Let’s dial in 1960 on the way back machine and don our Wayfarers as we are going to arrive in the land of cool. Sherman, can you hear me Sherman? It appears there was a problem with the space time continuator and we’ve landed in a barn sometime around 2022. What was once a wonderful 1960 Chevrolet Impala just dripping with space age styling is now covered in 40 years of dust, dirt and debris. Even in this state it’s easy to pick out the batwing style rear quarter panels, swept back roofline, and bubble glass. Call up AAA, I wanna bring this home and breathe some new life into her.
Exterior
Faded cool cat looks, and bathed in Tasco Turquoise, shows in a state of disrepair with rust, body filler, dings and dents, but the overall beauty of the last true finned Chevrolet is still shining through. Present and accounted for are the grille, bumpers, some trimmings, including partial trim on the bat wing rear fenders, you just cannot go wrong with this early 60’s looker. Gaps are slightly misaligned and the window trimmings, while missing in some areas, are framing perfectly preserved bubble front and wonderfully sloping rear glass. A side view is showing a moving cruiser even when it stands still in the studio! We note a new half quarter panel was partially installed on the passenger’s rear but the rest of the body shows invasive rust in most of the lower body panels. And as with all Impalas the triple ice cream cone shaped taillights are within chrome bezels and a pitted and rusted bumper stretches across the bottom and just below. 14-inch steel wheels with rubber passable enough to roll this around your shop keep this long skate attached to the ground. I’m envisioning crusin’ in long and low, wide chromed edged bat winged, early 60’s style baby.
Interior
From the swing of the doors we find the shambles of what was once a black interior. Long gone are the door panels, but we note that the rear side panels, while wavy, are present and accounted for. A split bench seat in black with smooth vinyl bolsters and cloth inserts is showing as worn and in need of recovering. In the back is a matching bench with the iconic Impala logoed rear seat speaker, but the majority of the seat is covered in parts belonging to the car. The black painted metal dash has a series of deep insert carved out rounds for the blackface gauges and a rounded B top shape. A strip of dimpled aluminum stretches across the bottom of the dash and houses some knobs and pulls right out of the Jetson era. A snappy curved A-pillar frames the curved glass and comes to rest just before the doors on the dash. The original center chromed chevron style steering wheel with a black rim and half horn ring fronts the dash, and remnants off turquoise carpeting floods the floors A fairly tight headliner hangs above and we cannot overlook the larger than life trunk that holds the missing door panels and boxes of parts and trim.
Drivetrain
Under the hood in a dusty, dirty and patined engine bay is a GM orange/red block and valve covered 235ci inline 6 cylinder. It is topped with a single 2-barrel carburetor, and a 3-speed manual shifted from the tree. A 3.36 rear axle is on to turn the rear tires.
Undercarriage
Independent coil springs for the front and a 4 link with coil springs for the rear and drum front and rear brakes are all looking. Floor pans and rockers show as patinaed but original and have a healthy undercoating covering them. We note a few small areas of invasive rust in the flooring, body hangers and inner rockers but overall the environment is structurally solid. Single exhaust is on and shows as surface rusted but intact
Drive-Ability
While not a runner at this time, our consignor notes that this car did run when it was parked nearly 40 years ago.
A real looker in the making, taking advantage of that early 60’s styling , influenced by the dawn of the space age and the dusk of the 50’s fins in bat wing format. Definitely in need of some TLC on all fronts but the end result will be worth the effort. Sherman, remember these coordinates, I think I’ll be clearing out some space in my garage.
01737B150625
0-1960
17-Impala 6 Cylinder
37-2 Door Hardtop
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
150625-Sequential Unit Number
Price: Auction
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Seller's other items: classicautomall
