1965 Chevrolet Impala SS

It's been said that the Chevrolet Impala actually started the Muscle Car era. Your views may vary, I'm merely reporting what I've heard...  Born as Chevrolet's top of the line model, the Impala became the symbol for performance in the early sixties and introduced Chevrolet's signature "SS" brand of performance. Although later eclipsed down the road by smaller, lighter cars, the Impala still remains the performance car of choice for those who like big cars. After getting a total redesign in 1965, the Impala set an all-time industry annual sales record of more than 1 million units in the U.S., which has never been bettered.

The 1965 Chevrolet Impala managed to grow bigger yet. For 1965 the full-size Chevys featured dramatically rounded sides, curved window glass, and an all-new front end with fresh hood contours. A new Girder-Guard frame reduced the size of the driveline tunnel inside. Chevrolet also promoted the cars' Wide-Stance design, adhesively bonded windshield, and it's improved full-coil suspension. Sport Coupes wore a sleek semi-fastback roofline, and wheel well moldings were revised. A two-tone instrument panel put gauges in a recessed area ahead of the driver.

A Turbo Hydra-Matic atomatic transmission was offered for the first time, the column-shift three-speed could have full synchronization, and a new 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine had a decent number of buyers. A 396 cu in Turbo-Jet V-8 became available midway through the model year, packing 325 or 425hp, the latter with 11:1 compression and solid lifters. Sadly, the legendary dual-carb 409 V8 was dropped, leaving only 340 and 400 horsepower renditions. Super Sport models differed slightly from regular Impalas, retaining bright windshield moldings but not the rocker panel or lower fender trim. A total of 243,114 Impala SS coupes and convertibles were built. Their new center console housed a rally-type electric clock, and full instrumentation now included a vacuum gauge.

After shelling out an extra $200, an Impala Sport Sedan could be transformed into a Caprice Custom Sedan, establishing a name destined for decades of life. The Caprice option group included a black-out grille, vinyl top with "fleur de lis" emblems, unique wheel covers, and narrow sill moldings.

They also got the most luxurious interior ever seen in a Chevrolet, and an bunch of creature comfort and convenience stuff. Specially stitched cloth door panels had simulated walnut, and contour-padded seats wore a combination of fabric and vinyl. All of this was intended to give Chevy buyers a "one-of-a-kind" taste of Cadillac's look and ride. Its sales success prompted Chevrolet to make the V-8-only Caprice a full series for '66.

Yeah, no doubt the 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS is on the large side, but it still managed to cover ground on a street or drag strip or two very well when needed. At least, the ones that friends of mine had owned. Personally, I had a shot (or two), of owning 1965 Impalas...both deals fell through at last minute...one thanks to an owner that wasn't up front with how badly it needed some work, the other to someone who got to it's owner with cash before I did, but you know what they say...third times the charm. I know at some point down the road a 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS will be in my future. They ARE after all, drop dead gorgeous...wouldn't you say?