1965 Chevrolet Chevy II

[HarleyEarl]

1965 Chevrolet Chevy II

Did you know that they had a 327 V8 option, rated at 300 hp for this little car?

And a few got into the station wagon.

Here's a very rare one with 4-speed manual:

[ocnblu]

The Corvair was so much better looking than the Chevy II that year, but I guess its unique mechanicals kept it out of the mainstream. I do like the '66-'67 and '68-'72 and '75-'79 Novas, however.

The Corvair v. Chevy II exemplifies one of GM's problems: sometimes they have stuff that's too good for the mainstream. When they innovate, they suffer, it seems. Corvair = GM, Chevy II = Toyota. Toyota has succeeded at building millions of soulless, straightforward appliances (kind of like the 4 and six cylinder Chevy II were in comparison to the Corvair), something GM, and I, have never understood. Is it to our doom? Are people really that careless toward their cars?

Edited August 3, 2008 by ocnblu

[HarleyEarl]

I hear ya, I prefer the ragtops in these in the Nova Super Sport. You are right, the Corvair was much more modern looking. The Chevy II was slightly frumpy.

[Robert Hall]

The Corvair was so much better looking than the Chevy II that year, but I guess its unique mechanicals kept it out of the mainstream. I do like the '66-'67 and '68-'72 and '75-'79 Novas, however.

The Corvair v. Chevy II exemplifies one of GM's problems: sometimes they have stuff that's too good for the mainstream. When they innovate, they suffer, it seems. Corvair = GM, Chevy II = Toyota. Toyota has succeeded at building millions of soulless, straightforward appliances (kind of like the 4 and six cylinder Chevy II were in comparison to the Corvair), something GM, and I, have never understood. Is it to our doom? Are people really that careless toward their cars?

Never underestimate how many people are content with white bread, vanilla, etc. To millions of consumers, a car is an appliance.

[HarleyEarl]

I so agree with you guys.

We are car enthusiasts here and probably see things quite differently than the car buying masses. More and more people see the car as merely a conveyance. Nothing more. I find it so hard to comprehend that. Toyota Camry/Corolla sales tell the story very clearly.

But, Blu you are right, the Chevy II and it's ilk were sort of the the 'Toyotas' of their day. Bland, frumpy, listless. An interesting perspective, Blu and you are spot on.

Edited August 3, 2008 by HarleyEarl

[Sixty8panther]

I agree with O.B., like a lot of cars witht eh II sufix in their name the Chevy II was

never a great looker... it just rode the lkine between plain-jane and ugly...

BUT

that having been said I respect it for the cool as beans little econo-box it was.

And YES, the Chevy II could be ordered to be one of THE best/most serious

sleepers of its day, 327/4-on-the-floor!

Many an old man can tall you stories about that.

[HarleyEarl]

One of the things I love about GM is that they'd do stuff like offering a huge V8 in a car like the Chevy II.

And a invisible station wagon version could have it too. Luv the contrast.

[SuperSport623]

68 -72.... the best years of the nova.... not that im biased or anything