1965 Chevrolet Biscayne

During the 1950s, Chevrolet's model lineup included a base, intermediate, and top-of-the-range option. They shared the same chassis and styling, distinguished by their level of standard accouterments, trim, and mechanical specification. With the addition of the Corvette in the mid-1950s, Chevrolet now had a sports car.

In 1960, the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive Corvair was added to the lineup. It was an economical, compact automobile joined by a more traditional front-engine model named the Chevy II (Nova) in 1962.

In 1964, Chevrolet's portfolio expanded further with the introduction of a mid-size model called the Chevelle. Residing on General Motors' A-body platform, it would become one of Chevrolet's most successful and popular nameplates. For 1965, the Chevelle 300 was the entry-level mid-size model, the Chevelle 300 Deluxe was the intermediate, and the Chevelle Malibu was the top of the range. The Chevelle Super Sport, offered as a hardtop and convertible, was the sport version of the mid-size Chevelle. The Chevelle SS-396 option arrived mid-year and came with a 396 cubic-inch V8 with 375 horsepower. Adding $1,501 to the price, a mere 201 examples were so-equipped.

The 1965 Chevrolet Full-Size Models

The 1965 Chevrolet full-size model lineup began with the entry-level Biscayne, the intermediate Bel Air, and the range-topping Impala. Each came standard with six-cylinder power, and each model was similarly priced, with the Bel Air costing approximately $100 more than the Biscayne and the comparable Impala roughly $100 higher than its Bel Air counterpart.

The Bel Air added Bel Air nameplates, full-length bodyside molding, rear accent band, and roof drip rail moldings. The interiors were more comfortable with vinyl and pattern cloth trims, and a glove compartment light. The nine-passenger station wagons had power tailgate windows.

The Impala added even more exterior brightwork, and the interior was more luxurious. They had an electric clock, parking brake light, trunk and backup lights, and the pillared sedan models had vinyl and pattern cloth trim combinations. The station wagons and convertibles had all-vinyl upholstery, and the Sport Coupes and pillarless Sport Sedans had ball, all-vinyl upholstery.

The 1965 Chevrolet Biscayne

The 1965 model year was the first year of Biscayne's Fourth Generation of styling which would continue through 1970. With the recently added compact and mid-sized models, the full-size Chevrolets were free to grow even larger. Continuing to utilize a 119-inch wheelbase size, the 1965 full-size passenger cars had an overall length of 213.1 inches, approximately four inches longer than the previous year.

Styling

The styling continued to evolve, with noticeable changes to the front, including a stamped grille with the wraparound bumper intersecting the upper and lower portion of the grille. A pair of round, horizontally mounted headlights rested on either side. Restrained brightwork adorned the exterior, around the windshield, body sill, and rear fender ridge.

Standard Equipment

Standard equipment included an oil filter, electric wipers, blackwall tires, and a 230 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine. The interior had a foam-cushioned front seat, front seat belts, and a heater and defroster.

Power brakes and power steering became standard for the 1970 model year.

Bodystyles, Pricing, and Production

Body styles included a four-door sedan priced at $2,415, a two-door sedan at $2,360, and a station wagon at $2,415. The addition of eight-cylinder power added approximately $100 to the base price. Around 107,700 examples of the Biscayne received six-cylinder while, while around 37,600 had V8s.

The Biscayne station wagon was discontinued in 1968 and replaced by the Brookwood wagon.

Engines

The 230 cubic-inch, overhead valve six-cylinder engine had 8.5:1 compression, hydraulic valve lifters, a Rochester one-barrel carburetor, seven main bearings, and delivered 140 horsepower at 4,200 RPM. The optional 283 CID V8 (RPO L77) engine had a Rochester two-barrel carburetor, five main bearings, overhead valves, and 195 horsepower at 4,800 RPM. A new, larger 250 CID inline-6 joined the list of engine options, and it had hydraulic valve lifters, a downdraft single barrel carburetor, 8.5:1 compression, overhead valves, and 155 horsepower at 4,200 RPM. The L30 option was a 327 CID V8 with 250 hp ($95), the L74 ($138) was a 300 hp version of the 327, and the L35 396 CID V8 had 325 hp. The L76 option was a 396 CID V8 with 425 hp. The L33 409 CID V8 delivered 340 hp ($242.10), the L31 409 had 400 hp ($320.65), and the L78 396 CID V8 offered 425 hp. A big-block 427 CID V8 was available from 1966 to 1969, and a 454 CID V8 in 1970.

The 230 was dropped in 1967.

Transmissions

A three-speed manual was standard, and an overdrive transmission added $107.60 to the base price. A Powerglide was available on all six-cylinder models for an additional $188.30, and a Turbo-Hydramatic was available with the 327 and 396 V8s. A four-speed manual floor shift transmission added $188.30 with the L30 engine and $236.75 when applied to the L74, L33, and L31 engines.

by Dan Vaughan

The Chevrolet Biscayne was among the concepts showcased as GM's vision of the future in its traveling Motorama. The Motorama was GM's way of taking concept vehicles on tour through cities throughout the U.S. that invited viewers to 'enter the future' by viewing these amazing concepts. At the 1955 Chicago Auto Show, a young boy, Joe Bortz saw one of these 'dream car's' and later salvaged the remains in a Detroit-area junkyard. His results were later displayed at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concourse as part of the 100th Anniversary celebration of GM.

The Biscayne's chassis had been crushed, but the junkyard owner had managed to save all of the pieces from the original body. Bortz had to dig pieces out of the ground, thankfully, the body of the vehicle was made out of fiberglass, so it didn't oxidize, and many of the parts had to be glued together from all the bits and pieces.

Described by GM as 'An Exploration In Elegance', the 1955 Biscayne was Chevy's Motorama Dream Car for 1955. A four-passenger, pillarless four-door hardtop with suicide doors, the Biscayne featured front fenders that wore a gold anodized 'V' logo that indicated a V8 engine under the hood. Incorporating many Corvette design ideas, the Biscayne featured side covers on the rear quarters that appeared on the front fenders of the 1956 Corvette.

A series of automobiles produced by Chevy for model years 1958 through 1972, the Chevy Biscayne was named after a show car first displayed at the 1955 GM Motorama. The Biscayne was the least expensive model in the Chevy full-size car range that included the Bel Air, the Impala and the Delray. Also available to the regular public, the Biscayne's were produced mainly for the fleet market. The Biscayne was great for those consumers that wanted low-cost, no-frills transportation with room, power and convenience.

During the late 1960's, most Biscayne's were sold with a six-cylinder engine, while in the early 1970s, the V8 engines became the most popular powerplant. In 1970, power steering and brakes became standard, while the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission was standard on all vehicles that were ordered with a V8 engine halfway through the 1971 model year. Biscayne's were easily recognized by their two taillights per side on the rear panels.

The Chevy Biscayne featured very little exterior chrome trim and was fitted with small hubcaps, various exterior trim pieces, and upgraded wheel covers were available for an additional cost. The trim on the inside was very limited and was decorated with lower-grade cloth and vinyl or all-vinyl upholstery trim. A very standard steering wheel with a center horn button was fitted inside, along with rubber floor mats. The 1964 model came standard with a deluxe steering wheel with a horn ring, foam-cushioned front seats and deep-twist carpeting.

The Biscayne did not feature many of the prestigious features normally found on more expensive full-sized Chevy models, features such as power windows. But, any of Chevy's high-output big-block V8 engines could be purchased for the Biscayne, along with performance-oriented transmissions that included the floor-mounted 4-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter and low-ratio final drive.

A trimmed-down version of the Biscayne was introduced in 1960; the Biscayne Fleetmaster. An inexpensive version of this vehicle, the Fleetmaster was aimed mainly at the fleet market, and included a lower grade of upholstery than the standard Biscayne. Convenience items such door armrests, passenger-side sun visor and a cigarette lighter were not included in this model. Rather than chrome-plated, numerous parts were painted. Two and four-door sedans were both offered. Economy-minded options were available exclusively to the Fleetmaster model, though performance-oriented engines and transmissions were also available. Unfortunately, the Fleetmaster was dropped after 1961.

The Biscayne was offered as a 2- or 4-door pillared roof beginning with the 1958 model year. Newly named the Yeoman and the Nomad, the station wagon versions were not called Biscaynes from 1958 through 1960. The entry-level wagon was called the Brookwood from 1959 through 1961, while the Parkwood was the high-end wagon.

From 1962 through 1968, there were Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala model station wagons, before they were replaced in favor of the Townsman, Kingwood and Kingswood Estate. The final year of the 2-door Biscayne was 1969. The only Biscayne model available from 1970 through 1972 was a 4-door sedan, meanwhile, a convertible or hardtop Biscayne was never made available.

In 1972 the production of the Biscayne ended, though the Biscayne name survived in Canada up until the 1975 model with a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine and Turbo-Hydramatic transmission that was made standard in 1974.

by Jessican Donaldson