Сhevrolet Сhevelle

1965 Chevelle

“Even more exciting the second time around. And its popular size (115-inch wheelbase) still fits perfectly between the Chevrolet and the Chevy II. Freshly styled hood, grille, bumper and front fenders.” 1964 Chevrolet Full Line Brochure
  • Chevrolet added a fourth series to the Chevelle line, the 300 DeLuxe, that bridged the gap between the 300 series and the Malibu.
  • A late year addition of an optional 396 cubic inch V-8 available in some Malibu Super Sport editions was Chevy’s first real foray into turning the Chevelle into full-fledged muscle car.
  • Total production of the Chevelle line was up to 344,100 in 1965.

Muscle Car Specifications

Performance Model
1965 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
Engine Used
396ci/375hp
Zero to Sixty
6.0 sec
Quarter Mile
14.7 sec @ 99.8 mph

Stylistically, little changed with the Chevelle between the 1964 and 1965 models. All models, including the wagons, grew a few inches in length (keeping the same 115-inch wheelbase) and added a few sleeker lines and additional trim options. The biggest change, in addition to the new DeLuxe series, was in engine options available.

Standard engines stayed true to the 1964 models, with a 120 horsepower 194 cubic inch six cylinder, or 195 horsepower 283 V-8. Much like the previous year, all models offered an upgrade to a larger 230 cubic inch six cylinder producing 160 horsepower, or a 327 cubic inch V-8, producing between 250 and 300 horsepower depending on the model selected.

As with the 1964 models, these specs still lacked the performance seen in competitor’s mid-sized cars, such as the Pontiac GTO and the Buick Skylark Gran Sport, both featuring large displacement V-8s. Chevy finally answered this in a special mid-year run.

Chevelle 300 and 300 DeLuxe

While the new 300 DeLuxe series was the newest addition to the Chevelle line, it added little to the base 300 models. A few cosmetic upgrades including more interior color options (red, fawn and aqua) and upgraded trim options accounted for the DeLuxe models outselling the 300 series by a total of 10,000 units. Additionally, the wagon version of the 300 was a two door model, while the DeLuxe wagon had four doors.

Malibu

The Malibu once again reigned supreme amongst the Chevelle models in 1968, accounting for 44 percent of the total Chevelle sales, at 152,200. Offering four models, the sport coupe, convertible, 4-door sedan and 4-door 2-seat wagon, the Malibu was still competitively priced, ranging from $2,250 to $2,755.

Interiors were upgraded from both models featured in the 300 series, with textured vinyl and all-vinyl side walls, and available in additional color options. The exterior remained largely unchained, though it followed the lead of every Chevy except the Corvair to lose the company’s signature use of round taillights.

Malibu Super Sport

Differing from the 1964 model offering only a V-8 engine, the 1965 Malibu SS let buyers choose from any engine offered for the Chevelle line, leaving the added price of the SS to cover top-of-the-line extras included with the car. These included specialized SS trim inside and out, with metal accents at the hood windsplit, wheel openings and sill moldings. Additional colors were available inside and out on the SS models, including eight two-tone models.

More importantly for the evolution of the Chevelle series from Fairline competitor to muscle car was the aforementioned late addition option for the SS known as the Z-16 package, also known as the Malibu SS 396.

The 396, of course, referred to the 396 inch engine that produced 375 horsepower. Included with the Z-16 package was a Muncie four-speed, a 160 mph speedometer, a 6,000 rpm tachometer and an AM/FM stereo.

Coming in with a price tag $1,501 higher than the already high end SS model, only 201 Z-16’s were built (200 hardtops and one convertible).

Muscle Car Competition

With the introduction of the Chevelle Malibu SS 396, Chevrolet was acting in direct response to the trend of putting bigger engines into smaller cars. Ford, Pontiac, Dodge, Buick and more were already ahead of Chevy in 1964 and early 1965, but the 396 was the company’s first attempt to put a big block into a Chevelle. The event marked the beginnings of the Chevelle’s real evolution into a muscle car.

The Chevelle was redesigned in 1966 and the body was much more curvaceous than before. The new front fenders trusted forward at the top and gave the car a much more aggressive stance. The rear fenders bulge upwards giving the rear of the car a classic “Coke-bottle” look. Today, the design is one of the classics of the muscle car era.

Engine Specifications

Type Size Carb Horse Power Tourqe
I6 194ci 1x1bbl 120 hp @ 4400 rpm 177 lb-ft @ 2400 rpm
I6 230ci 1x1bbl 140 hp @ 4400 rpm 220 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
V8 283ci 1x4bbl 220 hp @ 4800 rpm 295 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
V8 283ci 1x2bbl 195 hp @ 4800 rpm 285 lb-ft @ 2400 rpm
V8 327ci 1x4bbl 350 hp @ 6000 rpm 360 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
V8 327ci 1x4bbl 300 hp @ 5000 rpm 360 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
V8 327ci 1x4bbl 250 hp @ 4400 rpm 355 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
V8 396ci 1x4bbl 375 hp @ 5600 rpm 375 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm

Performance Statistics

0 to 60 mph Quarter Mile Engine Source
6.0 sec 14.7 sec @ 99.8 mph 396ci/375hp Popular Hot Rod
6.7 sec 15.3 sec @ 96 mph 396ci/375hp Standard Catalog of Chevelle
7.6 sec 16.0 sec @ 90.0 mph 327ci/350hp High Performance Car
Overall rating
4.8
Looks
4.0
Performance
5.0
Parts Availability
5.0
Collectability
5.0

Powerful Car

The Chevelle had grown a little in 1965 and the design was a little less pure but the first real Super Sport appeared this year and that mattered a lot. The SS 396 was a true muscle car with all the proper upgrades and an engine that could really push the car down the track. Muscle cars were coming of age quickly.

1 Comment

  • nice informative. i had a 65 malibu ss # 203 from hi performence factory. does anyone still have it ??? it had an l79 i was second owner

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