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1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series

During the 1950s, apart from the Corvette, Chevrolet used a single, generously sized chassis in three trim levels (base, intermediate, top) and various body styles, including 2- and 4-door sedans, and station wagons. Models were distinguished by exterior brightwork and standard amenities.

Chevrolet expanded its portfolio for the 1960 model year with a compact car named the Corvair. Introduced in the fall of 1959, it remains the only American-designed, mass-produced passenger car with an air-cooled, rear-mounted engine. It was 30.8 inches shorter (at 180 inches) than Chevy's other 1960 models, and its wheelbase was nearly a foot shorter at 108 inches. Its unibody chassis used a fully independent suspension system with coil springs all around with a swing axle at the rear. The styling of the Z-body Corvair was equally unconventional, devoid of tail fins or chrome grilles that were popular at the time. The rear-mounted six-cylinder Turbo-Air 6 engine, built using many aluminum components and an aluminum block, had overhead valves, a 140 cubic-inch (2.3 liter) displacement size, and delivered 80 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission was standard, and an automatic was optional.

Like its larger siblings, the Corvair was offered in three trim levels initially consisting of the base level 'Standard Series 500,' the intermediate 'Deluxe Series 700,' and the sporty 'Monza Series 900.' Body styles included a four-door sedan and two-door Club Coupe on the Standard and Deluxe. The Monza, offered solely as a club coupe, was introduced in February 1960 at the Chicago Auto Show and came with stainless steel rocker sill moldings, special wheel covers, chrome simulated rear deck air vents, bucket seats, and a folding rear seat.

Reception
The Chevrolet Corvair was a drastic departure from traditional American-built automobiles, with a unique and daring design, mechanical configuration, and specification. Designed as a response to the Volkswagen Beetle and to compete with the traditional and economical Ford Falcon and Plymouth Valiant, the unconventional Corvair was too much too soon, with the Falcon outselling it by a wide margin. Approximately 250,000 examples of the 1960 Corvair were built compared to over 435,600 examples of the Falcon. Nonetheless, Chevrolet kept the Corvair as part of its model lineup through the 1960s, ending in 1969. They did, however, quickly introduce a more traditional compact car in 1962 named the Chevy II (Nova). Unlike the Corvair, the Chevy II avoided any revolutionary features and was strictly a back-to-the-basic compact car.

The 1965 Chevrolet Corvair
The 1965 Chevy Corvair was built in three series - the 'base' Corvair 500 Series 101, the 'intermediate / mid-price' Corvair Monza Series 105, and the 'top line' Corvair Corsa Series 107. This was a significant year for the Corvair as it received its second (and final) major styling update, which would continue to the end of production in 1969.

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series photo
500 Series Six Cyl Sport Coupe
Chassis #: 105375L112074
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The graceful lines of the Corvair were modern, curvaceous, and smooth, complemented by its curved side glass windows. The 'venturi' shaped profile was devoid of 'B' pillars on all closed body styles, and its stance was slightly lower, three inches longer, and two inches wider than the previous design. The Monza and Corvair 500 Sport Sedans were the only compact cars ever available in the United States as pillarless four-door hardtops.

The previous swing axle rear suspension was replaced by a fully independent setup all round. Similar to the rear suspension of the Corvette String Ray (but with coil springs instead of the transverse leaf), it used upper axle half-shafts and lower equal-length trailing torque arms, and rubber-bushed rods.

Significant chassis refinements were made, larger brakes were sourced the Chevelle, the previous generator was replaced by an alternator, and a stronger differential ring gear was installed.

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series photo
500 Series Six Cyl Sport Coupe
Chassis #: 105375L112074
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
Body styles included a four-door sports sedan, two-door hardtop coupe and a convertible. The pickup, panel van, and station wagon were all dropped, and 1965 was the final year for the Greenbrier window van (primarily a fleet order vehicle)

The interiors received a new, slanted-back instrument panel with deep tunnels housing the gauges. The Series 500 and Monza had gas and speedometer gauges, and warning lights. An electric clock was optional equipment. The Corsa added a standard electric clock, oil pressure gauge, temperature gauge, and a tachometer.

Corvair 500
The Corvair 500 was available as a four-door hardtop sport sedan priced at $2,100 and a two-door hardtop sport coupe at $2,020. The two-door was more popular with 36,747 examples sold compared to 17,560 of the four-door. Standard equipment included a Corvair nameplate above the left-hand headlight housing, behind the front wheel opening, and on the right side of the engine lid. There was Horizontal molding along the front panel with a Chevrolet badge at its center, rectangular parking lamps, roof gutter rails painted in roof colors, and small center hubcaps. The interior featured all-vinyl upholstery, front seat belts, front armrests, two sun visors, a cigarette lighter, coat hoods, interior light, and a locking glovebox. Interior color options were red, aqua, or fawn. Mechanical features included electric wipers, heater and defroster, and directional signals.

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series photo
500 Series Six Cyl Sport Coupe
Chassis #: 105375L112074
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
Corvair Monza
The Monza name previously represented the sporty version of the Corvair, but for 1965, it was the mid-priced trim level, assuming the position previously occupied by the Corvair 700. Distinguishable exterior features included full-wheel covers, Monza badges on the lower front fenders behind the wheel opening, and rocker sill moldings.

The hardtop sport sedan was priced at $2,370, the hardtop sport coupe at $2,300, and the convertible at $2,440. The sport coupe was the most popular with 88,954 examples built, followed by 37,157 of the sport sedan and 26,466 of the convertible.

Corvair Corsa
The Corsa was the most well-appointed Corvair in 1965, distinguished by its Corsa lettering on the front fender cowl sides, and Corsa badge just ahead of the rear wheel opening. The oval-shaped ornament had a 'C' in the middle, with vertical bars above and below. Standard amenities included special interior trim and Satin Silver special ornamentation.

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series photo
500 Series Six Cyl Sport Coupe
Chassis #: 105375L112074
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The hardtop sport coupe was priced at $2,465 and the convertible listed at $2,600. A total of 20,291 examples were hardtop sport coupes and 8,353 were convertibles.

Engine and Transmission
The Corvair 500 and Monza came standard with a horizontally opposed six-cylinder, overhead valve engine with a 164 cubic-inch displacement, an aluminum block, four main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, 8.25:1 compression, two Rochester one-barrel carburetors and delivered 95 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. A 110-horsepower Turbo-Air version was a $27 option, and a 140-horsepower Turbo-Air version added $81 to the base price.

The Corvair Corsa used a modified version of the Corvair 500 / Monza engine with 9.25:1 compression, larger valves, a dual exhaust system, and four Rochester one-barrel carburetors with progressive linkage, boosting output to 140 bhp at 5,200 RPM. A 180-horsepower, turbocharged version of the 164 CID engine for an additional $161. With this engine installed, zero-to-sixty mph was accomplished in under eleven seconds, and top speed was achieved at 113 mph.

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series photo
500 Series Six Cyl Sport Coupe
Chassis #: 105375L112074
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
A three-speed manual transmission was standard and a Powerglide automatic and four-speed manual were optional. Approximately 53 percent of buyers selected the automatic transmission and roughly 34 percent the four-speed gearbox.

Optional equipment
New options added to the list in 1965 included an in-dash All Weather Air conditioning system, an AM/FM stereo radio, and a telescopically adjustable steering column. The 'Z17' Special Purpose Chassis Equipment handling package was another new addition and added a quick ratio steering box and special performance suspension.

The extensive list of optional amenities included a sport-style steering wheel, AM/FM push-button radio with antenna, seat belts with retractors, folding rear seats, and padded instrument panels. Exterior enhancements came in the form of tinted glass, bumper guards, wire design wheel covers, and white sidewall tires.

1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series photo
Monza Hardtop Sport Coupe
Production
Chevrolet produced 235,528 examples of the Corvair in 1965, an increase of approximately 30,000 units over the previous year.


by Daniel Vaughan | May 2023

Related Reading : Chevrolet Corvair History

magazine named it one of The 50 Worst Cars of All Time. Ralph Nader highlighted its design flaws in his influential book Unsafe at Any Speed. Yet the Chevrolet Corvair, which faced more negative press during its lifespan than any other car of the era, continues to have a loyal following of true enthusiasts. Different from any American cars before or since, the unique Corvair has become most....
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Related Reading : Chevrolet Corvair History

The Corvair came on the scene in 1959 and featured a flat-six engine mounted in mid-ship. Even with putting the engine in the middle of the vehicle, the weight distribution was not evenly distributed. The engine sat behind the rear axle and this actually caused handling problems. The vehicles main competition was the VW Bug and the Porsche 911. It was originally built to compete with the Bug, but....
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1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series Vehicle Profiles

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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1965 Corvair Series
$2,600-$24,400
1965 Chevrolet Corvair Series Price Range: $2,025 - $2,600

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Other 1965 Chevrolet Models

Corvair

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
284,075
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 139.60 CID., 80.00hp
6 cyl., 144.99 CID., 98.00hp
6 cyl., 235.50 CID., 135.00hp
$1,915 - $2,325
301,999
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 144.99 CID., 80.00hp
6 cyl., 144.99 CID., 84.00hp
6 cyl., 144.99 CID., 150.00hp
$1,990 - $2,780
254,571
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 144.99 CID., 80.00hp
6 cyl., 144.99 CID., 80.00hp
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 110.00hp
$1,990 - $2,800
2,046
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 144.99 CID., 80.00hp
6 cyl., 144.99 CID., 80.00hp
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 110.00hp
199,387
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 163.60 CID., 95.00hp
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 110.00hp
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 150.00hp
$2,020 - $2,800
851
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 163.60 CID., 95.00hp
$2,136 - $2,136
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 155.00hp
28,644
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 230.00 CID., 140.00hp
$2,500 - $2,600
152,577
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 95.00hp
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 180.00hp
$2,295 - $2,440
235,528
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 110.00hp
6 cyl., 230.00 CID., 140.00hp
$2,025 - $2,600
103,743
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 95.00hp
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 140.00hp
$2,100 - $2,700
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 95.00hp
$2,130 - $2,545
8,173
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 95.00hp
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 110.00hp
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 140.00hp
$2,500 - $2,630
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 95.00hp
$2,250 - $2,624
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 95.00hp
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 164.00 CID., 95.00hp
$2,260 - $2,640

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