1965 Chevrolet Urban 2-door station wagon

['70 Grande]

This is an idea I've had for some time and finally gathered enough parts to get it started.

It is an early-1964 design prototype from the Chevrolet Engineering Dept, designed to be a smaller format 2-door station wagon to be used in busy downtown urban settings like NYC where it can be double-parked while making deliveries of light products, (bakery, flower shop, small print-runs, or other packages). It has a shortened 105"-wheelbase, (vs. the factory stock '65 Chevelle wagon's 115"-wheelbase), and will have a standard/baseline 327 V8. (wish I had a straight 235 6-cylinder in my parts box, but none there)!

The engineering and marketing team's intent is for these '65 Chevrolet "Urban" 2-door station wagons to be sold as no-frills delivery vehicles, but not a sedan delivery style as the rear windows provide natural lighting for the interior cargo space in the frequently shadow-filled downtown settings.

The prototype was photographed and presented by the marketing team at Chevrolet Dealership meetings, but the sales managers didn't feel it was likely to be much of a seller for the 1965 product line, and the "Urban" 2-door wagon was cancelled.

The following are a few pics of my mock-up for this '65 Chevrolet Urban 2-door station wagon. Because it's still a prototype, it wears the steel wheels with no hubcaps as they haven't been designed yet. 

Lots of work done so far and a lot more yet to do. I'd welcome your thoughts or comments on my project.

[fredo84]

Love the concep t! 

Good Start !

[TopherMcGinnis]

That is too cool! Talk about an Underdog and Ultimate Sleeper! If you'd like to put a 6 cylinder in it, I've got one from a '51 3100 kit. You're welcome to it if you want it.

[DJMar]

Sweet! Are you thinking about creating the angled b-pillar, similar to the Chevelle 300 2 door wagon? Or are you going with a different look?

['70 Grande]

Going with a more utilitarian look as this concept uses the smaller front doors found on the 4-door station wagon, so the B-pillars will be straight verticals... same with a 3rd-pillar to be added that will split that long window into 2 sections. 

Topher: Thanks for the 6-cylinder engine offer but in my research I've found that '65 Chevelles could be ordered with either a base model small block 283 V8 or an upgrade(?) to the sb 327 V8.  Seems weird that two small blocks that I thought to be pretty similar were available. I'm going to drop the 283 into this build, but thanks for your offer!

[NerdmanB]

Really like this. Big station wagon fan so looking forward to more of this. Brian 

[Supernurd]

I guess there had to be a "urban" before there was a "suburban". Cool.  👍

[kelson]

Cool concept!,looking forward to seeing this come together.👍