Vehicle Description
In 1962, the guy driving this cool black-over-red Impala hardtop
was well and truly The Man. Today, that's still true, and when you
hear the not-so-subtle rumble of the 409, slip through the gears of
the Muncie 4-speed, and watch all the envious eyes on you as you
motor away, you'll understand. For the guy who understands
performance and style, few cars can compare to the illustrious
Impala.
This is the kind of car that you can recognize blocks away, whether
it's the trim hardtop profile or the traditional trip taillights
that were unique to the Imp. Driving this car is like dating a
movie star, and you should be ready for question and answer session
every time you stop for gas. The Tuxedo Black paint will stand up
to scrutiny, even though it was refinished during the first Bush
administration. It's a quality restoration that has just the right
look of authenticity, making it a fantastic cruiser that's always
properly dressed for an event. Fit and finish are quite good, with
doors that fit nicely without needing to give them a hard slam. The
sheetmetal is incredibly straight, so the black paint is a big
bonus, not a demerit, because it shows none of the usual flaws a
lesser car might have. Chrome and trim is quite good, including the
delicate Impala badges on the quarters and crossed-flag emblems up
front with the ever-so-small '409' underneath, just in case the guy
in the other lane is really paying attention.
The interior is pure '60s style, a blend of conservative patterns
and shiny trim that looks awesome today. The Impala is particularly
interesting due to its unique blend of performance and luxury,
making it a rather stylish gentleman's express. The seats wear
reproduction covers with proper button-tufted seat backs, there's
new carpeting with original-style rubber floor mats, and the door
panels show an artist's touch. The instruments in that sweeping
engine-turned dash appear to be original and a little faded but
they all work properly, and a pair of auxiliary gauges have been
stashed under the dash. Being a non-SS with a 4-speed is quite a
find, and it looks especially butch with the bench seat, as if it
doesn't care what people think it should be. It also includes the
original radio delete plate (you think this car was built this way
by accident?) and the trunk is neatly finished with a correct mat
set.
Five years ago, the original engine was tossed in favor of a built
409 cubic inch V8. A legend of '60s performance, it's the ultimate
early Impala powerplant. With an .030 overbore, a Z11 cam, 690 high
compression heads, and a pair of Edelbrock 4-barrels on a factory
intake manifold, it's definitely in combat spec. With just over
2000 miles on the build, it runs superbly, although you need to be
sharp for a big horsepower engine like this, because it ain't no
Toyota. Other upgrades include high performance exhaust manifolds,
a fresh alternator, and a new exhaust system that sounds flat-out
awesome. The weenie 14-inch wheels and tires are gone, replaced by
a set of appropriate 16-inch Torque Thrusts and staggered 225/50/16
front and 255/60/16 rear blackwall radials.
A very pretty car with an unusual powertrain combination, this
Impala will always be on the A-list. Call today!