. This car would have never been built with a 292, which was a truck engine, so if one was removed, it was a later replacement. The original six-cylinder job should have been a 140-gross HP, 230 CI, six. I don’t think that I would refer to 300 HP as “whopping”, especially in this day and age, but it’s likely a huge improvement over the six-banger. Regardless, underhood is certainly impressive looking. Oh, and this Impala has a manual transmission, shifted three-on-the-tree style!
The interior looks great! It’s a standard bench seat arrangement with vinyl and fabric upholstery but it really shows as new, probably because it is. The seller adds, “A lot of work went into the interior. The upholstery was replaced in the factory correct ‘Aqua’ fabric, rear seat shelf, carpeting, and sill plates are new. All gauges and sender units have been replaced“. There are under-dash auxiliary engine gauges in place and the seller mentions that the headliner is “flawless” – good to know.
So back to the doors issue, do they adversely affect value? Based on what I have seen and priced, I’d say yes. The extra doors ding the value. But, that noted, this is as clean a ’65 Impala as I’ve seen in a long time and the three-on-the-tree deal seems to be popular these days and an additional draw, helped along by the replacement V8 engine. I wouldn’t pay $17,000 but based on the auction, that may not be necessary. And if that’s the case, someone’s going to get a pretty neat Chevy Impala, at a reasonable price, that’s fun to drive, right?
A lot to like here. Had a 292″- 6 in my 2dr ’64
Impala. Plenty of torque but couldn’t spin the
G60s on wet pavement! Loved that one but…
sorta love ’em all…
Only if your “64 Impala” was actually a C-10 or C-20 PU would you have had a 292 cid 6.
Yes. Doors matter.
You can always remove the back doors like this guy did.
https://youtu.be/_NSfs68Q6o0
The 2-door hardtop was the style leader.
The 4-door sedan had a good deal of thought and design effort put into it, as in the full-size lines it was the best seller overall and a close second behind the 2-door hardtop in high profit-per-unit retail sales.
Converting this car to a 2-door post would be the worst fate I could imagine for it, even more so than turning it into an incorrect police car replica or an incorrect Supernatural replica.
Make it a 3 door
Needs body color steelies/ dog dish optional,my opinion.
This being an Impala I’d go for full covers and white-stripe tires.
Got to like some 4 door cars when a long time friend came up with a beautiful green ’54 Oldsmobile with three on the tree and the biggest engine they had available. Broke 120 mph several times using it as a chase car for our midnight no finish line drag races. Stayed right behind us until we all hit well over 100 mph while we hit the 140 mark. One of those cars was a beautiful ’56 Chevy 4 door hard top with a 8,000 rpm engine, 4 speed with overdrive out of a race boat and a positraction with unknown gear ratio. Very fast, very 4 doorish. (new word) Owner was an engineering student.
I’ve had over 350 vehicles since 14, 52 years ago, and all types of body styles including a 65 Chevy four-door plus many other 4-door wags. People want two-door cars and that’s cool but all those 4 doors I had were fun too. It’s all psychology
I love my 4 door ’65 Impala. I like the roof lines much better than the SS fastback style. Jusy my personal taste. But I’m also a huge wagon guy too.
This was the last year of the 230 six in the full size line, and the debut year of the 250 six.
I like 4 doors and so do my seven kids…
I wonder if a 292 six would even fit, the motor mounts on a 292 were offset, one was further forward then the other. And the 292 was at least an inch taller because of the longer stroke the block needed to taller, the taller side cover was very noticeable.
Very questionable if a 292 would fit in any passenger car built after 1960. Totally different engine than the 230, and 250. 292’s were more like the old 235 structure, but physically larger. They were designed for truck use, not sure they would be a good passenger car engine.
A twin to my 65 four door hardtop I owned from 1991 to 2001 except for red interior. One of the best cars I ever owned and drove it daily almost 159 000 miles. GM was great was then. Not now.
I think that the late 60’s Impala 4 door hardtops are some of the nicest looking 4 doors around.
Had a 65 Belair 283 auto 4-door and a 68 327 impala my 65 was my favorite car.
Life is too short to settle for a 4 door !
Yolo
4 doors have grown on me so much, I think I actually prefer them now.
Love the car quit whining about the 4 door! PLEASE someone be more creative about power choices than a create 350 refer to it as a crew cab