1965 Malibu SS

 

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

 

The 1965 Malibu SS is a series separate from the 300, 300 Deluxe, and Malibu series; the Malibu SS is NOT an option on a Malibu but rather a choice of buying a Malibu SS over a Malibu. Only two body styles were available with the Malibu SS, a sport coupe and a convertible. The Malibu SS featured bucket seats as standard equipment plus Malibu SS emblems on the rear quarter panels, an SS emblem on the rear tail panel, and a Malibu SS plate over the glove box. A 1965 Malibu SS could be ordered in any one of the 15 solid colors or any one of the nine two-tone colors. Three colors, Crocus Yellow, Evening Orchid, and Glacier Gray were reserved for only the Malibu SS. The color could be ordered on any 1965 Chevelle through the Fleet & Special Order process under RPO ZP3, special paint.

 

The Malibu SS eliminated the side trim spear and included the bright rocker panel moldings, wheel opening bright trim, and other trim changes.

 

The 1965 Malibu SS script differed from the 1964 Malibu SS ever so slightly.

 

Any engine in the Chevelle lineup could be ordered with the Malibu SS. The base 194-cid 6-cylinder engine, the optional 230-cid 6-cylinder engine, either of the two 283-cid engines and any of the late model year availability 327-cid engines. A 6-cylinder Malibu SS vehicle Identification number (VIN) will start with 137xx where an 8-cylinder Malibu SS VIN will begin with 138xx.

 

When the Malibu SS (or any other 1965 Chevelle) was ordered with a V8 engine, a small "V" emblem graced the front fenders for both the 283-2bbl and 284-4bbl engines. When an optional 327-cid engine was ordered on any 1965 Chevelle, a 'crossed flags' emblem was used with the numerals "327" above the flags.

 

The 1965 Malibu SS came with an attractive 3-bar spinner wheel cover with "SS" in the center of the cover but could order the optional simulated wire wheel cover. The Malibu SS wheel covers were not optional on other 1965 Chevelles but the simulated wire wheel covers were.

 

 

 

While all Malibu SS models came with gauges for oil pressure, water temperature, fuel level, and an ammeter, only a V8 Malibu SS could order the optional tachometer. The tachometer could be ordered with any V8 1965 Chevelle but the gauges could not, the gauges were strictly a Malibu SS item. All Malibu and Malibu SS Chevelles also came standard with an electric clock in the center round pod in the dash. When the tachometer was ordered the tachometer replaced the clock in the center of the dash and the clock moved to the top-center of the dash.

 

The 1965 Malibu SS would be the last year any type of mechanical gauges were standard equipment on any Chevelle.

 

Standard Malibu SS dash with gauges and clock.

 

When the optional tachometer (RPO U16) was ordered, the standard clock was moved to the top center of the dash.

 

The Malibu SS dash featured Malibu SS trim above the glove box.

 

Non Malibu SS Chevelles, like this El Camino, could order the U16 tach as well and ordering this option also moved the clock to the top of the dash.

 

The 1965 Malibu SS started Chevelle's feature of having a blacked-out grille area and rear tail panel on the 1965 Malibu SS; the 1967-1968 SS 396, and SS-optioned 1970-1972 Chevelles continued this theme. Many 1966 owners will claim early and late 1966 SS 396 Chevelles also had a blacked-out tail panel and that's controversial. More on that in the 1966 SS 396 section.

 

The Malibu SS emblems were retained on the quarter panels, the rear cove Malibu SS emblem was redesigned and moved, and the rear cove received the distinctive blacked-out area shown on all but Tuxedo Black where the cove was done in silver although dealer books of the era show Tuxedo Black, Danube Blue, and Cypress Green may fall into the silver category as well.  Anyone with a photo, like one of those here of the rear cove area, of an original Danube Blue or Cypress Green is encouraged to send it along for confirmation.

 

From GM's "Information Kit" for the 1965 Chevelle. However, several owners of original Danube Blue Malibu SS cars have noted the area in question is, indeed, silver and not black. To date no memos have surfaced indicating a change in policy but it does leave one to wonder. Sadly the note (2) is not in the documentation so it could refer to a revision.

 

Black Malibu SS with silver cove.

 

Danube Blue SS with silver cove.

 

Mist Blue Malibu SS with black cove.

 

Cypress Green Malibu SS with black cove

 

Contrary to many people's belief, although the Malibu SS came standard with bucket seats, it did NOT come standard with a center console. The base transmission is a column-shifted manual 3-speed transmission. Only when an optional transmission, the Powerglide transmission with any 6-cylinder or any V8 engine or a manual 4-speed transmission with a V8 was the console supplied.

 

Note the lack of an optional transmission on this car's invoice

 

RPO Z16

 

One of the most sought-after Chevelles has to be the limited edition Malibu SS 396. A special run of 200 sport coupes and one special order convertible makes these Chevelles rare and very collectible. More →

 

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