Both the largest and smallest Chevrolet lines received major overhauls for 1965, as the Biscayne, Bel Air, Impala and Impala Super Sport received handsome new bodies with a pronounced “Coke bottle” fender treatment. The signature triple tail lights from the 1964 Impala were repeated for 1965, but the X-frame was abandoned in favor of a perimeter frame. At the other end of the scale, the Corvair was radically changed, with a shark-nose wasp-waisted look that foreshadowed the 1968 C3 Corvette.

Model year production reached an impressive 2,382,509 units and 1,647,600 of those were the big Chevrolets. The 1965 Chevy Impala was the best-selling series, with 803,400 sales and the Super Sport series accounted for another 243,100 units. In all, 72,760 Chevrolet full-size convertibles were sold, while about 45,800 were Impalas and the remaining 27,000 were Super Sports. Chevrolet buyers could choose from 10 engines this year.

Conventional luxury options included air conditioning ($364), tinted glass ($38), Impala comfort and convenience group ($31), power brakes ($43), power steering ($96), six-way power seat ($97), AM/FM stereo ($244).

Chevrolet offered 19 exterior colors for 1965 and at least 10 two-tones. They were Tuxedo Black (AA), Ermine White (CC), Mist Blue (DD), Danube Blue (EE), Nassau Blue (FF), Glen Green (GG), Willow Green (HH), Cypress Green (JJ), Artesian Turquoise (KK), Tahitian Turquoise (LL), Madeira Maroon (MM), Evening Orchid (PP), Silver Pearl (QQ), Regal Red (RR), Sierra Tan (SS), Rally Red (UU), Cameo Beige (W), Glacier Gray (WW), Goldwood Yellow (XX), and Crocus Yellow (TT).

Two-tone color combinations included Ermine White/Mist Blue, Ermine White/Willow Green, Ermine White/Crocus Yellow, Artesian Turquoise/Ermine White, Artesian Turquoise/Tahitian Turquoise, Cameo Beige/Sierra Tan, Cameo Beige/Cypress Green, Madeira Maroon/Cameo Beige, and Tuxedo Black/Glacier Gray. Interior colors were Black, White, Blue, Green, Red, Fawn, Aqua, and Gold. Impala convertible tops were normally black or white and color keyed interiors were a mix of cloth and vinyl.

The 396 cid V-8 engine took over from the 409 early in the model run and only 2,828 Impalas and Super Sports were fitted with 409s. The remaining big-block cars were powered by the lighter 396 V-8.

A special Impala package called RPO Z18 was launched in 1965 and called the Caprice. It was a four-door Impala luxury hardtop fitted with a special hardened frame, heavy duty suspension, a black accent grille and special wheel covers. The Caprice would become a separate model in