1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Hardtop
Purchased by our consignor from noted Malibu enthusiast Ed Sharens, we give you a 1965 Chevelle Malibu for consignment. The car retains most of its original design, presents in good condition and sports the 350hp 327ci V8 and 4 speed combo and is in the L79 registry. It may look like the mild mannered part of to go to church on Sundays, but it's a factory hot rod basically. Belt in for the description
Exterior
Paint code RR denotes Regal Red paint, and this respray is much like the factory color. Paint is showing some dulling, underlying surface rust, areas of cracking, previous body fill work on the rockers, and underlying rust bubbles. These areas are not significant in size but are throughout the car when you look closely. A nicely restored horizontal ribbed aluminum grille with Chevy badge in the center has dual headlights and a shiny bumper below. As we work our way rearward, good gaps and fairly shiny work are noted with some areas of dulling throughout. This car is badged with the Chevrolet crossed flags and 327 designations, along with the Malibu Chevelle badges on the rear quarters. The glass is all good and there's plenty of stainless surrounding these and even the drip edge is shiny chrome. On the back a simple dual horizontal ribbed rear is below the trunk lid and inset square tail lights are on either edge. 14-inch steel wheels with factory polished standard hubcaps are on this Chevrolet and all are wrapped with low mileage thin white stripe 215/75R14 rubber.
Interior
A swing of the doors and we greet 1960s styling with a red horizontal ribbed center panel in vinyl below a red painted steel sill. This panel has the door actuators and window cranks as well as a red vinyl covering in a shiny pull/armrest. Inside we see the two-tone red low back split bench seats consisting of orange small snowflake pattern broadcloth inserts and these are surrounded by red vinyl with some embossed panels on their top edges. Red seat belts are in. The long rear bench is patterned the same and is like new. A stylish chromed shift lever rises for the driver from the red carpeted floor and central hump. It appears as the factory shifter. An inverted V style aluminum dash drips of 60' bowtie styling, the original center gauge cluster, which is flanked by the speedo on the left, and a temp, oil, fuel and amp cluster to the right. A factory clock is in the center and is fronted by a factory red plastic wheel showing some wear though on the red. Original pull knobs function perfectly, and an AM radio fills the factory spot in the dash. As I look around this clean, tight, red interior with a white tight headliner I'm dreaming about Michelle Phillip's cute little overbite belting out "This is Dedicated to the One I Love".
Drivetrain
A big, bold, and beautiful 327ci orange/red blocked mill is resting nicely within the restored engine bay. The engine correct and is the original based on the casting number and casting date. It is topped with a newer 4-barrel Holley carburetor with the factory Holley coming along with the car and a chromed dual snout air cleaner covering. Also, on back a Muncie M20 4-speed manual that is also correct. Putting power to the ground is a 12-bolt 3.31 axle. All is very nicely done with painstaking attention taken under this hood right down to the glass windshield washer bottle. Our consignor notes that the engine has less than 500 miles on it and was rebuilt by "The Engine Shop" from Collingdale, PA.
Undercarriage
A little bit of surface rust and under the drivers rear wheel well some invasive rust has taken over. Framing is solid and surrounding it are drum brakes front and rear, power steering, and dual stock exhaust can take you down the road safely, however these do have some rust on them. You can be secure in the fact that there is a strong frame and its supporting front independent coil spring suspension and rear 4 link with coil springs.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter and on the test track it performed nicely with great acceleration and smooth shifting. Nice and tight, and what fun to drive with all functions working.
A good example of the '65 Malibu with an earlier restoration and very nice original car. Straight steel and nice chrome and brightwork. The front and back seats are dripping with 60's styling and color, and the dash is factory right down to the radio which still works. The engine is looking great and performs as such. I'm California Dreamin' on such a winter's day..
136375A151597
1-Chevrolet
36-Malibu V8
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
5-1965
A-Atlanta, GA Assy Plant
151597-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
08A-1st Week August
ST 65 13637-1965 Malibu 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BODY ATL11672-Atlanta Body #
TR 772-Red Ramada Cloth & Imitation Leather
PNT RR-Regal Red
E-Tinted Glass, All
2L-4-Speed Manual
P-Comfort & Convenience Group
R-Rear Antenna
3C-Padded Dash
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.