True Connections

This Month’s article kicks off a series of three articles dedicated to the legendary 1965 Z-16 Chevelle. In the December 2004 issue of Super Chevy’s annual Chevelle magazine we wrote an overview on the subject of the Z-16, but in this series we will go more in depth. In April of 1963, Vince Piggins, manager of product performance at Chevrolet Engineering, initially proposed the idea of a mid sized high performance “street” car to showcase the new 396 ci engine. Originally, the Z-16 project was meant to be a special build of 100 1964 Malibu Sport Coupes with an extended wheelbase of 116 inches instead of the normal 115 inches. The extra inch was necessary in order to meet the Nascar minimum wheelbase rule which would allow the mid-sized performer to compete in Nascar sanctioned races since the maximum number of cubic inches was 400. However that all changed when Chevrolet couldn’t get the project off the ground before Nascar changed their rules in late September allowing cars with a wheelbase of 114 inches. So because Chevrolet was running out of time the entire modified wheelbase 1964 Z-16 project was scrapped and rolled into the 1965 model year, which gave them plenty of time to double their original run of 100 Z-16s to 200. So 200 1965 Malibu SS Hardtops were commissioned, fully optioned, and fitted with the Z-16 equipment. Yet the final number ended up at 201 with the inclusion of a very special convertible. This 1965 Z-16 Convertible came with all the special features as the hardtops did, except one major difference. While the hardtops were limited in color to Black, Red, or Yellow, the one convertible Z-16 was produced in Sierra Tan with Saddle interior. This ultra rare Z-16 was used by Chevrolet as a promotional vehicle until with approximately 3000 miles on it, it was purchased in late 1965 by a GM engineer. The unnamed engineer kept the car for a year and a half before he sold it to another individual who planned to use it to drag race. Who knows what horrors that priceless piece of Chevelle history endured during its racing carreer. After that, the convertible Z-16 disappeared and has not been seen since, so we can only imagine where it is today and what it would be worth. Even the Z-16 hardtops can be difficult to find today. They were spread across the country and offered directly through dealers to people who had special interest in high performance Chevrolet products and who could give the Z-16 the most exposure. Along with magazine and press test drives, luminaries such as Dan Blocker, Wally Parks, and AJ Foyt were among the first to be offered a chance to drive the most legendary of all Chevelles. Next month we continue on the details of some of the unique aspects of the 1965 Z-16 Chevelle.