Chevrolet had a hit on its hands with their new mid-size car in 1964, the Chevelle. The Malibu was the top series and was available with the Super Sport option, providing bucket seats and a console. The 1965 models were little changed except for small adjustments in the grille and taillights. The seller’s car is a convertible and appears to be largely original (except for the wheels). But it needs a full restoration and can be found in Port St. Lucie, Florida. It’s available here on craigslist for $7,500. Our thanks to “Rogue1” for this open-air tip.
The cowl tag on this Chevelle identifies it as being a real SS convertible (body code 13867). Less than 8,000 were produced in 1965, and that was a fraction of the numbers for the sport coupe. This one was finished in Tuxedo Black with a white canvas top and a red interior. We’re told it runs and has a 283 cubic inch V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor. With a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, the horsepower rating was 195. The odometer reads 46,000 miles with no claim of being real (perhaps it’s more like 146,000).
This Chevy has more than its fair share of corrosion, which will make it a busy restoration. Besides the sheet metal, the frame also has rust, and the seller suggests a replacement may be required. However, it could be that the Chevy is all there with parts held in a separate spot. The bucket seats are in rough shape, and much of the canvas top seems to have fallen away.
The second generation of the Chevelle and its SS counterpart seem to attract the most collector attention (1968-72). Followed by the latter half of the first generation (1966-67). The 1964-65 Chevelles appear to pop up less often, and a drop-top in Super Sport trim is kind of rare after more than 60 years. This car is going to need loads of time and money – is that an investment you would make?
I agree that this car is running a 283 but I’m sure that the carb is a Rochester 4-Jet. The intake is off something later as it’s missing the oil filler-breather.
The 283 is a good engine and carries a solid reputation as something that was very difficult to break. In fact one of the car magazines took a base V-8 from all the makes and ran them until their breaking point. The one that scored the highest was the Chevy 283. When I worked for GM I saw lots in light and medium trucks. I saw the odd one spin a rod bearing but never saw one with a hole in the side.
For a Super Sport, a 327 would’ve been nice but not completely necessary.
I’m a much bigger fan of the ’64 models, just because of the grill; the ’65 just didn’t cut it for me.
1966 was good but the ’67 models again, left something to be desired. That’s been my attitude for the entire reign of the Chevelle. 1969 will always be my favorite. Still looking for a ’69 300 2-door…
The carburetor looks to be either a aftermarket Carter or Edelbrock. It has the fuel inlet on the passenger rear and an electric choke on the passenger front.
This car is rough, but 1965 SS convertibles aren’t easy to find. Any serious potential buyer will wasn’t to see it in person so they can gauge the cars condition for themselves.
Steve R
I agree with the carburetor assessment. You just beat me to the punch. This was originally advertised nice car. But the tin worms and bolweevels have had their way with this car. So sad to see it in this condition.
Love these models, but it looks lime you could just be buying a vin. tag.
John M’s worry is the right one, but the tag is not where this one breaks. The cowl tag body code 13867 is the 1965 Malibu SS V8 convertible, and the VIN carries the same series, so whether it is an SS is checkable and Russ already checked it. What a tag cannot tell you is whether it is still on the body it was born with. On a $7,500 car with frame rust bad enough that the seller floats a replacement frame, the rebody question is the one to chase, not the SS question.
The 283 two-barrel and the Powerglide are the base V8, so the drivetrain is not where an SS premium lives. On a Chevy the engine ID sits on the pad on the deck; if that block has been decked, the car-to-engine tie is gone, and the fallback is the block casting number and casting date against the car’s build date. Wayne D’s flood note is the one I would sit with. Milton water plus a frame that may need replacing is a car you put eyes on or walk from.
Just a reminder for any serious buyer. Hurricane Milton caused severe flooding in this area back in 2024. As Steve advised, it really needs to be viewed in person inside and out.
Good point!
I had a black 1964 Chevelle vert 230 six with three on the tree. I like the grille on the 1964 better but this one has potential and can be restored back. The 283 auto console is a starter base. The engine is a good one to build up a little with forged pistons, mild cam with duals to the back. I would put it back black paint, same for interior, and top then add some nice 14×6 rallies with the dish type caps and rings on this car. The alternative would be classic Cragar’s.
Good luck with the sale and hope it gets restored .
Hard to find a SS 1965 Chevelle convert. This one is priced low but does have major frame rust. A further under car inspection would be needed here.
I had one like this in the 90’s, except it was green with a white convertible top and black interior, a 327 with a four gear, loved that car !
Would be a very sharp car when finished with that color combination . Maybe someone out there has a good frame to put body on .
sure, was a good looking convert new in these colors. this is a 50k+ redo a lot of 1 year only parts. would be nice done and it’s a real SS. not too often seen at shows today.
I was 17 in 1977 when I bought my first car which was a 1965 Chevelle Malibu Conv. I bought it knowing it had a rusty frame that looked about as bad as this one. I found out shortly after I paid $800 was that the state of PA would not allow it for inspection, and in this state, patching a frame was not legal either. I was lucky to know some good people back then, and with some research, I soon was on the hunt for a ’64-’66 Convertible frame, which is the only model to come with a boxed frame – necessary with convertibles due to the flex created by no ‘hard’ roof. There are a few important parts of info concerning a frame to consider for use, but that’s irrelevant now. Anyway, I ended up using a ’64 Conv. frame that I swapped out using rope block & tackles in the neighbor’s barn. I still have my very first car fully restored & hidden away in the garage. Did anyone happen to notice that this one has a manual top? The full trunk shot verifies there are no hydraulics or motor, as does there not being the switch that would be mounted under the dash edge to the left of the steering wheel. I had a ’64 Malibu Conv. at one time in this color combo & a manual top.
Block and Tackle in a Barn.
Love the Old School !
No fancy engine pullers or engine stands. A couple of spare tires worked.
Flare your wheel openings with a piece of pipe.
No impact guns, just wrenches,
Sockets and Marvel Mystery Oil.
I would say you’re about spot on, except for the pipe in the wheel wells. I knew very little about frame removal at 17 yrs old. In short, I unbolted the front clip from the firewall, and rolled the old frame with drive-train, front clip, bumpers & fuel system still attached, then swapped all of it over to new frame, and finally rolling the assembly back underneath the body and trunk which was still hanging securely (?) from the barn rafters by the rope come-along/block & tackles.
Okay so first, I noticed it was trans am city for a couple weeks. Lately it’s Chevelle and Malibu dominating the posts. Seems odd to run like that.
That aside, it’s hanging on by a thread, and one of the wheels is on a banana peel and leaning in the direction of the closest junk yard to be just a donor car going forward. But it’s not there just yet. So it can maybe still be saved without causing a divorce.
A lot of submissions are sent by a handful of people, based on that they are looking at at the time. I’m sure any submissions you make would be appreciated, it would help you see cars you are interested in at the same time.
Steve R
Steve R
Good luck finding that 69 300 series Chevelle, geomechs. Very rare! My brother had one back when, SS L78 4 speed 4.11. Bench seat! If you do find one, be prepared to pony up!
Closest I ever got was at the BJ Auction some years back. Like what has obviously happened to mine, it was made into a full fledged muscle car. I was talking to one of the guys there and said that if I had enough money behind me I would be tempted to make it back to what I once had. Seriously though, it’s not worth it. But I can still dream…
What irks me about finds like this is someone knew the car was special enough to hang on to it, but, Jeez… Let it move on if you can’t restore it before it ends up like this. Florida is not kind to cars left sitting from what I call the steam effect, rain, then 85 degrees… Hopefully, it gets a second life from someone with time, and deep pockets. Nice write up.
Gone…