Stylistically, little changed with the Chevelle between the 1964 and 1965 models. All models, including the wagons, grew a few inches in length (keeping the same 115-inch wheelbase) and added a few sleeker lines and additional trim options. The biggest change, in addition to the new DeLuxe series, was in engine options available.

Standard engines stayed true to the 1964 models, with a 120 horsepower 194 cubic inch six cylinder, or 195 horsepower 283 V-8. Much like the previous year, all models offered an upgrade to a larger 230 cubic inch six cylinder producing 160 horsepower, or a 327 cubic inch V-8, producing between 250 and 300 horsepower depending on the model selected.

As with the 1964 models, these specs still lacked the performance seen in competitor’s mid-sized cars, such as the Pontiac GTO and the Buick Skylark Gran Sport, both featuring large displacement V-8s. Chevy finally answered this in a special mid-year run.

1965 Chevelle 300 and 300 DeLuxe

While the new 300 DeLuxe series was the newest addition to the Chevelle line, it added little to the base 300 models. A few cosmetic upgrades including more interior color options (red, fawn and aqua) and upgraded trim options accounted for the DeLuxe models outselling the 300 series by a total of 10,000 units. Additionally, the wagon version of the 300 was a two door model, while the DeLuxe wagon had four doors.

1965 Chevelle Malibu

The Malibu once again reigned supreme amongst the Chevelle models in 1968, accounting for 44 percent of the total Chevelle sales, at 152,200. Offering four models, the sport coupe, convertible, 4-door sedan and 4-door 2-seat wagon, the Malibu was still competitively priced, ranging from $2,250 to $2,755.

Interiors were upgraded from both models featured in the 300 series, with textured vinyl and all-vinyl side walls, and available in additional color options. The exterior remained largely unchained, though it followed the lead of every Chevy except the Corvair to lose the company’s signature use of round taillights.

1965 Malibu Super Sport

Differing from the 1964 model offering only a V-8 engine, the 1965 Malibu SS let buyers choose from any engine offered for the Chevelle line, leaving the added price of the SS to cover top-of-the-line extras included with the car. These included specialized SS trim inside and out, with metal accents at the hood windsplit, wheel openings and sill moldings. Additional colors were available inside and out on the SS models, including eight two-tone models.

More importantly for the evolution of the Chevelle series from Fairline competitor to muscle car was the aforementioned late addition option for the SS known as the Z-16 package, also known as the Malibu SS 396.

The 396, of course, referred to the 396 inch engine that produced 375 horsepower. Included with the Z-16 package was a Muncie four-speed, a 160 mph speedometer, a 6,000 rpm tachometer and an AM/FM stereo.

Coming in with a price tag $1,501 higher than the already high end SS model, only 201 Z-16’s were built (200 hardtops and one convertible).

Muscle Car Competition

With the introduction of the Chevelle Malibu SS 396, Chevrolet was acting in direct response to the trend of putting bigger engines into smaller cars. Ford, Pontiac, Dodge, Buick and more were already ahead of Chevy in 1964 and early 1965, but the 396 was the company’s first attempt to put a big block into a Chevelle. The event marked the beginnings of the Chevelle’s real evolution into a muscle car.

The Chevelle was redesigned in 1966 and the body was much more curvaceous than before. The new front fenders trusted forward at the top and gave the car a much more aggressive stance. The rear fenders bulge upwards giving the rear of the car a classic “Coke-bottle” look. Today, the design is one of the classics of the muscle car era.