Yes, you read that right. This is a 1965 Chevy Impala Super Sport. But It has a tricked-out 454 cubic inch V8 where a 396 once was. The car appears to be in magnificent condition and presents otherwise as original, although an earlier restoration is likely as the odometer has already crossed the 100k mile mark. Besides the potent engine swap, there’s an M-22 “Rock Crusher” 4-speed manual transmission in place to sweeten the deal. Located in Proctorville, Ohio, this automobile belonged to the seller’s father and is available here on craigslist for $45,000 OBO. We don’t know how he does it, but this is another grand tip from Pat L.!
The 1965 model year was a banner one for Chevrolet. They produced more than one million copies of the Impala for the first (and only) time. And the Impala Super Sport would be front and center as one out of every five built would carry that badging. With bucket seating and blacked-out trim, the SS was designed to be sporty but could also come with some muscle. Many of them were produced with the 396 big block, including the seller’s Mist Blue (I think) beauty.
Instead of the 396, a 454 V8 from at least 1970 sits under the hood of this machine and it has been treated to a Mickey Thomson intake manifold with twin Carter AFB carburetors. Add to that a high-performance camshaft and the horsepower rating of this set-up could be through the roof – one horse per cubic inch? To help prevent excessive spinning of the rear wheels, this car comes with a 4:11 Posi-Traction limited-slip differential.
We don’t know about the crisp paint, but the seller says the interior is original except for the carpeting and package tray. This looks like a vehicle that was treated with kid gloves and no doubt the Chevy was good ole Dad’s pride and joy. The seller is asking a premium above what Hagerty and J.D. Power say one of these cars in “good condition” is worth – but it’s in better shape than that, but is the engine swap a plus or minus in the resale?
Beautiful car. But, to answer the question, if I’m paying a premium it needs to be original. Otherwise, I’d spend the money and build one to my preferences.
No such thing as an original 65 Impala with a 454.
The 454 was just a bigger version of the 396, so outward appearance would be virtually the same. I was 18 in ’65, and nearly half of the people who had 396 Impalas bored and/or stroked their motors and ran dual quad carbs. I wonder how this car came to its current configuration?
In my opinion this trend that these cars need to be original is a bunch of baloney. When all is said and done you have an uninspiring boring piece of metal that is too slow to get out of it’s own way. Back in the day we bought these cars and if we kept the 396 in them we modified them. We took a semi quick car and made it go fast! That was the name of the game back then and the guy who made it go the fastest was “king of the hill.” Another trend today is trying to make them corner like new Corvettes, these were straight line cars, we went to dragstrip.
I hada1968 impala with 396 there was nothing slow about it I could eat just about any stock car I put it up against. The trick is in the tuning
It’s 100% beautiful! But price price wise, I’m a buyer not a seller and I agree with Walter.
It would be worth more, to me, if it still had the original 396. Beautiful car, but $45K? No.
This looks like it would be great fun. Imagine the sound of all 8 barrels wide open and the whine of the Rockcrusher!!!
It’s not 100% original, but you could drive this one and have alotta fun. You might not want to do that with a museum piece. I don’t know if he will get the full 45g’s but he says he is open to offers. Only thing I would change would be the brake system, at least go with a dual master and add a power brake booster. Front discs would make it even better. With all of that go ya gotta have some whoa.
For 45k give some under car pics including trunk, drop downs ,frame, floors,trunk ,door and trunk lid seams fender and quarter bottoms, etc.Cool car and I like a lot it but if you have such a magnificent piece of machinery for sale at your price point hire a professional to do the pics and list it for your dad if you can’t. Just my .02.
A minus…
Gorgeous and beyond…. not just this car but these prices for these cars is way out of control……
Fantastic car. But this is the classic “aim high on price to see what you get” sort of thing. Haggerty “good” condition is quoted at 30k but that assumes original engine I bet. This has a sweet 454 with that rare and rowdy dual carb setup, but it’s still a solid in-low-30’s car IMO. I love it in any case! It’s one of my favorites that I’ve seen come across the wire lately!
Makes me wanna burn rubber just reading about this car
Wow, it sure is a nice one. This would do for car shows and in town driving. The cross ram manifold would mean you on are running on a 4-barrel all the time, man thats some gas usage. It is a very unique setup. Nice car….
You mean you are running on two four barrels all the time. One four barrel for each bank. That means they need to be synchronized, or it will run like crap.
No, you are running the front 2 barrels on each 4 barrel. Each side of the motor gets 2 barrels when cruising. I have a dual quad inline and I can run the motor fine on the back carb using only 2 barrels. Progressive linkage…I guess it sold.
My experience with non original at any car show is they do not do as well as original cars do. There for the value is less. Just the way it is
So it costs you money both ways. Once when you do anything non original and again when you sell
GM switched names for paint colors all the time. In 66 the color was Marina Blue, this looks like the same color.
I’ve got an orig. 65 SS 4 spd. Since I got it I took the 396 out and it’s in moth balls now, and I replaced it with a 500+HP 427, I’m an engine builder so I could not leave it alone. Mine will never be for sale even if the $ market goes up to six figures for them. The 65 is iconic! GOOD LUCK SELLER!
CONGRATS to the new owner, you won’t be disappointed no matter what you paid, you can not loose!
I paid 67k for mine it was appraised for 70 but it has the 409 plus all the options and the evening orchid color
Oh boy a gearheads delight. A bippity bopitty humongous premium gas hog that a Hyundai will give a run for it’s money. Then let’s not you need both feet to stand on that little pedal to stop it. Sorry, the car is nice…looking but I wouldn’t want it. I had a 66 427, 425 4 speed contraption 4:11 gears manual brakes,and steering. It was a convertible but it was also one of the most hot, miserable, hard driving pieces of iron I ever owned. This one has a steel roof, a rolling rotisserie oven. I’ll take a nice 327 convertible with a few power accessories any day over something like this and no doubt one of those can be had for far less than this noise fest.
Look at all those thumbs up that comment has
Ask me if I care…
Well, you SHOULD care! It’s possible to like or dislike a car without being a “Richard” about it.
1st off a cam , headers & twin 4 barrels M/T style gets you more than 454 horsepower! 2nd if your speaking of the heat coming off this motor that’s what scoops & louvers were designed for & don’t expect to drive this car in stop & go traffic because yes it will get hot. Drive on cool afternoons up north with no traffic jams to slow you down & your a winner! Better still drive it to the tractor pulls in late August just when it starts to be fall up north
1965 Impala SS ?? My first car
I don’t care how big of a motor you put in there, those beasts are still too heavy to be very impressive.
I have a 65 Impala. Full interior. Full exhaust. 4.10 gears. Automatic.
Little ole 427.
12.12 @ 111.68 mph.
Not too shabby for a land yacht.
Mistake 1. If you are going to buy and own a 1965 Chevy Impala SS Super Sport make sure it’s going to have the big block 4BBL 396 V8 or the Big Block 427 4BBL V8 Power Plant. Keep the original Power Plant
that came under the hood of that ride. The Big Block 454 4BBL V8 wasn’t introduced until 1969/ 1970 also the Rocket Jet Big Block Power Plant from the 350 to the 454 4BBL Rocket Jet. GM had a slang “keep your GM Car all GM, Ford was Family Of Fine Cars and for Chrysler it was Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth Motor Parts Mopar.
Don’t forget folks keep your original ride all original no after market parts why? Because like Forest Gump’s Mama always said and told him as a child life is like a box of chocolates you’ll never o what your gonna get.
Sincerely Yours Truly
Ivan I J🕺🏾👨🏾🦱
I had a 64 Impala ss with the 409 with ac, power brakes, power steering and electric windows. Also my dad bought a brand new 65 ss Impala with the 396; I was forbidden to touch it for 2 years. Later on I got to finally drive it and it was nice . AC and automatic also. I cry at night because I miss my 64 ss so much, it would probably be worth a pretty penny now but. Now I’m sad so that’s all for now. LATER GUYS. 😎👍💙♥️💪🆗✅😎