As a writer and an all-round curious guy, I enjoy writing about and reading interesting stories. And when that story involves a 58-year-old low mileage, time capsule automobile, it just “makes my day,” to quote Inspector Harry Callahan. Check out this unrestored, original 1965 Chevrolet Impala 4-Door Sedan with 24,675 documented miles. Here’s the story: A lady pharmacist bought the car new on August 7, 1965, from Nelson Chevrolet-Olds in Plainville, Kansas. When she traded it in to the dealership in 1973, her Impala only had 24,000 miles on it. Mr. Nelson, the dealership’s owner, took a shining to it and stored it away in a basement where it sat for 45 years. Mr. Nelson’s granddaughter recently inherited the car and has decided to sell it. The seller claims the Chevy “still smells new” and based on the photographs, I’m inclined to agree. This amazing sedan looks to be in in “like new” condition. It’s currently located in Kennesaw, Georgia and is for sale here on craigslist for $27,000.
The ’65 Chevy has always been a styling favorite of mine. GM design chief Bill Mitchell (Harley Earl’s successor) and his team created a full-sized car with elegant styling that flowed nicely and was beautifully proportioned. It was longer, lower, wider, offered new roof lines, and had improved handling and comfort. The buying public loved what they saw and purchased 1,647,600 of these full-sized Chevrolet Impalas, Bel Airs, and Biscaynes. Of the 15 Magic-Mirror paint colors offered in 1965, this well-equipped Impala came from the factory in Ermine White. It’s original paint still looks good as does the chrome, trim, Soft-Ray tinted glass, lenses, badging and the optional wire wheel covers. The panels look laser straight and I’m not spotting any rust, dents, or scratches. There’s also a photo of a spotless trunk with the Chevy’s original spare tire.
The original “like new” red interior is beautiful beyond description. The ’65 sales literature advertised “Seven color-keyed interiors with seating comfort from thick foam cushioning front and back. Upholstering in handsome tufted pattern cloth and textured vinyl trim available.” And look at that elegant, upscale door panel design featuring an “extra-length armrest with finger-tip door release.”
The instrument panel with “hand-rubbed” walnut trim appliqué, the steering wheel, and dash top look great as does the headliner and carpet. This Impala also comes with Four-Season Air Conditioning (that works), power steering, power brakes, an AM radio, Chevy floor mats, and door guard edges. The electric clock with sweeping second hand was standard, but we don’t know if it’s still keeping time.
Chevrolet offered two standard engines in 1965: a Turbo-Thrift 230 6-cylinder or a Turbo-Fire 283 V8. There were also a number of engine options available and this one left the factory with a 4-barrel, 327-cubic inch Turbo-Fire V8. It’s mated to a Powerglide automatic transmission and has only 24,675 miles on the clock. Documentation with the sale includes the original Protect-O-Plate and owner’s manual as well as a written statement from Mr. Nelson’s granddaughter and a Kansas title in her name. In regards to recent work performed, the carburetor and brake booster have been rebuilt and new radial tires put on. The seller ends the ad by saying, “These cars just don’t come around for sale very often.” I agree with that. This is one impressive time capsule. Sure, they sold a ton of these bread-and-butter, family-friendly 4-Door Sedans, but how many are left out there in this kind of “like new” condition?
Really nice car.Had the exact same car in 82. Same color same interior but no ac. Paid 300 for it. Put Thrush 49.95 headers duals and cherry bomb glass packs on it and a th 350 conversion.Mine was super clean but not as nice as this car.27k for a more door 327 pg car is a little steep .I could see 20k imo. Glwts.
I got my white 65 Impala four door hardtop from my original owner aunt in 1991. Red bench seat interior just like this beauty. It had 51,000 actual miles. I drove it everyday for 10 years year round. Had it painted in 2000. Engine rebuilt at 156,000 miles. Drove it til 199,000 miles. Sold it $500. I was dumb. Car only let me sit once. Cracked distributor cap.
Wow, what a beautiful car, with nice options! Even at that price, I’m sure someone will buy it. If it were a coupe, they could name their price. I hope it finds a good home where it’s preserved and enjoyed.
My mom had ’65 in this exact color combination, and identical interior fabric, only with the 283 2-bbl.
It’s funny that they mention a new car smell because her smelled very old by 1975, I distinctly remember (along with the neat green “cold” dash light). It was getting rusty too, and had to be started sometimes with starter fluid. I would have to experience this to believe it!
How much would you have in a restoration compared to buying this original? Someone will get a nice car.
I didn’t know moth balls gave your car that “new car smell?” Or this Chevy dealership had the most airtight basement in the world.
If we want to get scientific, the so-called “new car smell” was actually gasses from the plastics used in the interior, meaning low mileage would have no practical effect on it. However, if the car was kept away from UV rays and hot and cold cycles, it may have lasted longer, depending upon the compound in question.
Though the new car smell was much stronger before we became aware of the health risks associated with it, I think it’s unlikely for it to still have an actual new car smell after nearly 60 years. But I am not a scientist. If it does, that was some very strong and probably toxic stuff!
Most new cars anymore don’t have any smell, something I really miss. Hazardous or not it was part of the thrill of getting a new car.
This is a great looking car and I would love to own it. I never understood why 4 doors are thought less of than 2 doors. I know it’s an opinion, but the 2 door version of this car just looks “cheap’ by comparison. Another example where the 4 doors look better, in my opinion, is the 71-76 body style.
In fact, I will be restoring a 4 door 71 Caprice and I will be in it WAY more than the cost of this car!
Actually, I hope it’s not this one where the odometer rolled from 99K to 24K.
Same color combo, engine, has A/C, etc.
https://barnfinds.com/clean-survivor-1965-chevrolet-impala-327/
Cheap!!! Sorry Rob but the 2 door 65 sport coupe was a stylish breakout design. Wish I had mine, bought in 77 for $300 with 30k miles, sold 3 years later with 60k for the same $300!
The Sport Coupe and the 2-door post sedan were two different beasts. There’s a reason why the former was the second-best-selling body style (after this one). The 2-door post was definitely a cheap afterthought limited to the lower-end Biscayne and Bel Air series and its’ sales figures showed.
Pretty sure RobA meant the 2 door sedan, not the gorgeous 2 door hardtop “Sport Coupe”. And I have to agree, the 2 door sedan definitily looked cheap compared to the 2 door hardtop, four door hardtop & yes, even the 4 door sedan (post)……..
It’s cheaper to buy one restored than it is to buy an build yourself . Buying it your ready to drive it . Do it yourself could take 3mo. To a year or 2.
I had an aunt who owned a beautiful 65 Caprice Sports Sedan she rewarded herself when she got her teaching job right out of Brown University. A beautiful yellow with black top and interior, loaded with every option available. Including a 396/4 brl that came with a TH 400, plus a nice highway set of gears with posi for the snowy winters.
There is NO way this car could still smell new! Sorry. Unless they sprayed soe kind of fragrance. Nice car, though.
My first car (just out of college) was the 65 Impala SS and was 2 doors, white with a black vinyl top, and 396 power plant. I purchased it new (8 miles on the odometer) and loved it. Got married in 1968 and traded it in for a “family car”…. sure wish I still had that car. 😎 They just don’t make them like that today!!
I love 65 Impalas. I had one…..wish I still had it.
On October 31, 2019 an identical car was featured here. I tried to post the link, but it got removed. It was the same color combo, same engine, had A/C, and was listed as a survivor.
But it had 99K miles. It also had some staining on the door panels. If you replace those, sometimes interiors can “smell new”.
It is possible the car rolled to 24K miles. This is ll speculation , but worth looking into if you are interested. Caveat emptor.
I see a collector adding this to his collection in an ac bldg. somewhere adding no more miles.
My parents purchased a 1965 Impala four-door sedan brand new in 1965. I remember them settling on the Ermine White exterior color, but there were discussions over whether to select red, black or blue for the interior. They ordered the blue interior and the wait began. Their salesman called one day saying they had one that had come in, not the one ordered. This one had the 327 V8 instead of the 283. It also had a tilt wheel and A/C (which they ordered)So the folks took this one. Nice looking car, solid family sedan. Dad traded for a 1969 Impala.
Also wanted to add that I’ve owned both 2 & 4 door models & enjoyed them the same amount. Honestly just felt very fortunate to even own them. Comes down to one’s perspective of things.
I also owned a nice, but kind of rough 65 Impala SS Conv. It was a fairly basic model,, with a 327/4 brl dual exhaust, but 2speed PowerGlide, with a decent 3:42 posi, a friend of mine installed with my help. A black interior with bucket seats and console, AM radio, power steering, brakes and top, but roll up windows. One night with a couple friends from the same barracks and I, plus Captain Morgan & Friends, almost totaled it in a dirt mountain road, that I came around a corner too fast, then spun out and off the road. Luckily there was a boulder that while it flattened the rear quarter panel, it did stop us from going off the mountain into oblivion. But I was able to keep driving, at least till the same friends, but a new one Bacardi 151 came along for the ride! That caused me to drop my hand onto the shift at 75 mph, dropping it into low, then a LOUD BANG, with oil pouring out of the oil pan where a rod had passed through!!! Dam I ended up selling the car, at last lost only $100! To someone who owned a body shop. Who also threw in a decent paint job on a 59 Karman Ghia I bought to get around in. That had no room for my friends who were a bad influence! Just another friend called frostbite due to the lack of heat!
Wow man! Sounds like you were lucky overall…..I had a couple of friends who weren’t so lucky with their DUO escapades. Hope you’re sober nowdays!
Yea time has caught up to me with age issues and can’t drink alcohol anymore than a swig of cold beer every now and then my wife is drinking.
Obviously I meant DUI……….Ha Ha!
I understand, unfortunately time keeps marching in (if it was just slow down a little bit!) Ha Ha!!
Stinking auto correct! ON not in……LMAO!