1965 Chevrolet Impala SS 396

Full-size performance powered by 1965 Chevrolet Full-Size 396 V8.

Regal Red 1965 Impala SS Sport Coupe with visible 396 fender emblem and stock-presenting wheel treatment; the photograph does not establish the original engine order

Bodies V8 Sport Coupe 16637 or convertible 16667

396 choices 325-hp L35 or 425-hp L78

L78 production 1,838 reported across all 1965 full-size Chevrolets

Chassis Perimeter frame with coil-spring front and rear suspension

Brakes Self-adjusting four-wheel drums; power assist optional

Story

For 1965, Impala Super Sport was a separate 165/166 series rather than an appearance option on a regular Impala. The 396 was still an engine choice within that series, not a unique body model. This page therefore covers both V8 Super Sport bodies, Sport Coupe 16637 and convertible 16667, with the 325-horsepower L35 and 425-horsepower L78 kept as distinct factory configurations.

The L35 paired the new Mark IV 396 with hydraulic lifters and a 10.25:1 compression ratio. The L78 raised compression to 11.0:1 and used a mechanical-lifter high-performance specification. Factory records support three- and four-speed manual paths for the 396, while Powerglide and the new Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic were L35 paths rather than L78 configurations.

The redesigned full-size Chevrolet used an all-welded perimeter frame, independent short-long-arm front suspension, a link-located coil-spring rear axle, and self-adjusting four-wheel drum brakes. Positraction, power brakes, metallic brake equipment, and several axle ratios were available. Spring, shock, axle, tire, and transmission applications varied by engine, body, and equipment, so one surviving car is not a universal specification.

A 166-series VIN establishes a V8 Impala Super Sport body, but not a factory 396 or a specific L35/L78 order. Original paperwork, engine assembly stamp and castings, transmission and axle codes, body-tag paint and trim, and date-compatible components must agree. The gallery documents body and trim context; badges and restored parts alone are not authentication.

**Dark-finish 1965 Impala SS Sport Coupe showing the 396 emblem, hardtop roofline, bucket-seat cabin, and stock-style steel wheels**Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

Base MSRP $3,146

Impala SS V8 convertible, series 16667 before the 396 option (1965)
Reported base price for the V8 SS body; it does not include the L35 or L78 option price.
1965 Chevrolet Facts and Full-Size Reference
Base MSRP $2,886

Impala SS V8 Sport Coupe, series 16637 before the 396 option (1965)
Reported base price for the V8 SS body; it does not include the L35 or L78 option price.
1965 Chevrolet Facts and Full-Size Reference

Market Observations

Price guide value $30,200

Jul 31, 2026 · Hagerty Valuation Tools · Current guide point
July 2026 condition #3 guide for the 1965 Impala SS two-door Sport Coupe with the 396cid/325hp four-barrel L35 · unknown · good Exact body, trim, engine, and RPO guide benchmark; transmission, options, documentation, originality, and individual-car condition still require separate normalization.
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS two-door Sport Coupe L35 valuation
Auction sale $57,200

Jan 15, 2026 · Mecum Auctions
Sport Coupe chassis 166375L180848 represented with a 396/325-hp V8, automatic transmission, original sheet metal, Hotchkis front suspension, Wilwood front calipers, aluminum radiator, modern stereo, and aftermarket wheels · modified · unknown Completed vehicle-specific sale. The 396/325-hp configuration aligns with the L35 reference series, but the archive does not expose factory RPO paperwork or complete drivetrain-stamp reconciliation.
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS Hardtop lot T146 chassis 166375L180848
Auction sale $33,000

May 20, 2017 · Mecum Auctions
Sport Coupe chassis 166375N139631 represented with a 396 V8, automatic transmission, restoration photos, air conditioning, power windows, power steering, and power front disc brakes · restored · unknown Completed vehicle-specific sale. The archive does not expose factory L35 paperwork, engine-stamp reconciliation, or originality evidence, so this result is not proof of an individual car's factory 396 order.
1965 Chevrolet Impala SS lot S190 chassis 166375N139631

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

RPO L35 output 325 gross hp at 4,800 rpm · hydraulic-lifter 396 · engine assembly / specification
RPO L78 output 425 gross hp at 6,400 rpm · solid-lifter high-performance 396 · engine assembly / specification
Bore and stroke 4.094 x 3.76 inches · L35 and L78 · engine assembly / specification
Compression and valve train 10.25:1 with hydraulic lifters for L35; 11.0:1 with mechanical lifters for L78 · configuration-specific · engine assembly / specification
Carburetion Four-barrel induction; factory records list Quadrajet or Holley applications for L35 and a large four-barrel for L78 · configuration-specific · carburetor / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission three-speed manual
Factory transmission Muncie four-speed manual
Factory transmission Powerglide automatic with L35
Factory transmission Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 with L35

Options

L35 and L78 396 engine specificationsClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

L35 396 CID 325-hp Turbo-Jet V8 optional · performance · Hydraulic lifters, 10.25:1 compression, four-barrel induction, and manual or compatible automatic transmission paths.
L78 396 CID 425-hp Turbo-Jet V8 optional · performance · Mechanical lifters, 11.0:1 compression, high-performance four-barrel specification, and manual-transmission paths.
M20 Four-speed manual transmission optional · performance · Floor-shift Muncie four-speed; exact assembly and ratio must match the engine order and component dates.
M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 optional · performance · Three-speed automatic documented for the L35 396, not the L78.
G80 Positraction rear axle optional · chassis · Dual-disc limited-slip differential with ratio and drivetrain restrictions.
J30 Power brakes optional · chassis · Vacuum assist added to the regular production hydraulic drum system.
J65 Metallic brake equipment optional · chassis · Factory metallic service-brake specification with different operating characteristics.

Paint

**Rear view of the 1965 Impala SS Sport Coupe showing the hardtop roof, six round taillamps, and rear-cove identification**Kev22 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

AA Tuxedo Black factory · solid
CC Ermine White factory · solid
DD Mist Blue factory · metallic
HH Willow Green factory · metallic
JJ Cypress Green factory · metallic
KK Artesian Turquoise factory · metallic
LL Tahitian Turquoise factory · metallic
NN Madeira Maroon factory · metallic
PP Evening Orchid factory · metallic
RR Regal Red factory · solid
SS Sierra Tan factory · metallic
VV Cameo Beige factory · solid
WW Glacier Gray factory · metallic
YY Crocus Yellow factory · solid
factory combinations Documented two-tone combinations factory · two-tone

Appearance

Super Sport front-fender script standard · badge
Grille and rear-cove Impala SS identification standard · badge
396 crossed-flags front-fender emblem factory · badge
Six round taillamps standard · lighting
Super Sport full wheel covers standard · wheel

Interior

All-vinyl front bucket seats standard · seat
Center console with Rally-type clock standard · console
Vacuum gauge standard · gauge
Factory SS vinyl trim and color combinations factory · upholstery

Chassis

Independent SLA front suspension Suspension · standard
Link-located coil-spring rear suspension Suspension · standard
Self-adjusting four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes Brakes · standard
Semi-floating hypoid rear axle Rear axle · 3.36:1 production V8 coupe/convertible context; application tables also list 3.08, 3.31, 3.55, 3.70, and 3.73 · factory
Positraction rear axle Rear axle · available with compatible application-specific ratios · limited-slip · optional

Production

Factory manual and L35 automatic transmission pathsClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

All 1965 Chevrolet full-size passenger cars total · 1,627,614 · reported
1965 Impala Super Sport, all bodies and engines by option · 243,114 · reported
Impala SS Sport Coupe, six-cylinder series 16537 by body · 3,245 · reported
Impala SS Sport Coupe, V8 series 16637 by body · 212,027 · reported
Impala SS convertible, six-cylinder series 16567 by body · 399 · reported
Impala SS convertible, V8 series 16667 by body · 27,443 · reported
396 installations reported across the 1965 full-size Chevrolet line by engine · 55,499 · reported
L78 396 installations across all 1965 full-size Chevrolet models by engine · 1,838 · reported

Authenticity

Full-size Chevrolet rear-axle ratios and Positraction contextClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

Super Sport body identity V8 SS series 16637 Sport Coupe or 16667 convertible · VIN plate, Fisher body tag, body structure, and original paperwork · fraud detection
Factory 396 order Original invoice, window sticker, protect-o-plate, build record, dealer record, or equivalent car-specific evidence identifying L35 or L78 · Original paperwork and recognized ownership history · fraud detection
Engine configuration Date-compatible 396 block, heads, induction, compression and valve-train details agree with either L35 or L78 · Engine pad, casting numbers and dates, cylinder heads, intake, carburetor, valve train, and paperwork · numbers matching
Engine stamp and dates Assembly suffix, partial VIN where applicable, casting numbers, and dates agree with the claimed engine RPO and vehicle build · Engine assembly pad, rear block casting, heads, and car-specific records · numbers matching
Transmission and axle Transmission type, case, stamp, shifter, axle code, ratio, Positraction status, and component dates agree with the engine order · Transmission case, shifter and floor, axle tube stamp, differential, and paperwork · date correctness
SS exterior trim Super Sport fender script, grille and rear-cove identification, bright wheelhouse moldings, correct wheel covers, and engine-specific emblems · Fenders, grille, rear cove, wheel openings, wheels, mounting holes, and paint history · trim correctness
Paint and interior Body-tag paint and trim codes agree with factory SS color combinations, all-vinyl buckets, console, clock, vacuum gauge, carpeting, and door trim · Fisher body tag, original paint layers, cabin, and paperwork · trim correctness

Still Researching

production Reported all-SS series totals now separate Sport Coupe and convertible production by six-cylinder versus V8 series, but available full-size 396 and L78 totals still do not isolate SS 396 body style or an authoritative L35/L78 SS split.
authenticity markers The model record cannot establish an individual car's original 396 RPO, drivetrain, axle, paint, trim, component dates, or ownership history.

Codes & names