Curved side glass
The hardtops and convertibles have curved, frameless side windows.4one source
Class of '65 · Chevrolet Impala · 1965 body · fourth generation
1965Chevrolet Impala
The new body: rounded sides, curved side glass, a semi-fastback sport coupe and the new 396, and, by Wikipedia's account, more than a million sold.
The year in brief
Totally redesigned for 1965, the Impala got dramatically rounded sides, curved frameless side glass on the hardtops and convertibles, and a semi-fastback roof on the sport coupe.4one source
Wikipedia says the Impala set an all-time annual sales record of more than a million in the United States that year. Consumer Guide's table counts about 1,046,500 Impalas and Super Sports without the wagons, with the Impala part rounded.14
For about $200 the Impala sport sedan could be ordered with the Caprice option, RPO Z18; a year later the Caprice was a series of its own.45
The story of the year
The 396 replaces the 409
Early 1965 Impalas could still have the 409, at 340 or 400 hp. During the year the new 396 Turbo-Jet, at 325 and 425 hp, took its place.45
Over-Drive's full-size sheet notes that Chevrolet built 59,650 396s and 2,828 409s for 1965.3one source
How to spot a 1965
What tells it apart from a 1964.
Semi-fastback sport coupe
The sport coupe's roof slopes into a semi-fastback.4one source
Taillamps set high
The taillamps sit high in the rear panel.5one source
Production13one source
About 1,046,500 cars, by group of models; ≈ marks our arithmetic on rounded totals.
Every trim line
| Body | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Sport coupe | Impala | 343,187 |
| Impala Super Sport | 215,272 | |
| Group total | 558,459 | |
| Convertible | Impala | 44,918 |
| Impala Super Sport | 27,842 | |
| Group total | 72,760 | |
| 4-door sedan and sport sedan | Impala | ≈415,300 |
| Group total | ≈415,300 | |
| Total | ≈1,046,500 | |
Consumer Guide's table. The Impala total without Super Sports, 803,400, is rounded to the nearest 100 and excludes the wagons; it includes 343,187 sport coupes, 44,918 convertibles and 40,393 sport sedans with the Caprice option. The sedan row is our subtraction (about 415,300). The Super Sport rows are our sums of Consumer Guide's six and V8 rows (243,114 in all). Over-Drive's sheet has the same rounded totals, so it is one source.
Engines24
9 engines. Chevrolet's regular production option number from GM's own lists: numbers in 1961–62, letter codes from 1963; «Std.» is a standard engine. The VIN shows only six or V8.
Gross ratings from GM's engine table of the 1965 kit, which lists the 327 and 396 in two versions each; it prints the codes L77, L30, L74, L35 and L78. The 409 is not in that table: by Wikipedia's account it was dropped early in the year, so only early 1965 cars had it, at 340 or 400 hp.
Price when new13one source
Base retail prices in 1965 dollars, before options.
Factory prices from Consumer Guide's table and Over-Drive's sheet, one chain. Consumer Guide prints the six-cylinder sedan, sport coupe and sport sedan as $3,672, $3,678 and $3,742; Over-Drive's $2,672 and $2,742 show the first digit is a misprint for the sedans, and $2,678 for the coupe is our reading. Over-Drive's sport coupes carry the Super Sport prices; see the ruling.
Colors2one source
15 factory colors. The color names come from one source2one source; the swatches are approximate screen colors, not paint matches.
Tuxedo BlackAA
Ermine WhiteCC
Mist BlueDD
Danube BlueEE
Willow GreenHH
Cypress GreenJJ
Artesian TurquoiseKK
Tahitian TurquoiseLL
Madeira MaroonNN
Evening OrchidPP
Regal RedRR
Sierra TanSS
Cameo BeigeVV
Glacier GrayWW
Crocus YellowYY
GM's list of solid exterior colors and RPO codes for the 1965 Impala series. Two-tones are left out. Over-Drive's list for all 1965 full-size Chevrolets calls the white «Ermine Ivory». No source we have gives the number of cars per color.
Reading the VIN2one source
A 1965 VIN has 13 characters. Type one in, and the decoder reads it against the code tables on this page.
164375F1000262one source · An example built from GM's code tables, not a real car's VIN: a 1965 Impala V8 sport coupe, after GM's own example of a Biscayne (154695F100026).
The code table
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet |
| 63 · 64 · 65 · 66 | Series: 63 Impala, six; 64 Impala, V8; 65 Impala Super Sport, six; 66 Impala Super Sport, V8 |
| 35 · 37 · 39 · 45 · 67 · 69 | Body: 35 4-door station wagon, 2 seats; 37 2-door sport coupe (hardtop); 39 4-door sport sedan (hardtop); 45 4-door station wagon, 3 seats; 67 2-door convertible; 69 4-door sedan |
| 5 | Model year (1965) |
| A · C · D · F · G · J · L · N · R · S · T · Y | Assembly plant (GM's list for all Chevrolet passenger cars, «only basic designations shown») |
| 100001 → | Unit number, counted at each plant for all series together |
Where to find it: Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.2one source
Questions about the 1965
How many 1965 Chevrolet Impalas were made?
About 1,046,500, by a total rounded to the nearest 100. The production table on this page shows which rows are exact and which are our arithmetic on the rounded total.13one source
How can you tell a 1965 Impala from a 1964?
Three signs, each explained under «How to spot» on this page: curved side glass; semi-fastback sport coupe; taillamps set high.45
What engines did the 1965 Chevrolet Impala have?
Nine engines, from the 230 cu in six to the 396 cu in V8. The engine table on this page gives every code and rating, and the rulings cover the disputed ones.24
How much did a 1965 Chevrolet Impala cost new?
Base retail prices, before options: 4-door sedan, six $2,672; 4-door sedan, V8 $2,779; Sport coupe, V8 $2,785 or $2,947 (open ruling); Sport sedan, V8 $2,850; Convertible, V8 $3,051; Super Sport coupe, V8 $2,947; Super Sport convertible, V8 $3,212.13one source
What colors did the 1965 Chevrolet Impala come in?
General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) lists 15 factory colors.2one source
Where is the VIN on a 1965 Chevrolet Impala?
Stamped on a plate attached to the left front body hinge pillar.2one source
Where the sources disagree
Every conflict we found for 1965, and how we settled it. All rulings.
Open
1965 prices: the sport coupe
Our ruling: Unresolved. As in 1964, Over-Drive's sport coupes carry the Super Sport coupe prices, so its block looks shifted; we show Consumer Guide's $2,785 for the V8 sport coupe with Over-Drive's figure beside it. Consumer Guide prints the six-cylinder sedan, sport coupe and sport sedan as $3,672, $3,678 and $3,742; Over-Drive's $2,672 and $2,742 show the first digit is a misprint for the sedans, and $2,678 for the coupe is our reading. The two count as one chain.
What each source says (2)
- Sport coupe printed $3,678 (six; $2,678 is our reading) and $2,785 (V8); Super Sport coupe $2,839 and $2,9471one source
- Sport coupe $2,839 (six) and $2,947 (V8), the same as its Super Sport coupe3one source
Sources
- 1958-1965 Chevrolet Impala HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-11
- 1965 Chevrolet Passenger Car – Vehicle Information Kit General Motors (GM Heritage Archive) · read 2026-10-12
- 1965 Chevrolet Full Size Car Production Figures Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-12
- Chevrolet Impala (fourth generation) Wikipedia · read 2026-10-12
- 1965 Chevrolet Full Size Cars Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-12
Keep going
Three more years.
1963Chevrolet ImpalaSquared-off styling, a new 230 six, three versions of the 409, the 427 Z11 for racing, and 153,271 Super Sports.About 832,600 built1964Chevrolet ImpalaThe last of the third generation: the Super Sport became its own series, the taillights sat in a body-colored panel, and the 409 topped out at 425 hp.About 889,600 built (disputed)
1966Chevrolet ImpalaA facelift with rectangular taillamps, the Caprice now its own series, and two new 427s, at 390 and 425 hp.About 775,100 built (disputed)See the whole fourth generation.
Dimensions, production year by year and every ruling, 1965–1970.