1965 Chevrolet Facts




"Everything over, under or around you will be beautifully different"

"See the USA, the #1 way!"


Many new changes for 1965 including all new sheetmetal design and curved side glass with a new tempered plate glass rear window. Also new for this year was adhesive bonding for front and rear glass. This is the year we would say farewell to the legendary 409 with only 2,828 produced. (the low production numbers was due to the 409 being phased out mid year) The new 396 big block would take it's place.

The optional Caprice package is introduced to the Impala line for '65 and in this, it's first year, would only be available as a 4 door sport sedan. The Caprice wouldn't become it's own seperate model until 1966. The full size Chevrolet cars continued to have the 119 inch wheel bases but grew in length to 213.3 inches. This year saw the full perimeter frame take the place of the old "X" frame design.

As with the Supersports of last year, the 1965 SS cars were again a seperate model. Supersports of '65 could be indentified by a "165" in it's VIN number for a 6 cylinder SS car or "166" for a V-8 SS car.

Special notes about 1965:

Chevrolet is the first to build more than 3 million cars and trucks in a single year.
On June 1st, 1965 the 56 millionth Chevrolet was built.


Some highlights for '65 include:

  • Optional 325hp or 425hp 396 big block (approximately 55,499 made)
  • Optional Turbo 400 transmission available with the 325hp 396
  • Choice of fifteen Magic Mirror acrylic lacquer colors
  • Curved side glass.
  • Adhesively bonded front and rear glass
  • Tempered plate glass rear window
  • Wheel well trim on Impala models
  • Standard engines for '65 were: The 140hp 230 cubic inch 6 cylinder or the 195hp 283.

    Optional engines:

    283 220hp (RPO L-77)
    327 250hp (RPO L-30)
    327 300hp (RPO L-74)
    396 325hp (RPO L-35)
    396 425hp (RPO L-78)
    409 340hp (RPO L-33)
    409 400hp (RPO L-31)



    Model #/Name Base Price Weight Production #'s Special notes
    15311 Biscayne 2 door sedan (6 cyl) $2,314 3,305   Cheapest of the full size line
    15411 Biscayne 2 door sedan (8 cyl) $2,454 3,300    
    15335 Biscayne 4 door wagon (6 cyl) $2,707 3,765   6 passenger
    15435 Biscayne 4 door wagon (8 cyl) $2,813 3,760   6 passenger
    15369 Biscayne 4 door sedan (6 cyl) $2,367      
    15469 Biscayne 4 door sedan (8 cyl) $2,507      
    15511 Belair 2 door sedan (6 cyl) $2,419 3,310    
    15611 Belair 2 door sedan (8 cyl) $2,525 3,305    
    15535 Belair 4 door wagon (6 cyl) $2,770     6 passenger
    15635 Belair 4 door wagon (8 cyl) $2,876     6 passenger
    15545 Belair 4 door wagon (6 cyl) $2,870 3,955   9 passenger
    15645 Belair 4 door wagon (8 cyl) $2,976 3,950   9 passenger
    15569 Belair 4 door sedan (6 cyl) $2,466 3,385    
    15669 Belair 4 door sedan (8 cyl) $2,572 3,380    
    16335 Impala 4 door wagon (6 cyl) $2,909 3,995   6 passenger
    16435 Impala 4 door wagon (8 cyl) $3,015 3,990   6 passenger
    16337 Impala 2 door coupe (6 cyl) $2,622 3,390    
    16437 Impala 2 door coupe (8 cyl) $2,728 3,385    
    16339 Impala 4 door sport sedan (6 cyl) $2,685 3,495    
    16439 Impala 4 door sport sedan (8 cyl) $2,791 3,490    
    ----- Caprice 4 door sport sedan (6 cyl) $2,885     custom option on the Impala series
    ----- Caprice 4 door sport sedan (8 cyl) $2,991     custom option on the Impala series
    16345 Impala 4 door wagon (6 cyl) $3,009 3,995   9 passenger
    16445 Impala 4 door wagon (8 cyl) $3,115 3,990   9 passenger
    16369 Impala 4 door sedan(6 cyl) $2,666 3,465    
    16469 Impala 4 door sedan(8 cyl) $2,772 3,460    
    16537 Impala SS 2 door coupe (6 cyl) $2,780   3,2453  
    16637 Impala SS 2 door coupe (8 cyl) $2,886 3,435 212,0273  
    16567 Impala SS convertible (6 cyl) $3,040   3993  
    16667 Impala SS convertible (8 cyl) $3,146   27,4433 Most expensive full size car


    3-From the MSA-1 Chevy Cowl tags booklet




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