1965 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.
With the success of the new ’64 Chevelle, Chevrolet produced just shy of 400,000 1965 models. Not much has changed as far as design; new grille, trim, tail lights and interior touches. They added the 300 Deluxe sedans and wagon in 1965. The 300 standard offered a 2-door wagon. Malibu was the most popular model due to the wide variety of interior upgrades, colors and body styles.
It was the introduction of Z-16 SS396 that firmly planted the Chevelle in the musclecar wars of the mid-late 1960’s. The performance aftermarket took hold and offered a wide variety of bolt-on parts to give the owner an ability to personalize their vehicles. The Z-16 also offered stiffer suspension, front and rear anti-roll bars, and power assisted steering.
The Z-16 SS396 prototype was built in the Baltimore plant. The rest of the 200 unit run were built in Kansas City. One convertible Z-16 was specially built for Chevrolet General Manager Bunkie Knudsen and has since been destroyed. Of the 201 units an estimated 75 units are accounted for today. Sounds like there could be some cool barn finds to be found.
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:
1965 Chevelle 300
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Sedan
- 4 Door Sedan
- 2 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 255 horsepower V8 (optional)
1965 Chevelle 300 Deluxe
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Sedan
- 4 door sedan
- 4 Door Wagon
- Engine Options
- 283 cubic inch 195 horsepower V8 (base)
- 283 cubic inch 220 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 255 horsepower V8 (optional)
1965 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 140 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 283 cubic inch 195 horsepower V8 (base)
- 283 cubic inch 220 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 255 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional)
1965 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 140 horsepower 6 cylinder (optional)
- 283 cubic inch 195 horsepower V8 (base)
- 283 cubic inch 220 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 255 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional)
- 327 cubic inch 350 horsepower V8 (optional)
1965 Chevelle Malibu SS 396 Z-16
- Body Styles
- 2 Door Sport Coupe
- 2 Door Convertible
- Engine Options
- 396 cubic inch 375 horsepower V8 (optional)
1965 Chevelle VIN Decoder:
First Character: Division of General Motors
Second and Third Character: Series Designation *
- 31 ~ Chevelle 300, 6-cylinder
- 32 ~ Chevelle 300, 8-cylinder
- 33 ~ 300 Deluxe, 6-cylinder
- 34 ~ 300 Deluxe, 8-cylinder
- 35 ~ Malibu, 6-cylinder
- 36 ~ Malibu, 8-cylinder
- 37 ~ Malibu Super Sport, 6-cylinder
- 38 ~ Malibu Super Sport, 8-cylinder
Fourth and Fifth Character: Body Style/Model
- 11 ~ 2-door sedan
- 15 ~ 2-door wagon, 2-seat
- 35 ~ 4-door station wagon, 2-seat
- 37 ~ 2-door sport coupe
- 67 ~ 2-door convertible
- 69 ~ 4-door sedan
- 80 ~ 2-door sedan pickup
Sixth Character: Year of Production
Seventh Character: Final Assembly Plant
- A ~ Atlanta, Georgia
- B ~ Baltimore, Maryland
- G ~ Framingham, Massachusetts
- Z ~ Fremont, California
- K ~ Kansas City, Missouri
Eighth through Thirteenth Digits: Sequential Production Number
The sequential starting number for the 1965 Chevelle was 100001 at all U.S. Chevelle assembly plants. Each assembly plant sequenced Chevelles of all series/models without regard to specific series/models. For example, if a series 13435 station wagon followed a 13667 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 1965 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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