1965 Malibu SS
- RPO L79
Well, it's finally
complete! After way too many years my old sweetheart is back in
one piece. There may be a few small things to do yet, but for
the most part it's done. I could drive this car anywhere if I
could just find the right gas. It's hard enough to find the gas
locally.
Anyway, for those
of you following this project thanks for sticking around and checking
in from time to time. Time to go for cruise! Wahooo! I'll be updating
the entire web page at some point to show off the history of the
project and all the details that make this car so special. I can't
wait for the big Chevelle shows I'll be going to in the near future.
Here are the full-car
pictures. The details shots follow on page two.
I
just love that SS grill treatment. So many restored Super Sports
of this year don't have the correct grill details. It's not that
hard to do right and it just looks good. The 65's have such a
good clean look all the way around. Maybe I'm biased though! I'll
have to take a few shots with the skinny original style wheels
and hubcaps. The whitewalls and hubcaps look dated on the car,
but they are what it came with when new. Too bad tire and wheel
technology hadn't kept up with the cars' capabilities in 1965.
These things must have been a bear to drive with those skinny
tires in place.
This
color is hard to photograph well. The color seems to change from
each angle and with each change in light intesity. It's a very
pleasing color. A good combination of a dark color without being
black. There were so many pleasing colors available in the 1960's,
why don't new cars have such variety? I guess I just prefer bright
or deep rich colors best.
The
license plate says it all. Lots of people ask me to explain what
the plates mean, it's the ones who don't ask but know what it
means that can most appreciate why this car is special. It is
a little extra work to keep the car in tune, but well worth the
sweat and time. The look is so clean and simple, nothing excessive
or out of proportion. It's a rather manly car to drive (no power
steering or brakes) but once moving along it is rather smooth
and steady. And if you want to go fast, well buddy, just mash
the pedal and you'll likely get more than you bargained for!
The
1969 SS wheels seem to have been made for this car. They are reliable
and easier to maintain than fancy aftermarket wheels. It's clear
why original and reproduction versions sell so well. Even with
a substantially wider structure, these SS wheels fit on this car
like they were designed to work together. The 7-inch wide rims
are about as wide as I can go and keep the tires from rubbing
in the tight rear fender slots.
The
64/65 Chevelle body is so smooth and muscular looking with appearing
bulbous and overweight. I've never quite understood why the 64/65
Chevelles have never been as popular as later year. Big block
availability I suppose. Who needs a big block when you can have
an L79! I think Chevy called this car a welterweight in one of
their ads. That sounds about right.
It
may not look like a sports car, but it can act like one. The light
weight of the small block, huge power output and the heavy anti-sway
bars, performance shocks and Eagle GT tires work well to make
this old beast handle like all cars should. It's an absolute blast
to drive!
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