In 1962, Ford introduced a mid-size automobile with Fairlane badging, sandwiched between the compact Falcon and full-size Galaxie. General Motors followed suit in 1964, and Chevrolet added a new product line called the Chevelle. It was instantly popular and would continue on for decades (badged later as the Malibu). This 1965 Chevelle is a Super Sport and has its original 283 cubic inch V8 (the SS 396 would become a series the following year). Located in Winchester, Kentucky, this Chevy appears to have been at least partially restored and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $32,500 OBO. A nod goes to “Pnuts” for the tip!
Since the Chevelle was all-new in 1964, the ’65 Chevelles were little changed. Subtle differences in the grille and taillights would set the cars apart. Nearly 72,000 Malibu Sport Coupes came with the $162 Super Sport option in 1965, and 10% of them had inline sixes (which was true across the Impala and Nova SS lines as well). That lofty extra expense gave you bucket seats with a console, extra chrome bits, and Impala SS wheel covers. Also, the instrument layout was enhanced. If you went for the 283 V8, you could have it with a 4-barrel carburetor rated at 220 hp, just like the Power-Pak 283 of 1957 roots.
The seller (a dealer?) doesn’t go into the history of the Chevelle. For example, is 10,000 the really, true, legit mileage, or has the odometer flipped at least once? And the motor and engine bay have been repainted. The raised hood, which seems to add nothing to the 283 engine, strikes me as out of place, so was it added later and the paint refreshed? Also, the chrome trim on the trunk lid doesn’t line up with the side trim, so was there some damage repaired at some point?
Don’t get me wrong, this Malibu SS looks sweet, and it may have been lowered, too. Since it has an automatic transmission, we assume it’s a 2-speed Powerglide. The car has that Saturday night cruising look back when you made the rounds from one drive-in eatery to the next, like in American Graffiti. Is this a collector-quality automobile or one to be enjoyed on weekend outings?
I’ve never cared for cowl hoods on cars or trucks that they were never offered on. Price seems steep for a high school hot rod.
I just think it’s funny they took the pictures of it sitting in it’s own coolant leak.
Look at the bottom of the pic. That’s oil running TOWARDS the car where the storm drain is!! Also, look UNDER the car, that’s NOT an area where coolant would leak, it’s WAY TO FAR back!!!
Lowered? I think those “10,000” miles springs are sagging a bit.
Boy are you over price!
I always have to laugh sometimes at sellers who claim, “numbers matching”. The hood obviously isn’t original (and looks out of place with a 283 under the hood, non-stock air cleaner and updated distributor. The paint job in the engine compartment leaves much to be desired – overspray on the exhaust pipes and wires looks amateurish. On the trim on the trunk lid, I think it may just be a missing or broken clip, so that might be easy to fix. The arm rest pads on the front door and passenger side back seat don’t seem to match the interior color – that may have been a Chevrolet thing, but it just seems off. And I hope that the low rear end is just the seller (or previous owners) having lowered the car. I don’t believe that it only has 10,000 miles – it had to have turned over once, otherwise the respray on the engine compartment may not have been necessary. $32.5k is way too high for this car in its condition – the OBO will more likely take at least $25k off of it, since there will be work that still needs to be done. Just my opinion, but despite my liking for these first gen Chevelles, I believe you can find a better one for less $$$. Other than the SS designation, there isn’t really much to it that makes it special. A convertible, yeah, I might see that number, but not for a hardtop that isn’t that unique.
Price is too high.
10,000 miles I think not.
The 283 was painted to make it look good, overspray on the exhaust manifolds painted in the engine bay,
The rear end has bad springs (terrible stance)
What’s with the hood? and the trunk lid not right. The hood from another car?
I would not touch this one, just have a funny feeling.
In high school, I owned a ’65 Olds Cutlass F85 two door hardtop w/330, 2-speed on the console with built in tach. Same platform as this Chevelle but IMHO, multitudes better looking. It was a hand me down from one of my older sisters. Dad had bought from a local guy who changed the paint from dull blue to ’73 Corvette yellow. It was a real eye catcher color. The cops apparently thought so too, lol.
The performance, as I recall, was rather lackluster when compared with the rich farmer kids and their GTO Judges, SS454 Chevelles and Plymouth Super Birds. With those milling in town on weekend nights, the cops pretty much left me alone.
I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for ’65 Chevelle Super Sports because one of my first cars was one that was actually equiped just like this one.
That being said, the seller is dreaming if he or she actually believe that their number is reasonable. It is a fairly nice car, but there are more than a few things that will limit its appeal.
First is the drive train. The motor appears to be a 2 barrel unit converted to a 4 barrel and when mated to a Powerglide it would be an OK cruiser but with lousy performance. There is something hinky going on with the rear springs. As Russ pointed out, it has almost certainly had some body damage. The hood borders on being cartoonish.
I believe that they are asking 327 4 speed money for it, and feel like something in the low to mid 20s is more appropriate.
Im a big fan of the early Malibu but this isn’t a 32,000$ car the cowl hood has no place for this car its a nice weekend cruiser further in person inspection is necessary I’m guessing 18 maybe 20gs it everything turns out ok
The Holy Grail?? In 1972 a pal bought a 1965 chevrolet chevelle ss396 z 16>> YEP SS 396/4 speed/373 12 bolt posi, with AC and tinted windows from his cousin (original owner!) minus the engine and gearbox for about $500. Rust wasnt even an issue back then. When he was done it was tubbed and sported a dual qual LT1 350. Didnt even qualify as a resto-mod yet back then. Wish we all knew back then what today would bring!
The Holy Grail?? In 1972 a pal bought a 1965 chevrolet chevelle ss396 z 16>> YEP SS 396/4 speed/373 12 bolt posi, with AC and tinted windows from his cousin (original owner!) minus the engine and gearbox for about $500. Rust wasnt even an issue back then. When he was done it was tubbed and sported a dual qual LT1 350. Didnt even qualify as a resto-mod yet back then. Wish we all knew back then what today would bring!
That dark brown fuel filter means trouble . Its a sweet car , but it will need $$$$$ in order to be ” right ” .
NEVER install a plastic filter on the HOT/Pressure side. If that baby splits its doomsday for all!
Orange back up light lenes ??? TOO much $$$ for the mixed up mess…..
Let’s not mislead anyone about a coolant leak. More likely, the storm water inlet by the LF tire sits a bit higher than the collapsed pavement which is holding water from a recent rain event.
Let’s not mislead anyone about a coolant leak. That is probably rain water sitting on pavement that is lower than the storm water inlet.
Since when does rain water look like oil?!?
I have a “new” 64 ss . And the rear trim doesn’t line up from the factory and it’s lots of work to make it happen.
My brother had the 64 version of this car 283 automatic SS.
I will say this for the 283 it was a tough engine. My brother pounded on that engine for probably 3 years and he managed to blow the trans and rear end but he never blew that motor it was still running good when he traded it in on another car.