Vehicle Description
Talk about an icon! The last of the rear-wheel-drive Impalas were
genuine cult cars the day they hit the showrooms, and today they've
achieved what only a select minority of cars can claim: they were
NEVER just used cars and have ALWAYS been worth at least as much as
their original sticker price. The only other car to pull that off
recently is the Ford GT supercar and maybe the Enzo Ferrari.
This gorgeous Dark Green Gray 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS is a very
nicely preserved specimen that comes from only two passionate
owners (aren't they all?) and shows an astounding 38,798 original
miles! Clearly treated to a life of privilege, the sleek 4-door
sedan looks every bit as good now as it did more than 20 years ago
when it hit the showrooms, and perhaps even better thanks to a
decade of hand washing, polishing, buffing, and waxing. Dark Green
Gray was one of three colors available in '96, and arguably the
most appealing with a no-nonsense look that everyone can agree on.
It definitely gives the big Imp a Q-ship rating, because nobody's
going to see this one coming until it's too late, even with those
giant 17-inch alloys. Fortunately, everything on this one is neatly
preserved and in excellent condition, from the urethane bumpers to
the slick body-colored "Impala SS" badges that subtly adorn the
flanks. This sucker is NICE!
Inside, the Impala got a nice upgrade over the standard Caprice in
the form of gray leather buckets and a center console. Apparently,
GM was using some high-grade leather back then, because it wears
like iron and in this car, it has been carefully maintained and
shows only the most minor comfort marks on the driver's chair. All
the gauges are fully functional, and the Impala came only one way:
loaded. A/C, cruise control, power windows and locks, and a
powerful stereo were standard equipment, and it all works like new.
In addition, this one sports dual power seats, an auto-dimming
rear-view mirror, passenger visor mirror and twilight sentinel
headlights, which were part of the Preferred Equipment Group. Pop
the trunk and you'll find commodious storage that looks
factory-fresh, complete with original spare tire and cover.
The Imp's real claim to fame was a Corvette-derived LT1 V8, a
version of which was also shared with taxi cabs and police
cruisers, so it's powerful as well as virtually indestructible. And
as a small-block Chevy, it's so easy to modify that finding an
all-stock example like this is almost unheard-of. From the air
filter to the exhaust system, this Imp is totally original, and
that either means it's just waiting for you to get busy with the
upgrades or take it to the show and blow them away with its
preservation. Either way, the LT1 barks to life easily, idles
smoothly, and pulls like a freight train. The 4-speed automatic
overdrive transmission is smooth and always seems to be ready to
leap into action, and the suspension is an ideal combination of
ride and handling thanks to expensive DeCarbon shocks that were
original equipment. Iconic 5-spoke wheels were a big part of the
Impala's look, and wear 255/50/17 Hankook radials.
The last of the rear-wheel-drive American performance sedans has no
equal, and like when they were new, this incredible survivor won't
be around for long. Call today!
