Feb 19, 2021  •  For Sale  •  31 Comments

One Owner: 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS

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1965 was the second year for the Chevelle and also for the Malibu SS as the Bow-Tie guys jumped into the mid-size muscle car wars. The Chevelle was a practical car that filled a gap between the full-size Biscayne/Bel Air/Impala and the compact Chevy II/Nova. The Malibu SS could be powered by most anything Chevrolet offered from mild to wild, including this ’65 edition that the seller describes as both restored and running as a one owner vehicle. It can be found in Hayward, California and here on craigslist for $30,000.

The Chevelle and later Malibu were produced by Chevy from 1964-78 on GM’s A-body platform that the other division’s intermediates also used. For the first two years, the Super Sport edition had a Malibu SS badge on the rear quarter panels; later, they would become simply the Chevelle SS. The $162 Super Sport package could be ordered on the upscale Malibu 2-door hardtop and convertible models and added special exterior brightwork and 14-inch full-disc wheel covers like those on the Impala SS.

Inside the passenger cabin of the SS, vinyl bucket-seats included a floor console for either a Muncie 4-speed-manual or a Powerglide 2-speed automatic transmission. The Malibu SS also came with a 4-gauge cluster in place of engine warning lights. Typical engine choices would be the 283 cubic-inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor rated at 220 hp or the Chevy 327 in either 250, 300 or 350 hp set-ups. Given the aftermarket valve covers and air cleaner on the seller’s car, we don’t know what engine for sure is under the hood and the seller doesn’t tell us.

What we are told is this Malibu SS has stayed in California with its original owner all its life. It’s been garage-kept since being full restored, but we don’t know how recently that work was. It’s a running car, but we don’t see it leaving the garage in any of the photos. It’s a beautiful machine with Artesian Turquoise paint that may have some marks on the left rear quarter by the SS badge. The seller’s ad says the car is a manual, but the pedals under the dash say it’s an automatic. The mileage on the odometer is reported as 42,800.

Chevrolet built 378,618 Chevelle’s for 1965, with 63,532 being V8 coupe models as the seller’s car appears to be. For verifying authenticity, a ‘65 Malibu SS can be identified by its VIN, where the 2nd and 3rd numbers should be “38” for an SS with a V-8. Hagerty pegs one of these cars to be worth $31,800 in Excellent condition, which may be close to the condition of the seller’s car. If we only knew for sure what is under the hood.

Comments

  1. MorganW MorganW
    Feb 19, 2021 at 9:30am

    Anyone else think this ad seems kinda fishy? Great looking car, though…

    Like 16
    • robert semrad
      Feb 20, 2021 at 9:58am

      What makes you think that?

      Like 0
      • JoeBob
        Feb 20, 2021 at 1:23pm

        The firewall doesn’t look original and looks like the vin tag has been added. Inner fenderwells and heater cover weren’t painted body color. Nice looking Chevelle, but why no pics of the passenger side or underside for $30k?

        Like 3
  2. Fahrvergnugen FahrvergnugenMember
    Feb 19, 2021 at 9:39am

    The marks on the left rear quarter by the SS badge appear to match the color of the beltline pinstriping, so I’m guessing they are artistic flourishes.

    Pretty nice looking car overall, depending on powertrain confirmation.

    Like 3
  3. Steve R
    Feb 19, 2021 at 9:47am

    Based on the wheels, valve covers, air cleaner, “steel braid” hose coverings and firewall insert I’d say this was done in the mid to late-90’s.

    There is no reason given in the ad to believe the mileage claim of that the original owner is still in possession of the car. That is the sort of thing flippers do. I live a few towns away from the seller, The weather in this area is mild so cars are driven year round, public transportation isn’t great, low mileage cars tend to belong to house wives and the elderly, those that didn’t need to drive every day.

    The car looks nice, but unless documentation can be provided, it should stand or fall based on its condition, not the story in the ad.

    Steve R

    Like 7
  4. Rex B Schaefer
    Feb 19, 2021 at 12:06pm

    No 350HP 327 in ’64 Chevelles!

    Like 2
    • Bmac777
      Feb 19, 2021 at 2:03pm

      What about the 65’s, like this one?

      Like 4
    • Brad
      Feb 21, 2021 at 6:53am

      Correct only 1737 1964 chevelle where made with the 300hp 327.
      And I have a number matching one.

      Like 0
  5. Jcs
    Feb 19, 2021 at 12:26pm

    A lot to like here.

    Like 1
  6. 1-MAC
    Feb 19, 2021 at 12:35pm

    Upgraded master cylinder, disc brakes?

    Like 0
  7. Dale Olivier
    Feb 19, 2021 at 1:51pm

    My Dad bought a 65 Malibu SS with 327 with camel humps on the heads , 2 speed automatic, bad machine

    Like 4
  8. MNGUY
    Feb 19, 2021 at 5:25pm

    I bought and repainted a ’65 convertible in original red/white top/black interior. Cleaned up the 283″ engine compartment and lived with the Powerglide. Hardest and most expensive parts to find were the stock wheel covers. It saw a couple shows before it was sold. Another one I wish I could have kept!

    Like 2
  9. Keith
    Feb 20, 2021 at 9:45am

    A original L-79 65 Chevell would be twice the asking price of this car. Not many made.

    Like 3
  10. MikeB
    Feb 20, 2021 at 9:55am

    Bought a new 65 non SS Malibu,2dr.hdtp. 327/300 hp, bench seat, 4 spd. AC,ps,pb. Honduras Maroon,tan interior. A really nice car. My then wife left it parked on busy street where a drunk hit and totaled it !

    Like 2
  11. Troy s
    Feb 20, 2021 at 10:20am

    It’s a great looking Chevelle, a definite show and cruiser machine. Probably has a 350 in it, maybe even a turbo 350 transmission, one things for certain it’s not a manual by any means as advertised.
    Not that its relevant to this car but just how many L79 powered Chevelles were built in ’65 anyways? That was as strong as it got for Chevelles in that year,,, unless of course you were fortunate enough to obtain a Z16, one of several hundred. Nice driver up there.

    Like 0
  12. Keith
    Feb 20, 2021 at 10:51am

    Printed guess of L-79 production is 6000

    Like 3
  13. bikefixr
    Feb 20, 2021 at 11:17am

    I don’t see how this is a barn find. A well-cared for $30,000 is hardly an undiscovered gem. Was it a slow day?

    Like 1
  14. Gary
    Feb 20, 2021 at 11:59am

    Love the car !!! Hate the after market Crager wheel. The original ss Hub caps are beautiful

    Like 0
    • Tom
      Feb 20, 2021 at 12:57pm

      I don’t mind the wheels much, but that engine compartment. What a mess!! I have a hard time believing that the original owner would have dorked it up like that. I’m calling BS on this one..

      Like 5
  15. Frank
    Feb 20, 2021 at 12:41pm

    Last time I checked, doesn’t restored mean back to factory?

    Like 3
    • robert semrad
      Feb 20, 2021 at 5:55pm

      No…..

      Like 0
    • robert semrad
      Feb 20, 2021 at 5:58pm

      Where does it say restored? I read “original”….

      Like 1
    • MorganW MorganW
      Feb 22, 2021 at 9:58am

      Yes, Frank, I agree…and the ad does say “fully restored”.

      Like 1
  16. Gary
    Feb 20, 2021 at 1:10pm

    Did anybody notice that the bucket seats are not original ?

    Like 1
  17. Mike Morgan
    Feb 20, 2021 at 1:11pm

    Tear everything out of the engine bay and drop most of it in the trash. Hideous fake braided hose, gawdawful piece of tin screwed to the firewall, never liked those Edelbrock air cleaners and valve covers, body color paint on plastic parts…YUCK!

    Like 2
  18. Keith
    Feb 20, 2021 at 1:45pm

    Why all the negative commits? Just like looking at a house and saying that is the wrong color for it. If we were all the same it would be one boring world. This is one nice 65 Chevelle and everybody should say that and not give such negative remarks.

    Like 3
  19. Kenn
    Feb 20, 2021 at 4:11pm

    Fake braided hoses? How can you tell? And I think the engine compartment looks lots better than some others I’ve seen here that are bragged on. As stated elsewhere, to each his (or her – God forbid I should be a male chauvinist.) own.

    Like 2
    • Steve R
      Feb 20, 2021 at 7:59pm

      It’s easy to tell fake braided hose covering from real braided hose. For those that can’t, look at the fittings, they are a dead giveaway, fake coverings use worm clamps with a collar, real braided hoses use compression fittings which look completely different.

      Steve R

      Like 0
  20. Paul S
    Feb 20, 2021 at 4:37pm

    The sellers add on Craigslist states automatic Not manual. Not sure where you got that from?
    Nice car but 30 g’s ??

    Like 0
  21. Ed Gill
    Feb 21, 2021 at 12:30pm

    My father bought me a 65 chevelle for $575.00 It had 117000 miles on it.
    It had a 327 motor with a Muncie 4 speed trans. Car ran great. I was the second owner. Sorry I ever sold that car. Orginal owner was a friend from
    church. He used to tease me, he would say Ed I will leave you the car when
    Jesus comes back. I would laugh and say gee, thanks Ron.

    Like 0

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