58-65 Chevy keys

[64ss409]

This is from the 1961 shop manual, towards the front, General Information 1-4.
The 1962 supplement and 1964 supplement do not show that there was a change. I do not have a 1963 supplement.
I have not looked at my 1964 owners manual yet. It is in the glove box, car is in the trailer and snow and cold out.

 

[bobs409]

Thanks Ron. Still confused but it does help.

 

[oleblu72]

My 65 Chevelle had two keys Bob 1 ignition and 1 trunk key.

Mark

 

[64ss409]

This is from the 1961 shop manual, towards the front, General Information 1-4.
The 1962 supplement and 1964 supplement do not show that there was a change. I do not have a 1963 supplement.
I have not looked at my 1964 owners manual yet. It is in the glove box, car is in the trailer and snow and cold out.

View attachment 67250

From the 1961 shop manual above says they used 2 kinds of tumbler locks, but one key fits all.


Bob, this is from your 1961 sales brochure showing only 2 octagon key, suggesting one octagon key fits all.



This photo is from my 1964 owners manual stating what the key fits. It fits all locks. I don't have info
for 1962 and 1963, but they probably are the same. I can't find any info on 1960 and older.

 

[bobs409]

I know my 63 only uses one key for all. I think the really old stuff always did too. Maybe some of these guys with 2 keys had something replaced at some point. ?? Weird.

 

[bobs409]

My 65 Chevelle had two keys Bob 1 ignition and 1 trunk key.

Mark

I'm thinking 65 is probably the change over. Just a guess...

 

[64ss409]

I had a 59 Impala vert that I traded on my 64. I "think" it used just one key. But that is 55 years ago.
I can't remember where I left my coffee cup this morning.

 

[bobs409]

I had a 59 Impala vert that I traded on my 64. I "think" it used just one key. But that is 55 years ago.
I can't remember where I left my coffee cup this morning.

No problem, we'll wait...

 

[Iowa 409 Guy]

My 64 has 2 keys. I think the ignition and trunk is the same. Different key for door locks I believe. Ignition is 6 sided and the other key is round. If someone changed the locks, I don't think there would be 2 different shaped keys???

 

[409newby]

When I got my 65 I went to get an extra set of keys made, the old locksmith I have used for years said that the keys I brought in were the originals and should save them, octagon and round, because he rarely sees them anymore, pretty smooth and wore down but still work, Octagon does ignition and doors round trunk.

 

[oleblu72]

On my 65 Chevelle I remember a couple of times I misplaced my trunk key so I would take out the glove box lock and take it to the locksmith and he would make me a new trunk key.

Mark

 

[ragtp66]

I can confirm that a 64 is only ONE key and 66 chevelles had 2 keys. Here are the original invoices for my dads 64 425hp/409 and 66 L78 396/375 the key numbers are on the invoices.

 

[4onthefloor]

^^^^^ very cool invoices. Pretty popular dealer back then. I remember their commercials ! My 64 Belair is a single key. My 61 Safari wagon is 2. The original warranty book shows both key numbers. One was for the rear window lock. I used the code to have a key cut and it was perfect.

 

[Junky]

Chevrolet used one key and all the other divisions used 2 key in similar years, until 1965, when they all went the same way, with one exception. Will get into that further down. The octagon shaped key was for the doors and ignition. The pear shaped key was for the trunk and glove box. Now, the exception was the Cadillac limo, it used the hexagon key for the ignition, and a pear shaped key for the front doors and trunk. Then there was a 3rd key that only operated the rear right side door. This was called a "privacy key", since only the person that rode in the rear had that key. That way, when they exited the car, they could securely lock the rear passenger compartment, and the chauffer couldn't access that area.
The Chevrolet cars up until 1965, had ignition cylinders that you could remove the key, and when you turned the cylinder to the left, it would shut down the engine, but no key was required to start the car again. I don't know when this feature started, and I also believe that they were the only division that had this feature.

 

[bobs409]

Chevrolet used one key and all the other divisions used 2 key in similar years, until 1965, when they all went the same way, with one exception. Will get into that further down. The octagon shaped key was for the doors and ignition. The pear shaped key was for the trunk and glove box. Now, the exception was the Cadillac limo, it used the hexagon key for the ignition, and a pear shaped key for the front doors and trunk. Then there was a 3rd key that only operated the rear right side door. This was called a "privacy key", since only the person that rode in the rear had that key. That way, when they exited the car, they could securely lock the rear passenger compartment, and the chauffer couldn't access that area.
The Chevrolet cars up until 1965, had ignition cylinders that you could remove the key, and when you turned the cylinder to the left, it would shut down the engine, but no key was required to start the car again. I don't know when this feature started, and I also believe that they were the only division that had this feature.

WOW!

 

[bobs409]

The Chevrolet cars up until 1965, had ignition cylinders that you could remove the key, and when you turned the cylinder to the left, it would shut down the engine, but no key was required to start the car again. I don't know when this feature started, and I also believe that they were the only division that had this feature.

That explains the LOCK position that is between OFF and ACC. I have a possible theory... You could probably remove the key so you could leave the car running and still go out and unlock the trunk since it only had the one key? Starting in 65, you had 2 keys so no need for it anymore. (did I win?) 64 was also the last year for the thumb "nubs" for lack of the correct term that allowed you to turn the ign switch without the key present.

 

[Iowa 409 Guy]

When I got my 65 I went to get an extra set of keys made, the old locksmith I have used for years said that the keys I brought in were the originals and should save them, octagon and round, because he rarely sees them anymore, pretty smooth and wore down but still work, Octagon does ignition and doors round trunk.

My keys are old and just like yours Pat. But, if I recall correctly, my 63 only needed 1 key for all.

I guess rgtp66 and 64ss409 have the proof. Maybe the reason my keys look original is that locks and keys came from donor car about the same year as mine.

 

[skipxt4]

I have had (5) 64 Impala's, over the years, and they all had one key, for doors, ignition and trunk lid.

 

[DonSSDD]

And you can pull the key out of all these old cars with the motor running, I think until you got the locking steering column.

 

[Don Jacks]

You couldn't on dad's 65,but 64 and eariler you could.