1964 Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevelle was Chevrolet’s entry into the “intermediate” segment, and was manufactured from 1964 through 1977. The 1964-’65 cars were very similar, likewise with the 1966-’67 models. 1968-’72 Chevelles are close in size and shape, and many parts over this 5 model year run are interchangeable. Although some of the sheet metal and trim changed over the years, 1973-’77 Chevelles are typically grouped into one “generation”. The 1977 model year spelt the end of the Chevelle nameplate, and the mid-size Chevrolet would continue on as Malibu.
Chevelles are based on GM’s A-Body platform and have been one of Chevrolet’s most successful platforms ever. The new A-Body platform offered a mid-size vehicle with the availability of big power. Introduced in August of 1963, approximately 338,400 Chevelles were produced for the 1964 model year.
Standard 6-cylinder versions offered 120 horsepower, and the car could be optioned with a choice of V8 engines that significantly upped the horsepower ante. Body styles range from a 2-door hardtop to 4-door wagons. Due to the mid-sized body and powerful optioned drivetrains, the Chevelle became a significant car for the burgeoning muscle-car market. The performance aftermarket took hold and offered a wide variety of bolt-on parts to give the owner the ability to personalize their vehicles.
The 300 was the Chevelle base model and included a two-door station wagon and a 2-door sedan. The Malibu was a step up from the 300 and offered more options. Interior upgrades with tailored fabrics and metallic thread accents were the main attraction for buyers. The Malibu could be found in Sport Coupe, Convertible, 4-door sedan, 6-passenger and 3-seat wagon. The Malibu SS served as the top-of-the-line Chevelle, however, it was only available with a relatively low horsepower V8, prohibiting it from being more of a muscle car competitor for this year. The SS came stock with special SS wheel covers and special trim. Later in the year saw the introduction of a 327ci/300hp V8 to better compete against the burgeoning muscle of the day.
Chevelles were assembled in Arlington TX, Atlanta GA, Baltimore MD, Flint MI, Framingham MA, Fremont CA, Kansas City KS, and Van Nuys CA, In 1964-65 GM of Canada sold an Acadian Beaumont under the Pontiac badge. Acadian Beaumonts were built in Oshawa Ontario Canada and Sainte-Therese Quebec Canada. There are many similarities between the Chevelle and the El Camino, which was a coupe utility derivative of the 2-door wagon.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1964 Chevelle 300
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Sedan
- 2 Door Wagon
- 4 Door Wagon
- Engine Options
- 194 cubic inch 120 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 230 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 283 cubic inch 195 horsepower V-8 (base)
- 283 cubic inch 220 horsepower V-8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V-8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 300 horsepower V-8 (optional)
1964 Chevelle Malibu
- Body Styles
- 4 Door Sedan
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 2 Door Convertible
- 4 Door Wagon
- Engine Options
- 194 cubic inch 120 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 230 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 283 cubic inch 195 horsepower V8 (base)
- 283 cubic inch 220 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional)
1964 Chevelle Malibu SS (Super Sport)
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 2 Door Convertible
- Engine Options
- 194 cubic inch 120 horsepower 6 cylinder (base)
- 230 cubic inch 155 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 283 cubic inch 195 horsepower V8 (base)
- 283 cubic inch 220 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 365 horsepower V8 (never made production)
1964 Chevelle VIN Decoder:
First Character: Manufacturer Year
Second and Third Character: Series Designation *
- 53 ~ Chevelle 300, 6-cylinder
- 54 ~ Chevelle 300, 8-cylinder
- 55 ~ Malibu, 6-cylinder
- 56 ~ Malibu, 8-cylinder
- 57 ~ Malibu Super Sport, 6-cylinder
- 58 ~ Malibu Super Sport, 8-cylinder
Fourth and Fifth Character: Body Style/Model
- 11 ~ 2-door sedan
- 15 ~ 2-door station wagon, 2-seat
- 35 ~ 4-door station wagon, 2-seat
- 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe
- 45 ~ 4-door station wagon, 3 seat
- 67 ~ 2-door convertible
- 69 ~ 4-door sedan
- 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup
Sixth Character: Final Assembly Plant
- A ~ Atlanta, Georgia
- B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
- H ~ Fremont, California
- K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
- L ~ Van Nuys, California
Seventh through Twelfth Digits: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1964 Chevelle was 100001 at all Chevelle assembly plants. Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 45645 station wagon followed a 45667 Malibu convertible, the sequence number would be one unit higher for the wagon. It's also entirely possible to have the same sequence number from all five 1964 U.S. assembly plants with the only difference between the VINs being the plant code.
Production at the Kansas City plant exceeded 100,000 units sometime in mid to late June so the VIN sequence from that time frame to the end of production would be 2nnnnn for the Kansas City plant.
* The El Camino is not a separate series nameplate but rather a body style in both the 300 (53/54) and Malibu (55/56) series although it's often listed as such. The base (53/54) El Camino is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with 300 trim where the (55/56) El Camino is a 2-dr sedan pickup body style with Malibu trim.
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