Just to make certain that no one is led down a primrose path, this 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 is sans its 409 CI engine. There I said it – I just wanted to get that out of the way. Nevertheless, it’s really worth a look due to its rarity and the impending end of an era that was represented by this full-size muscle car. This SS is located in Millen, Georgia and is available here on eBay for a BIN price of $5,500; there is a make an offer option too.
“Giddy Up, Giddy Up 409” as the Beach Boys sang in their 1962 song, “409” and they were opining to the dual-quad, positraction, four-speed 409 CI V8 engined Chevrolet Impala of that same year. It was an impressive drag strip performer with one horsepower per cubic inch. It only got better in 1963 with an HP jump to 425 where it stayed through the 1964 model year. The year 1965 brought an entirely new “B” body Impala but with engines carried over from 1964 – at first. One exception, the vaunted dual-quad 409 motor was dropped leaving just the 340 and 400 HP versions to soldier on. The 1965 production numbers were pretty staggering, 1,046,000 Impalas produced with 243,000 Super Sport (SS) models. Out of that huge number, there were only 2,828 produced with 409 engines (2,086 with 340 HP and 742 with 400 HP) so that’s 0.2% of all Impalas and 1.1% of SS models. Yes, they are rare. In late January 1965, Chevrolet’s new 396 CI, V8 Mark IV engine replaced the 409 and the “W” head was no more.
From an engine perspective, there’s not much more to add. It’s impossible, looking into the maw under the hood to know which version of the 409 engine this SS possessed though it is known that the 400 HP version was only available with a manual transmission and that is just how this SS was equipped, it had a four-speed manual transmission. The operative word is “had”, it’s MIA along with the motor. Even the clutch pedal and clutch cross-shaft have been given the bum’s rush, they’re outta there too. Nevertheless, that’s not a bad looking engine compartment – it appears to have been prepped for something new and the twelve bolt differential is supposedly still in place at the other end of this Chevy. The seller states that this Impala is a factory A/C car. It’s not, there would be an evaporator hanging off of the passenger-side firewall if that were the case and the dash control head is for a non-A/C car.
As if the missing engine weren’t the elephant in the room, how about that body? The seller claims that the frame is solid, good to know because not much else, body-wise, is. One item of concern, regarding the frame, is that the early 1965 models, and this being a former 409 equipped model makes it early, had a tendency to crack in the forward section where it turns in and rises up towards the engine compartment. Chevrolet issued a TSB for it and corrected the manufacturing process later in the model year. It’s probably a moot point on this example but I’m throwing it out there. It would take major, major metalwork to replace all that is bent or rusted away on this Impala and that’s before you get to the missing door, probable floors, trim, glass and a whole host of the unforeseen. The seller adds that this Impala has, “very cool artesian turquoise factory paint”. I’m not even going to comment.
The interior is more of the same, totally trashed. The steering wheel, a gauge pod, ignition switch, radio and some door cards are gone and the headliner is not far behind. There’s not a lot here that is useable though the rare four-speed manual console is still in place. As stated earlier, no reference to the floors is made and it’s not possible to get a close look but I’d count on them needing major work.
The VIN tag pegs this as a legitimate V8 equipped Impala SS, produced at the Doraville, Georgia assembly plant in the fourth week of December 1964. No questioning this Impala’s authenticity, but what it was and what it is now are two completely different things. So, what to do? This is an interesting example because this Impala was produced at the point where full-size muscle cars were giving way to smaller, more efficient performance models. In a few more years, these big, performance-oriented beasts would be completely gone. So, is this SS worth saving because of what it was? Assuming you wanted the challenge of a lifetime, you can still buy a complete, built, 409 CI engine for $15,000+. A bare block will set you back about $4,500 and you can build it yourself. If you want value, you would want to find a date correct engine and that’s probably a tough row to hoe considering that this Impala was manufactured one month before 409 production ceased – or maybe it already had ceased by late December of ’64. You could also go the Mark IV big-block route, which is legitimate, just not correct. Or another thought is throw caution to the wind and hot-rod this SS with a modern LS engine. Finally, you could just skip the whole matter and look for a better example. Decisions, decisions, which way would you go?
Sure, some guy commented a couple of days ago that BF wasn’t featuring actual barn find cars, only really nice cars. But this car is a hard swing in the opposite direction. Once again, find one in better condition and save yourself a lot of money and headache!
Nuff Said …Ditto..
Agree with the finds. Seems all the writers do not communicate with each other. If they did we might not same car lot cars over and over. This site is turning into something from I Heart Radio. Playing the same rotation over and over.
This is a better direction however still NOT a find at all. It isn’t hard to see this is the remains of a left for dead a parts car. What is a BF
Someone finds it and rescues it because it is a Chevy. Even better it has crusty 409 emblems. List the car at break neck speed.
No thanks.
This site is free entertainment.
There is no reason to get upset if they feature cars that aren’t of interest. The simple solution is to skip over cars that don’t appeal to you or stop reading the write up if it goes in a particular direction you don’t like. There is no way to keep everyone happy, with every post, they shouldn’t even try.
Steve R
I agree with Steve R. Never quite understood why someone complains about looking at something for free while it’s so easy to move to the next one if you don’t like this one. Nobody has told me yet that I have to read every post. You can bet that other people will get enjoyment out of it
I also agree with Steve R.
Toooooooooooooooooo many zero’s in the BIN price.
That’s a lot of cash for a 409 fender badge!!
I’ve had a chance a couple of years ago to see a restored 65 409 in a private collection. It was an impressive car and the engine was icing on the cake. To those that say find another, that may be easier said than done unless you build it yourself. True 65 409’s are pretty rare and command a premium price when they do come up from what I’ve seen.
This one leaves a lot to be desired and done, but if someone has the desire for it and the pockets to match, who knows what’s possible,
We all know worse cars have been brought back to life. Now with the driveline gone, so is most of the point of aquiring it though.
I’m no educated mechanic so to me it’s just a (bad) parts donor. However, for that someone out there whose only desire in life is to own a documented 409 4spd SS and with the means to pull it through it might work. Missing the original driveline will probably haunt the owner forever though…!
It’s really painful to see because if I were around in ’65 and shopping for a new Impala, this is pretty much exactly how I’d spec it
The next thing I guess is someone putting a just the fender badge and I suppose the steering wheel up for sale.
“Hey pa, remember Louies Chevy we stripped out years ago? Well, fire up the crawler tractor, we’re going to go get it”,,,Got to give them credit for trying, I mean, what car would someone possibly buy this as a parts car for?
Does it have a steering wheel?
I didn’t realize the 409 was still around in ’65. $5500 may be a bit of a stretch for a VIN tag, which is essentially what is being offered. Other than that, send this bow-tie back to junk yard it was dragged from.
The 409 was replaced by the Mark IV big block mid year in ’65. Unfortunately only a single 4BBL 409 version was available in ’65.
409’s not gonna fix this, neither is Simple Green or anything else. It will take cubic dollars to restore this.
I’ve always wanted a ’65 409 Impala. If only for the rarity and I have no idea how many they built in ’65. As much as I want one this one offers no temptation. Knowing it maybe years before another one shows up I’d think its best to wait.
$5500 for a faded and pitted 409 badge?
Well I believe a lot of the cars here do not deserve to be here. After all it is called barnfinds. But in my opion, this car qualifies. It isexcatly what I would consider a barnfind. The 80000 dollar car, again in my option don’t belong here. I traded a fella a pretty decent 65 dynamic for a rust bucket 4 speed delta 65. I did it because I always dreamed of a 4 speed olds b body. So the sacifise is worth it for the love of the car. So I believe somebody will make the sacrifice for the love of the car.
I like 65’s but this one has already been used for a parts car. Sad to see. I’m sure when this ol girl gave up her 409 it was just an old parts car. The rarity is what makes it cool. to me as is its a $200 parts already gone parts car. Maybe someone with another 65 will take it on. Good luck.
Cheers
GPC
I agree with the person who said, in effect, if you don’t like Barn Finds, why are you here? Plenty of us read it daily and to be candid Barn Finds increased my motivation to negotiate for a bigger space.
Barn Finds may have editorial clout but it has no choice in the cars/etc that are found.
This is not a car. This is junk and needs to be addressed as such. And remember this site is just like all other media: If you don’t like it, don’t read/watch it.
Dangerous endeavor here. Run.
Ran when parked…
yep I ran when it as parked
I own a Mobile Crusher. I will be right over to help.
Remove all emblems. They may sell on Kiijjigi.
How much for that 68 Roadrunner ?
Yep…looks like he has another 1965 on the trailer – my guess is the seller is trying to clear both cars and come out with a little extra. There was an odd white 4 door Chevy running around the streets of Dallas not so long ago with 409 badges on the front. Never could catch it sitting still to see or ask the owner about it.
Imagine finding a solid ’65 SS 409 Impala in a real barn covered with a thin layer of dust, fifteen hundred bucks, uh oh it’s got a flat tire garsh donitt!
Not happening. It’s all the rage now, barn find cars. You just never know what will come up on this site from day to day. There’s another site full of clean machines, some are actually interesting, but not half as cool as the cars on this site.
This clunked out old Chevy isn’t great by any means…now, but at one time it would have turned your head and made you smile.
Yep, they ALL were brand new at one time. But that was in a throw-a-way age where at a 100,000 miles, a car was worn out. You can bet that many thousands if not millions of cars from the 50’s and 60’s that were crushed could easily have be fixed, but they were junked for trivial reasons because cars were cheap to replace. They are still throw-a-way today, but it costs you more to get there.
Exactly. Plus the fact that most people who buy and drive cars and trucks aren’t car folks anyways. I’d say millions have been crushed, recycled, reused so to speak for other things, two or three gas crisis, throw in the “cash for clunkers ” program and things disappear even faster.
Only a few choice models, like the early Mustangs, the Corvette,, caught on early with collectors and even the worst examples were looked at as parts galore. Just an opinion, though.
Ya gotta know when to hold’em and when to fold’em. This is an example of when to fold’em.