1965 Chevelle Restoration Specifications

The muscle car craze had started to catch on when Chevrolet introduced the 1965 Chevelle. Feeling pressure from the Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet decided to step up its offerings with minor appearance changes inside and out. Unfortunately, Chevrolet yet again found itself chasing Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and even Buick in midsize-performance for most of the 1965 model year.

Changes were not huge from the previous 1964 model year Chevelle in terms of basic body design, but the 1965 Chevelle received a new grille, new tail lamps, exterior touches, and interior.

The Chevelle was available in several trim levels for the 1965 model year, including the Chevelle 300, Chevelle 300 Deluxe, Chevelle Malibu, or Chevelle Malibu Super Sport. In addition to numerous trims, body style included 2 door sport coupes, 2 door sedans, 2 door convertibles, 4 door sedans, 2 door wagons, or 4 door wagons.

Buyers also had the option of numerous exterior colors and color combinations. Exterior colors included Tuxedo Black, Ermine White, Mist Blue, Danube Blue, Willow Green, Cypress Green, Artesian Turquoise, Tahitian Turquoise, Madeira Maroon, Evening Orchid, Regal Red, Sierra Tan, Cameo Beige, Glacier Gray, or Crocus Yellow. If those choices were not enough, the buyer could have also opted for a two-tone paint scheme. Convertible tops were available in white, black, or beige and vinyl tops were only available in black.

Interiors for the 1965 model year came standard with bucket seats and a center console but customers also had the choice of an optional bench seat or a luxurious power driverside seat. 

Another convenient option for the 1965 model year was air conditioning, as well as the choice of radio. Interiors were available in a variety of Madrid grain vinyl colors. Popular interior colors for the 1965 model year included Aqua, Aqua two-tone, Black, Light Blue, Blue two-tone, Fawn, Fawn two-tone, Red, Red two-tone, Light Saddle, and White.

To complement the wide variety of available colors were the available drive train combinations that could be opted for on the 1965 Chevelle. 

Base power was had by one of two available six-cylinder. Buyers who wanted more power could opt for a V-8. A mere 211 1965 Chevelles (200 hardtops and 1 convertible) were equipped with the super rare Z16 option which called for a 396 cubic inch big block engine cranking out a monstrous 375 horsepower. These Chevelles also featured highly modified suspensions, power-assisted steering, and anti-roll bars in the front and rear, and stronger convertible type frames. Manual transmissions were either 3 speeds or 4 speeds and the only available automatic transmission was the 2 speed Powerglide.

About 398,000 1965 Chevelles were produced.

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1965 Chevelle OEM Brochure & Ads

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1965 Chevelle Series Options:

• Chevelle 300
• Chevelle 300 Deluxe
• Chevelle Malibu
• Chevelle Malibu SS
• Chevelle SS396 *available mid-production year*

Model Options:

1965 Chevelle 300 Body Styles:

• 2 Door Sedan
• 4 Door Sedan
• 2 Door Wagon
• 4 Door Wagon

1965 Chevelle 300 Deluxe Body Styles:

• 2 Door Sedan
• 4 Door Sedan
• 2 Door Wagon
• 4 Door Wagon

1965 Chevelle Malibu Body Styles:

• 4 Door Sedan
• 2 Door Sport Coupe
• 2 Door Convertible
• 4 Door Wagon

Chevelle Malibu SS (Super Sport) Body Styles:

• 2 Door Sport Coupe
• 2 Door Convertible

Chevelle Malibu SS396 (Z16)

• 2 Door Sport Coupe
• 2 Door Convertible

Production Numbers by Series:

Chevelle 300, 2-door sedan:

• Six Cylinder: 11,528
• Eight Cylinder: 2,004
• Total: 13,532

Chevelle 300, 2-door wagon, 2 seats:

• Six Cylinder: 1,015
• Eight Cylinder: 653
• Total: 1,668

Chevelle 300, 4-door sedan:

• Six Cylinder: 14,924
• Eight Cylinder: 3,060
• Total: 17,984

Chevelle 300 Deluxe sedan, 2-door:

• Six Cylinder: 9,391
• Eight Cylinder: 2,672
• Total: 12,063

Chevelle 300 Deluxe, 4-door wagon, 2 seat

• Six Cylinder: 6,314
• Eight Cylinder: 4,751
• Total: 11,065

Chevelle 300 Deluxe, 4-door sedan

• Six Cylinder: 22,566
• Eight Cylinder: 6,911
• Total: 29,477

Malibu  4-door wagon, 2 seats:

• Six Cylinder: 6,500
• Eight Cylinder: 18,373
• Total: 24,873

Malibu, 2-door Coupe:

• Six Cylinder: 25,032
• Eight Cylinder: 55,634
• Total: 80,666

Malibu, convertible:

• Six Cylinder: 3,388
• Eight Cylinder: 7,249
• Total: 10,637

Malibu, 4-door sedan:

• Six Cylinder: 27,940
• Eight Cylinder: 33,940
• Total: 68,098

Malibu SS, 2-door Sport Coupe:

• Six Cylinder: 7,452
• Eight Cylinder: 64,532
• Total: 71,984

Malibu SS, convertible:

• Six Cylinder: 1,133
• Eight Cylinder: 7,995
• Total: 9,128

Engine Options:

• 194 cubic inch 120 horsepower 6-cylinder (base)
• 230 cubic inch 140 horsepower 6-cylinder (optional – RPO L61)
• 283 cubic inch 195 horsepower V8 (base)
• 283 cubic inch 220 horsepower V8 (optional – RPO L77)
• 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V8 (optional – RPO L30)
• 327 cubic inch 300 horsepower V8 (optional – RPO L74)
• 327 cubic inch 350 horsepower V8 (optional – RPO L79)
• 396 cubic inch 375 horsepower V8 (optional – RPO L37)

Available Transmissions:

• 3-speed
• 4-speed
• 2-speed Powerglide

Dimensions & Capacities:

Sedan (2-door & 4-door)

• Wheelbase: 115.0
• Overall Length: 196.6
• Tread – Front: 58.0
• Tread – Rear: 58.0
• Overall Width Car / Body: 74.6
• Height: 53.2

Sport Coupe:

• Wheelbase: 115.0
• Overall Length: 196.6
• Tread – Front: 58.0
• Tread – Rear: 58.0
• Overall Width Car / Body: 74.6
• Height: 52.8

Convertible:

• Wheelbase: 115.0
• Overall Length: 196.6
• Tread – Front: 58.0
• Tread – Rear: 58.0
• Overall Width Car / Body: 74.6
• Height: 52.8

Station Wagon (2-door & 4-door):

• Wheelbase: 115.0
• Overall Length: 201.4
• Tread – Front: 58.0
• Tread – Rear: 58.0
• Overall Width Car / Body: 74.6
• Height: 55.1

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1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Exterior Paint

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1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Interior Paint

Per Ditzler’s paint catalog the 1965 Chevelle used two different gloss percentages on the interior paint, a 0% Gloss (flat paint) and a 60% Gloss (glossy paint)

The following components are painted flat (0% gloss):
Instrument panel and steering column parts, windshield lower garnish molding, and radio speaker grille.

The following are painted in 60% gloss:
Windshield, upper and side garnish moldings, windshield header molding, and frame, door window inner frames, door inner panel (belt area), rear quarter window garnish moldings (front and upper), rear quarter inner panel (belt area), back window garnish moldings, tailgate window opening, upper and side garnish moldings, radio auxiliary speaker grille assembly, rear seatback radio speaker support assembly, folding top dust boot retainer, folding top parts, seat parts, and spare tire well parts.

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1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Engine Specs

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1965 Chevelle RPO Production Numbers