The demand for Chevrolet’s 1965 took both the brand and its competitors by surprise, setting a record that still stands today.
Breaking a sales record is the ultimate dream for any car manufacturer, though it’s a feat that is easier said than done. Chevrolet did just that in 1965 though, with its now-classic Impala model.
The fresh 1965 Impala went down a storm with US audiences, as in just one year it blew past the one million sales barrier. With a total of 1,074,925 finding owners within one year, the 1965 Impala became the first car to sell more than a million in a single year in the U.S. – a record that has yet to be beaten. It wasn’t just a fluke either, as the model went on to exceed a million units sold again in 1966.
The early 1960s saw a new design language for standard consumer sedans in the United States. Gone were the out-there fins and white-wall tires of the vehicles of the 1950s, and in came angular and more aggressive-looking designs.
All the big US car brands followed a similar theme with their full-size offerings, with Chevrolet’s Impala, Ford’s Galaxie, and Dodge’s Polara among others all opting for predominantly square designs.
1965 Chevy Impala Most Notable Features
- New Girder-Guard chassis that ensured Impala was stronger and provided more protection in a crash
- New coil suspension system front and rear
- Fresh new exterior design that set it apart from rivals
- Body made via Unisteel design, meaning the roof, sides, and floor are all combined during construction to provide extra strength
To ensure its sedan stood out, Chevrolet elected to develop a new body for the Impala for the 1965 model year. Wanting to edge away from the blocky silhouettes that emerged during the early 1960s, the American manufacturer decided to give it more flow with some curvaceous lines.
Whereas the roofline on the ultra-cool outgoing 1964 Impala had a steep downward angle, almost sitting on top of the body like a hat, the roof on the 1965 model sloped at a shallower angle towards the rear. Such a big deal was the Impala’s new design, Chevrolet pushed it as its biggest selling point in one of its printed adverts from 1965.
1965 Impala Featured Mechanical Upgrades
Chevrolet also introduced a few extra refinements under the new body to help tempt customers to their product. A new Girder-Guard chassis, which featured two full-length rails joined together by four cross members, made the car safer and more solid by providing more rigidity.
The model also brought in a new coil suspension system all around. As per Chevrolet’s brochure showing off the Impala’s from the time, the new system improved stability and also gave it a more level platform during acceleration, cornering, and braking.
Fresh Design Hits The Spot With US Drivers
The new body was the biggest attribute that set it apart from its biggest rivals, the mighty Ford Galaxie and Polara, as Ford and Dodge continued to push on with squarer designs over the next few years. As backed up by Hemmings, the fresh and more flowing 1965 Impala body made the difference as it cost around the same as its rivals, but was more striking to look at. It was also strong as the roof, sides, and floor were all connected during construction to provide more rigidity when fitted to the chassis.
As a comparison, the best-selling vehicle within the US in 2023 was the ever-popular Ford F-Series line of trucks. The brand shifted a total of 750,789 trucks, a number only 75% of the total Impala’s that Chevy sold in 1965.
It even put the immensely popular Ford Mustang, which had been unveiled just a year earlier, firmly in the shade in terms of sales. According to Hagerty, just 559,451 Mustangs were produced in 1965, meaning a decent chunk less may have been sold to gearheads. Either way, this is only just over half the number the Impala managed.
Main Reasons 1965 Impala Became Best-Selling Model In US History
- Its curvaceous body stood out compared to rivals from Ford and Dodge
- Large variety of trims, engine options, and body styles on offer
- Competitive pricing against rivals
- Well-established underpinnings
The Impala Had A Trim For Every Buyer
For the 1965 model year, a total of seven different engines and four transmission options were offered. The cheapest versions of the Impala came with a 250 ci inline-six and a three-speed manual gearbox, while slightly pricier models came with a 283 ci small-block V8 as standard, with the same transmission.
These small engines were ideal for drivers who wanted to use the Impala for trips to the shops and general day-to-day use, though there were also options for those who were keen to inject a little excitement into their lives.
Four further V8s were available as optional extras: a pair of 327 ci V8s and the range-topping 409 ci V8s. The 327 engines could be had in either 250 hp or 300 hp flavor, while the mighty 409 ci powertrains could produce either 340 hp or 400 hp. The sporty SS model offered extras such as bucket seats, purposeful SS badges dotted around the interior, and also a center console between the front seats.
These options weren’t massively different from the previous year’s Impala, though Chevrolet’s superior 325 hp turbo-jet 396 ci V8 and turbo hydra-matic three-speed automatic transmission were also introduced in 1965.
The 409 ci engine was discontinued for 1966, with Chevy’s mighty 427 ci V8 being brought in to replace it. There was also a range of body styles available, with standard two and four-door options covering the bases for most customers. Both also came in convertible form, meaning the vehicle could appeal to a wide range of customers.
Chevrolet’s decision to offer many styles of the Impala, combined with the popular design refresh, helped the car to shatter the annual sales record. Such was the dominance of the Impala in 1965, around half of the total cars Chevrolet manufactured were its full-size offering. The brand built 2.38 million vehicles that year, with over a million being Impala’s.
Original Price Of Impala Comparable To Full-Size Rivals
The Impala wasn’t exactly a bargain compared to its close competitors either. According to J.D. Power, the base MSRP of a four-door hardtop version of the Impala came in at $2,791. This was just $24 more than an equivalent Ford Galaxie would cost, while Dodge’s Polara came in a shade cheaper at $2,770.
The cheapest SS version of the Impala was also priced comparably to the competition at $2,886, with the two-door Galaxie starting cheaper at $2,737. The coupe-style Polara was offered at $2,800.
(Source: Classic.com)
The 1965 Impala remains a popular choice for motorists in the modern day too. Unsurprisingly, the SS model is one of the most sought-after and expensive models available on Classic.com.
An original two-door convertible variant of an SS sold in late 2022 for $86,800. Painted in dark blue, the 58,503-mile car came with the 396 ci V8 and a four-speed manual gearbox. On the lower end of the scale, several examples of the 1965 Impala can be had for a little over $10,000.
The cheapest was a hard-top model sold in 2019 for $14,300. The lowest-priced Impala sold in the recent past was a two-door hardtop example, which featured the 283 ci V8 and an automatic gearbox. Listed by Mecum Auctions, the beige-colored car managed to fetch $23,000. The Impala’s current popularity on the new car market shows it is as popular now as it was when it was breaking records 60 years ago.
Providing good looks, versatility, and value for money, it’s not difficult to see why it was such a hit with gearheads when it launched.