1965 Chevrolet Malibu

1965 Chevrolet Malibu SS
This 1965 Chevrolet Malibu SS is a two-door sport coupe that was assembled at GMs Atlanta, Georgia facility during the third week of November 1964. The car was originally finished in Danube Blue over a Medium Blue vinyl bucket-seat interior and was factory equipped with a V8 engine and a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.
The VIN, 138375A105006, decodes as a V8-powered Malibu SS sport coupe produced for the 1965 model year at the Atlanta assembly plant. Unlike the Fisher Body number, the VINs 38-series designation confirms that the car was produced as a genuine V8 Malibu SS.
Power is supplied by a 283ci L32 Chevrolet small-block V8 believed to be original to the car. The engine-pad stamping reads F0914DE, indicating that the engine was assembled at the Flint, Michigan plant on September 14, 1964. The DE suffix identifies a 283ci V8 equipped with a two-barrel carburetor, rated at 195 horsepower, and intended for use with a Powerglide automatic transmission.
The engine block carries casting number 3849852, a correct 283ci casting used in 1964 through 1966 Chevelle applications. Its casting date is reported as I 12 4, indicating September 12, 1964---two days before the engines September 14 assembly date and approximately two months before the cars November body assembly. The casting number, casting date, assembly stamp, transmission application, VIN and trim-tag information are all consistent with this engine having been installed when the car was new. Because ordinary 1965 small-block engines were not consistently stamped with the vehicles partial VIN, the engine is described as believed original rather than conclusively numbers-matching.
The Fisher Body trim tag decodes as follows:

11C -- Body assembled during the third week of November 1964
65-13837 -- 1965 Malibu SS two-door sport coupe
ATL -- Atlanta, Georgia assembly plant
1692 BODY -- Fisher Body production number
741 TRIM -- Medium Blue patterned vinyl bucket-seat interior
E-E PAINT -- Danube Blue upper and lower body finish
W -- Tinted windshield
2M -- Powerglide automatic transmission
2P -- Comfort and Convenience equipment group
2S -- Rear-mounted radio antenna
3C -- Padded instrument panel
5W -- Custom Deluxe front seat belts with retractors

The combination of Danube Blue paint, Medium Blue bucket seats and the SS trim package gives the car a distinctly period-correct appearance. Factory equipment included a padded dashboard, tinted windshield, rear antenna, retractable deluxe seat belts and Comfort and Convenience features.
This Malibu SS combines documented factory V8 status with a correctly dated 283ci engine and a trim tag that verifies its original colors, bucket-seat interior and Powerglide configuration. The VIN and Fisher Body production numbers also correspond closely with other documented Atlanta-built Malibu SS examples produced during the same November 1964 assembly week.