i'm pretty sure i know the answer to be yes, but just to be certain, the 64 and 65 quarter panel sheet metal is the same correct? i can use the quarter panel from a hard top car and use it on a convertible? i have found a 64 rear clip that has a really nice right quarter panel looking at the pictures, and the left quarter doesn't have any holes but it definitely shows signs of bondo in it's past. speaking to the older gentlemen on the phone, he sounded to be honest and know what to look for, he is supposed to get me some better pictures of the trunk drop down area and the inside of the trunk where the wheel well meets. 7.5 hour drive for me so i want to see more of what i'm getting into before i go, but for the price of the entire rear clip, it is worth it to me.

 

I'm pretty sure all the sheet metal differs between '64 and '65 and is not interchangeable. Not sure about HT vs. convertible -- to my recollection they look about the same.

 

I think the radius around the deck lid upper corners differ between hardtops and convertibles.

 

Bumpers are different in front and rear. But you could cut out to work.

 

Not sure about the rear…but I know the fenders are quite different.
Here’s a ref. Wish I had a better pic of the 64 but…

 

i was talking to bro earlier, he seems to think the skins are the same, but the inner structure is different. they looks so damn close. i can get an entire rear clip, still assembled, for a very, very good price, but it's a 7.5 hour drive, not something i want to do if they aren't going to work.

 

 

Here are the quarters on mine, with all the dings and terrible overlap patch work previously performed, I feel I’m in the same boat as my floor, why patch, if I can put a whole skin back in place, that needs nothing, to minimal work, seems like a no brainer, and I’ll know it was done right. I think the extra work will be worth it in the long run, and, no bondo. Make the butt weld on top behind the window trim, across to the deck lid, have it leaded like factory. if Only I can use the skins from the 64, It would be sweet!

 

Look at the bumper cut out.
The 64 looks very square compared to the 65.

 

you're right, the 65 slants towards the wheel, the 64 goes more straight down. good eye. that sucks because the quarters are in way better shape than mine. for the price, i'm still half tempted to go get it and fabricate that section by the bumper, the rest of the quarter is really solid. hard to find these days in this condition. there is a convertible in iowa that a guy is getting swarmed over for the quarters, says one is solid but passenger side not so much. i sent a message to see what he wanted for the whole car, have to wait and see what he says. looks to have a solid frame under it too. i guess the hunt continues, or i'll just keep working on these. there are several dings that are behind the wheel well that i can't get behind with hammer to bang out. i know a PDR guy, maybe he can come buy and work his magic. problem is the terrible patch work, i need to pull there panel off and see what's behind there. they just lapped the new piece over the old quarter skin.

 

looking at different side picture, they actually look the same. if you have both in your possession, could you possibly take some measurements please? look at this pic of a 64 from the side and it looks like it has the same slant as the 65.

 

1964

1965



from my understanding 64/65 are the same from the fire wall back do know the tail light section is different from the two. But have always understood the quarters were the same here are the two pictures I have on my phone from my projects and they look the same to me.
John 2blu442 as parted many over the years and hopefully he can verify

 

 

It's closer than I thought, but trust GM to change it just enough between years to make it non-interchangeable. I'd be surprised if the bumper notch is the only thing you'll have to fabricate. I'd hold out for a '65.

 

Not the best pics but the car is hidden in the garage if needed I do have a spare 65 bumper I can hang on the 64 to show alignment

 

You the man Justin!! Thank you sir! Looks the same to me, I can cut and seem the top of the quarter where the roof starts, it’s definitely same for the window opening. Looks like I’m driving 7.5 hours this Friday as long as Stan sticks to his word, from talking to him on the phone, that shouldn’t be an issue.

 

Here is a definitive answer .
This is from group 12.940 in the parts book.
Note that all F-85 entries ( which includes Cutlass) are listed as 64-65.

 

thank you sir. i "thought i knew" that they were the same, my assumption was right. i'm going friday to pick them up. he is letting me use his torch when i get there to cut away what i want and i'm taking the wheel wells too. they seem to be in better shape then what i have now, i can cut my patches out of the used ones instead of spending 130 bucks a side to buy new ones, just to only cut and use the bottom 5 inches. i originally thought i was going to be dragging a trailer all day and having that added variable to the trip but if i cut these just right, i can fit them both, with wheel wells, inside my van. sure is a lot easier to handle two individual sides versus having to man handle the back half.

 

Good deal. Congrats, droptop!

Makes me wonder if the same would apply to '64-5 Chevelles, Tempests and Skylarks ...?

 

Nice bit of detective work Charlie.
And now we all know.

 

On my way home with my quar

ters

 

Very nice score great price. I recently made a 12hr drive and brought back a car and a half ( half in parts)


you will save a lot of time with those quarters and will love the end results

 

It isn't real hard to do.
The parts book is available on line here;
Auto History Preservation Society - Factory Publications Listings (wildaboutcarsonline.com)
You go to the illustration book first, and find the part you are looking for.
Next to that part is a "group number".
You take that group number, and look it up in the parts list.
Under that group will be all the parts of that type that were available from General Motors at the time of the printing.
They will be listed by year and model.

 

Made it home, 17 hour total trip. They better look good when done. Lol

 

I think I did ok, he wanted 150 and was going to cut the car in half, I offered an extra 50, to cut it twice, and make it easier to handle, and transport. I paid 260 bucks in gas, 20 bucks in food, and a road trip with my friend that has never been west of Evansville indiana. I think the passenger quarter alone is worth that trip.

 

Well said Duane, somethings you cannot put a price tag on!

 

this drivers side quarter will take some work but it looks rot free for the most part very good score

 

Thanks. Passenger side has minor rust starting where it meets the trunk drop off and a few minor dings but easy fix. the driver side has two small holes, but yea, no major rot in either panel. Looks like the driver side was hit, they used a slide hammer but didn’t do a very good job. I’m going to start hammering and dolly this week . I cut out the inner skins and cleared most of the unnecessary metal yesterday and they were solid on the inside too.