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Really Promising: 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS

This 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS looks like it has at least two factors in its favor. The first of these is that it really looks like it is a solid project car that could be driven and enjoyed immediately. The second is that with a BIN price $7,000, or the option to make an offer, it would appear to also be a very competitively priced car. Maybe this explains why there are currently 97 people who are watching the listing. Barn Finder local_sheriff has really had his radar working over-time, and I have to say thank you for referring the Impala through to us. It is located in Tucson, Arizona, and is listed for sale here on eBay.

This black Impala is a pretty tough looking car. It does have some rust that will need to be attended to, but none of it is particularly bad. The frame looks really nice, and the majority of the floors are also pretty good. There is a limited amount of rust in the floors (but not much), as well as the usual areas such as the wheel wells and lower quarter panels. The quarter panels themselves are quite wavy, and the owner suggests that it might be easier to replace these, rather than attempting to repair them. The external trim and chrome look good, so from a body and frame perspective, the car looks like a solid starting point for a project.

The interior of the Impala actually presents quite well, and getting it up to a high standard doesn’t look like it is going to be a big or expensive task. There is an aftermarket radio/cassette player fitted into the dash and a set of speakers up in the rear parcel tray, but the rest of the interior looks to be quite original. The shopping list for interior trim items doesn’t look like it is going to extend much beyond a new dash pad, and new covers for the seats. The carpet does look to be quite respectable, and I agree with the owner when he says that the headliner looks good. The Impala also comes with factory air conditioning, although the compressor is missing. The rest of the system is said to be present.

I’ve been waiting for the bad news with the Impala, and I really haven’t found any so far. Under the hood is the numbers-matching 327ci V8, while the original Powerglide transmission is also present, along with power steering and power brakes. The owner says that there are no oil, coolant, or transmission fluid leaks, which is a pretty reasonable starting point. He says that it does need a new battery, but that the SS does run and drive well. The Impala also features a dual exhaust and is said to sound really nice.

For the Bow-Tie enthusiast who is searching for a relatively straightforward project car, this Impala SS would have to be a strong contender. There seems to be nothing but positive news with this car, and it is to be hoped that a personal inspection proves that these assumptions are correct. If they are, then this is a car with loads of potential that could be transformed into an ultra-desirable classic fairly easily. Do we have any Barn Finds readers who might be interested in taking this one on?

Comments

  1. Avatar art

    That’s a fine car to start with and factory A/C is a huge plus.
    My favorite year of Chevrolet.

    Like 6
  2. Avatar Norman Wrensch

    I’m not so sure about numbers matching. Wrong valve covers, wrong intake, wrong PCV system and I would bet on the wrong carburetor. So I have big doubts that it is even the right engine.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Dave

      At this point in time, what difference does it make? As a starting point, this car looks way better than anything else you’ll find in western PA/NY/MD or eastern Ohio.

      Like 8
      • Avatar JimmyinTEXAS

        Agreed, at this point 54 years from new it wouldn’t. But the seller made a point of listing it as a numbers matching. So if someone was looking for one to restore there would be a “deal-breaker”. Why would the seller say it was if it wasn’t?
        “No longer available”, someone made a deal.

        Like 1
    • Avatar schooner

      Been a long time for me to recall but didn’t the 327 oil fill come out of the right valley at the front of the block & angled to the thermostat?

      Like 1
      • Avatar Bellingham Fred

        Yes, the oil fill tube goes through the intake on the right front. If you put on a newer intake w/o a provision for the tube, then you need a different place to add oil. So either use valve covers with an oil filler opening and cap, or add a hole to the stock covers.

        Like 3
  3. Avatar Classic Steel

    Nice car ..
    I always liked these 65 tail light models.

    I remember junking one out in 77 as I was just 15 at the time .

    That had a 283 four speed with I think a factory one barrel (could of been a mini 2 barrel) but pretty sure one barrel.
    It’s it in the basement with the original intake and mint black back seat, heat and ac temperature control gauges for dash and vacuum gauge. It was in my parent tool section of the basement till we cleared out for their estate.
    I guess I have always been a pack rat.
    I remember pulling the engine for a 64 C10 Chevrolet pickup and using the bucket seats too. The four speed brought 125 bucks and tilt 50. 😜
    That then was a running project car that just needed carpet and the Maroon paint was faded .

    I would like one back and the 68 green hidden headlight goat that my friend needed the front end off of it 😎

    Like 3
    • Avatar rpol35

      ’65 283, 195 HP used a Rochester “Dualjet” two barrel carburetor; yes they are physically quite small.

      Like 3
  4. Avatar Jimmy

    I’m a Ford truck Pontiac car guy but this is one Chevy I wouldn’t mind in my garage.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Troy s

    To me this is when the full size Chevy’s started looking really good. Great lines. Just never warmed up to those rectanglish ’64 or earlier models, always thought Ford’s looked better pre ’65.
    The wheels along with the color and dual exhaust tips give it a tough street vibe, tail lights add to this. I don’t know the curb weight , probably not as heavy as it looks, but some serious torque would definitely turn it into the highway star its trying to be.
    Very nice.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Greg Wynn

      Has a 65 Impala SS with a 4 spd. Not impressive performance wise with a 327. Traded it in 1968. Still sort of miss that because the tail light treatment was
      beautiful. My reason for trading it? No air. The South
      can brutal without it in our summers.

      Like 1
  6. Avatar bigdoc

    My older brother had a 65 Impala with a 6banger 3ott. That was a great car rode and drove very nice and had a lot of pep for a 6cyl. Not to mention a huge backseat for drive-ins or parking.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar ACZ

    Too bad it’s not an “09”.

    Like 1
    • Avatar John S

      In a ’65?

      Like 0
  8. Avatar DillWeed

    Had one of these in burgundy with the black interior growing up. It wasn’t as much of a rocket as some other muscle cars of this era, but it was a solid highway comfortable cruiser, and a large back seat for drive-ins. Was probably the most trouble free car I had in the 60’s and 70’s.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Stevieg

    1965 was the last year for the 409. I personally prefer the 396 over the 409, but that is probably because I grew up more with the 396/427/454 than with the 409. My friends would have thrown a 409 away for a rat motor. I wasn’t like that as much. I would have been happy with a 409, or even a small block. As I aged, I learned to GREATLY appreciate the good ol’ inline six.
    Sorry about the tangent. Yes John, the 409 was still around for 1965. Sad that I know that. I wasn’t even born until 1970. I feel like Cliff Clavin from Cheers lol.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Rustytech Member

      I think the 409 was gone early in 65. I had a 65 Belair that came with the 396 police pursuit specs. It was delivered to the MD state police in March 1965.

      Like 1
  10. Avatar Troy s

    I believe both the 409 and all new 396 could of been had in ’65, don’t know exactly when the 409 was dropped and the 396 became available,
    Of course when it comes to bigger cars like this there really is no replacement for displacement!

    Like 1
  11. Avatar George Mattar

    I acquired a white 65 Impala from my aunt who won it in a church raffle. It 56,000 miles when I got in 1991. I gave her $500 for it. Drivers toe boards rotted because she parked it under a huge pine tree. I cleaned out about 10 pounds of needles from behind the kick panel. Other than lower ball joints, I drove that car 50 to 75 miles every day for work until 2001 and sold it for $1,500 with 200,000 miles on it. 283 auto. If America still built cars like this with the then great GM quality I wouldn’t be furious looking at Jap cars crowding our roads.

    Like 0

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