1965 Chevrolet Impala from North America - Comments

Tires needed replacement

Brake system needed to be updated

Headliner sagged

Original seats wore out.

This car had been sitting for 2 years before I bought it.

After putting in a new battery, the car fired right up.

It is completely original, except for the new headliner, seats, tires, and rims.

The car is extremely large, and very fun to drive. I get many looks and "thumbs up" from other drivers.

I bought the car for $2500, and had it appraised for $13,500. I have been offered over $10,000 many times for it.

I am in the process of restoring it, and am having loads of fun doing so.

It took some time to get used to the powerglide 2 speed transmission, but the car really moves out, and is just a blast to drive.

Someone really offered you $10k for a '65 Impala with a 327 and powerglide and you didn't take it??? and it has not even been "restored" yet?

RU insane?? or just making this up?

Are you shure $10,000. it sounds to me you are happy with the car, but it is not a muscle car. Chevrolet designed the car to be a cruising car not a muscle car. and the 327 has good power, but its not as good as the Chrysler 318 which was smaller, but not by much, but it makes a bit of power difference. its just hard to believe that Chevrolet would put a 2 speed powerglide automatic behind a 327.

I believe the $10K is possibly a slight exaggeration, but it is a highly desirable car. Even the ’65 Impala Wagon. I recently bought one and can hardly force myself to get out of the car when I arrive at my destination. I have at least one person asking if it is for sale everyday. My Impala wagon has all the power I need with the 327, not really a muscle car (my other car is a ’68 AMX), but it is comfortable and it really goes as fast as I want it to go. And… I have yet to see another one in town.

A 1965 Impala 2-door hardtop, in #4 condition is worth about $5-6,000, but the 327 adds 30% to that and if it has factory air conditioning, that's another 10%. A #4 car still needs restored, but it's serviceable, not a parts car, and by no means is it a rust-holed piece of junk. A lot of tired-looking, but reliable "daily drivers" are in this category.

All that considered, $10,000 isn't outside the realm of possibility. One thing you can be sure of is that a 65 Impala (barring a wreck or a bad case of body cancer) will never be worth less than it is now - unlike almost all new cars.

I don't believe that a 327 adds 30% ($1500-$1800) to the value of the car. I think the writer was looking at what a big block (396 or larger) would add to the value. The 327 is just too common and not that much more powerful than the standard 283 V8.

The 65 Impala is one of the better looking cars that Chevy has made. My Dad bought a used 65 back in early 1966 with 2,000 miles on it at the time... It was a 4 Door Hardtop, two tone... crocus yellow with white roof, 283 V-8 with a 3 speed standard transmission on the tree... He drove that car over 100,000 miles and traded it in on a newer vehicle that ended up rusting out in 5 years... that 65 was one vehicle that he regretted getting rid of...

I know the new Impala and the old ones are like night and day to many, but they seem to be in line with each other in a few ways. They were both designed to be good daily drivers, good road cars, roomy, reasonably powerful and decent looking. I would have to say the new Impalas will go more miles and fair much better in a crash... but all in all, the new Impala really does carry on the badge well. It could be better with RWD, a longer wheel base for better back seat leg room and a few changes to the ride. Maybe offer a touring suspension/trim package with softer suspension and more sound insulation for people that drive on the highway mostly and maybe a sport suspension/trim package for people that want that "foreign car road feel". Myself, I'd love to drive a big old '60s Chevy Impala or Oldsmobile 98 cross country one of these days :-)