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10-Mile 1965 Chevy Impala 396 Auctioned On Bring A Trailer

As part of General Motors’ celebration of fifty years of vehicle production, it debuted the 1958 Chevy Impala. The Impala was the flagship of the Bel Air line, and Chevy’s prestige passenger car. It could be had in either coupe or convertible configuration, built on the full-size Safety Girder X-Frame that had first been used on 1957 Cadillacs. The Impala sported a longer wheelbase, a lower roofline, and those iconic triple taillights.

For the 1959 model year, the Chevy Impala split off from the Bel Air line, becoming a model unto itself. The ’59 Impala also received a complete restyling with the hood growing vents at the leading edge, a revised grille, mini Dagmars on the front bumper, bullet-style trim running from the headlights and flaring just forward of the taillights. The previous year’s faux fender vents were eliminated, and the rear fenders looked similar to bats’ wings. The rear bumper was smoothed and the rear taillights looked like squinty eyes. The ’59 Impala was available as a two-door Sport Coupe, convertible, four-door sedan, four-door hardtop, or five-door wagon.

Triple taillights returned for the 1960 Chevy Impala. Nearly 490,000 Impalas were built for the 1960 model year.

The 1961 Chevy Impala received yet another restyling, with a more angular and leaner appearance. The “Bubble Top” roofline debuted on the Sport Coupes, with thinner A and C pillars. Toward the middle of the production year, the Impala Super Sport was introduced, the first Chevrolet to wear the Super Sport moniker. Only 456 Super Sports were made in 1961. The Super Sport could be equipped with the Turbo Fire 409, a bored and stroked version of the 348 rated at 360 horsepower. Only 142 1961 Impalas were equipped with the 409.

The 1962 Chevy Impala had new C-pillars on all models save the four-door hardtop. New engines were available for the Impala, as the 327 Small Block joined the inline six and 283 Small Block. The 235 cubic-inch six was good for 135 horsepower, the 283 Small Block yielded 170 ponies, the new 327 Small Block could be had with 250 or 300 horsepower, and the 409 Big Block replaced the 348, and made either 380 or 409 horsepower.

For the 1963 model year, the Chevy Impala received a more squared appearance, and the side belt molding was down low on the body. The rear taillight panel on SS models was of machine-turned aluminum. The dash had a more concave appearance with indicator lights for hot and cold rather than gauges. An optional tach could be specified and mounted atop the steering column forward of the speedometer. A W-Series 427 Big Block was available for the first time as part of RPO Z11, a performance package aimed at competition. The 427 featured an aluminum intake, dual four-barrel carbs, and 13.5:1 compression, good for 430 horsepower. In addition to the 427, RPO Z11 included aluminum body panels, and cowl-induction. Fifty 1963 Z11 Impalas were built.

For the 1964 model year, the Chevy Impala styling was softened. The Super Sport grew from being an option package to a model unto itself.

The Chevy Impala for 1965 was completely redesigned, and was resoundingly received with record sales topping one million units. The Safety Girder X-Frame was replaced by a full perimeter frame. The ’65 had a swoopy new body with frameless curved side windows, a more angled windshield, and full coil suspension. Engine choices included the Turbo-Thrift six, the 283 Small Block in either 195 or 220 horsepower configurations, the 327 in 250- or 300-horse ratings, the 409 Big Block in 340- or 400-horsepower versions (though the 409 was phased out early in the production year), and the new Mark IV 396 Big Block with 325 or 425 horsepower.

Our feature 1965 Chevy Impala Sport Coupe is something of a time capsule, having amassed just ten miles from new. It was originally delivered to Lambrecht Chevrolet in Pierce, Nebraska, where it remained unsold until an auction of Ray Lambrecht’s collection in 2013. It is finished in Ermine White over a red vinyl interior, and powered by its numbers-matching 396 cubic-inch Big Block backed by a two-speed Powerglide transmission. Equipment includes power steering, air conditioning, a Delco radio, a padded dash, and a tinted windshield. The Impala rolls on fourteen-inch steel wheels with wheel covers and BFGoodrich Silvertown whitewall tires. The car has been the subject of some reconditioning including an engine rebuild, presumably to replace dried seals. There are signs of age in the form of some rust visible on the dash and speedometer, but overall the car looks to be in good condition.

This highly original, 10-mile 1965 Chevy Impala convertible was auctioned on Bring a Trailer, but the $41,250 high bid failed to meet reserve.

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Comments

  1. 😮

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  2. From the 50s on up the styling changes every year. There wasn’t a bad design just which do you prefer? 65-68 were such an advancement. Cool combo here.

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  3. Nice One

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  4. Thanks for all of the great production stats, I love them!

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  5. Buy it for $40K and daily drive it…..

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  6. I remember when the Lambrecht sale occurred. I was mesmerized. My former employer attended the auction and was appalled at the stupid prices even things like a yardstick sold for. I remember seeing this car on the videos. If I remember correctly there was a second Impala coupe in a turquoise color with the same powertrain.

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  7. The picture is a hardtop not a convertible read the last page

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  8. The town that I grew up in had Plymouth police cars with the 383 cid motors in them for years. In 1968 they got Chevy’s for the first time with the 396 cid motors and 2 speed Powerglide transmissions. I remember standing of the sidewalk one day when a police car went past with lights and siren on, along with the driver flooring it. I could barely hear the siren over the motor sucking in all that air. Then it wasn’t too long before they started blowing the transmissions left and right. 1968 was the last year they bought Chevy’s and went back to Plymouth’s again. 1971 I went in the Air Force and don’t know what they bought after that.

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  9. Is this white 65 Chevy still available?

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  10. It must be trailered every time the car is moved to retain that odometer reading unless something has been disconnected

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  11. My first car in 1977 was a 1968 Chevy Caprice, which is the souped-up version of the Impala. My dad bought it for $200 and it was a rust bucket. He sold it to me for a dollar. I adored that car. My Dukes had a 327 with a Rochester Quadrajet. My dad and I pulled the engine and had it rebuilt at a local shop. Their carburetor guy taught me how to rebuild them. I sold my Dukes September 10th, 1988, which is the day before my first child was born. I was in labor as I was signing the papers and taking the money from the new owner. I often wonder what happened to the car, new owner said he was going to pull the engine and tranny and put it in a 55 Chevy truck. I miss that car and would love to have another one unless I could have my Dukes back 💗😥

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  12. My first car was a 1965 Impala 2 door with the 327.

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  13. A. Have it only to show it, to impress others you don’t even know?
    B. Have it to experience it, to impress yourself?

    I choose B.

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    1. Ho much for the car? cash money!

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  14. Just look at the beautiful styling on this car. Cars back then had real style and class. New vehicles all look the same: Like giant suppositories going down the road. Ugly as sin.

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  15. Will 50 thousand take this car? Let me know ?

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  16. It’s a nice car but, it is a hardtop not a convertible.

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  17. I bought a brand new 1966 Impala SS after I got out of the service it had a 327 300 hp 4 speed green white top I paid $2800 MSRP $3200. Love that car but with no AC I traded it in 1968 for a car with AC

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  18. This car is not a super sport; it would say super sport in front of each door by the front tire. It was signed in longhand like you were signing your name. 👁️👁️👀😎

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    1. They never.mentuoned Super Sport. They called it a “Sport Coupe”. Which ot is being a 2.door model.

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    2. The strip between the bumper and taillights would be black with silver outline too!

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  19. My bad your right, need to read everything a little slower. It’s a sweet ride and so cool. God I’m old; has a 64 ss and a 65 SS Impala when I was in high school 🏫🎒😎👁️👁️👀🆒……

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  20. I grew up in the dealership and used to play in this car as a kid

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  21. My dad owned a dark blue with light blue interior 1965 Impala SS 396 , turbo 400. Complete with a cb and 8 track tape deck. I thought that was the coolest car ever. I remember riding with momma driving to A&P grocery store. I thought that vacuum gauge was it. Dad has SS wheels on it , looked sharp. Nice growing up with a geared dad.

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