1964-1965 Malibu SS
The 1964 and 1965 Malibu SS was Chevelles sporty lineup. Both years of the Malibu SS could be ordered with any 6- or 8-cylinder engine available at the time; the only SS Chevelles to hold this distinction. Bucket seats were standard equipment in both years and, when ordered with either the 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission or the 4-speed manual transmission, would also include a center console.
Bucket seats were only available as an option in Malibu series El Caminos of the day; not as regular production option (RPO) A51 but simply an optional seat and color choice for the interior. Bucket seat color choices were limited in the 1964 model year El Camino to light fawn, medium aqua, and medium red. In 1965 the El Camino was limited to light fawn, medium turquoise, and medium red. Bucket seats would not become an RPO until the 1966 model year. The 1965 model year saw the introduction of the blacked-out grille and tail panel area for the Malibu SS with the exception of black Malibu SSs received a silver highlighted tail panels. Both 1964 and 1965 Malibu SS Chevelles were the only years an amp gauge, oil pressure gauge, and water temperature gauge were standard equipment.
The 1964 model year was the only year for U.S.-built Chevelles to incorporate the model year as the first character in the VIN. The Malibu SS series was either '57' for an I6 engine or '58' for a V8 engine; for example a 1964 VIN beginning with '457xx' had any i^ engine where '458xx' was a V8.
One misconception for the 1964 and 1965 Malibu SS is the center console being standard equipment, it was not. Only when an optional transmission was ordered, either the Powerglide automatic or manual 4-speed was the console included. The standard floor-shifted 3-speed manual transmission did not receive the console.
The 1965 model year saw the introduction of a blacked out grille
and special rear cove treatment. On all but black lower body
color1965 Malibu SS Chevelles the tailpan was done in a black
highlight, black Chevelles were done in silver.
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