The 1965 model year was a banner one for Chevrolet. Besides the successful mid-size Chevelle being in its second season, the full-size Impala, et al, sold more than one million copies for the first time. That includes the seller’s Impala Sport Sedan, which was marketing-speak for 4-door hardtop (“no post”). We’re told this car runs even after sitting for ages, but it needs a lot of cosmetic love. Located in San Francisco, California, this project (and tip from Mitchell G.) is available here on eBay for $10,500 OBO.
Contrary to what you may think, the Ford Mustang was not the hottest-selling automobile of 1965. Sure, Ford pumped out 560,000 copies of the popular new sensation, the “pony car”. But over at Chevrolet, more than 1.4 million Biscaynes, Bel Airs, Impalas (inc. Super Sport), and Caprices were built, a number that would never be bested. Some 193,000 were Sport Sedans which were all Impalas as the two lower series had no such body style, and the Caprice was factored separately.
The seller describes this Chevy as a one-owner car that comes with paperwork dating to Day One. But the title is listed as “salvage,” which may or may not be from the crinkle in the rear sheet metal that prevents the trunk lid from closing all the way flush. While the car has been sitting for years, it’s said to run well at north of 50,000 miles. A 327 cubic-inch V8 resides under the hood, though no photos of it are shown.
We’re told the Impala sports a new set of shock absorbers, and an assortment of extra parts will come with the sale. The body, paint, and interior will all need to be priorities on the to-do list. Many collectors may say the car has too many doors to warrant the expense of a full-blown restoration. Would you fall into that camp, too?
Half the asking price would be more than generous with the salvage title, dubious mileage claim along with the damage to the rear and trunk.
Steve R
Not to mention how filthy the interior is. A little Bleechwhite and some paper towels on those door panels would help. It’s just a basic grocery-getter with no options except a powerglide and maybe power steering, not a 396 with A/C.
It’s cool because I like pilarless 4-doors, but as Steve R often says, you can find nicer if you want one.
The Caprice wasn’t counted in sales figures for ’65, as it was a trim option for the Impala. The Caprice became separate in ’66.
There was 65 Caprice 4 door in my town. I could have bought for a few thousand but it was this ugly brown also. The local dealership owner bought it repainted it a much nicer blue and then wanted a fortune for it. It might still be around. I have one of these out back almost as nice as this.
This car has a bit too much body damage, and along with the salvage title, there’s a lot going wrong here for the asking price. Even if it was a rare model it would still be too spendy.
Must have some great weed out there.
10K for this? It’s got to be the killer.
Too bad it’s not a ’66, blow on some flat blue and claim it was Baretta’s tv car for $10K.
Packard grandpas ’65, although his was not a Sport anything, just a plain Impala. Like over a million others, him and grandma coughed up about $2600 for theirs, minus his ’61 Bel Air in trade. I’m not sure what makes this a “Sport”, but someone paid an extra $200 bucks more than grandpa did, but not sure what they got. Primarily trim and engine choices, gramps had a 283. Great find, and I guarantee any younger person will be bored in 15 minutes, and ONE POWER PORT?? I kid, but back then grandpa lit his stogies with that hole. I can just hear him now, you do what with the lighter hole? Charge a cell phone, what the heck is that? Howie ( he called me Howie), whatever happened? I don’t know, grandpa, I just don’t know,,
The first car I ever drove was a ’65 Impala 2D, straight six and a three-on-the-tree.