Vehicle Description
The ultimate heavy Chevy of the 1960s has to be the 1964 Impala SS,
and of those, there's nothing more appealing than a slick-red
hardtop with a legendary 409 under the hood. It's indeed a real SS
hardtop with a date-code correct engine matched with a
quick-shifting Muncie 4-speed manual transmission - the ultimate
combination for anyone that likes to have a little fun behind the
wheel. Punctuated with a high-end, frame-off restoration and some
choice options at the ready, this stunning '64 Imp 409 provides
maximum doses of Chevy performance and luxury.
Code 922 Ember Red is about as good as it gets on a '64 Impala, so
when it came time to restore this beauty, the builders wisely knew
to leave the original color combination intact. Even without a
color change (although to be fair, the former owner does call this
shade Viper Red) the frame-off restoration was still comprehensive
- the sweeping bodywork was straightened, smoothed, and sanded to
perfection before several coats of that gorgeous red paint were
applied. It's the right choice on something like this car, which
offers a unique combination of performance and comfort, a kind of
grown-up's muscle car. Ultra-straight sheetmetal is especially
critical on the Impala, what with those impossibly long quarters
and straight lines that demand care when putting everything back
together again. And as a very clean car before the restoration, you
know that the beauty is more than skin deep. It's also good to see
that this one is a real SS and comes by its ornate trim honestly
instead of being some kind of clone. Triple taillights still
signified something special in 1964, while that Impala logo on the
flanks certainly inspired and intimidated other motorists, and this
car captures all of that brilliantly. The chrome has been restored,
the trim is straight and shiny, and, well, there just can't be many
Impalas nicer than this one running around. Add in the raked
stance, the capped headers that poke out underneath, and those
flashy chrome wheels and you've got one of the best-looking Imps
we've ever featured.
If you're impressed by the body, then the interior will likewise
stand up to close scrutiny. Code 815 black vinyl bucket seats wear
fresh factory-style seat covers, plush carpets insulate the floors,
and SS door panels claim the flanks, while a beautiful thin-rim
steering wheel anchors the cockpit. The factory gauges were fully
restored as well by all accounts, including the rather unusual
factory tachometer mounted atop the steering column in its own pod,
and a trio of AutoGage auxiliary units under the dash keep a close
eye on the big block under the hood. The original '64 Impala dash
was such a beautifully designed piece back then and remains as such
today, complete with the engine-turned accents laid into the
center. The factory center console is accented with a matching
engine-turned panel, and it houses a cue-ball topped chrome shifter
that manages the Muncie 4-speed manual below. The original AM radio
is gone, replaced by a modern Clarion AM/FM/CD/AUX unit that powers
a much-improved stereo inside, while a working factory
heater/defrost unit and seatbelts up front round out the options
list. There's a taut black headliner above, the back seat was
beautifully finished and barely looks used, while out back the
trunk was neatly finished with spatter paint, a reproduction mat,
and a stock spare tire set-up that is likely the car's original
unit.
So, the car's obviously gorgeous, but the true appeal of this
Impala is under the hood, where you'll find a thumping,
period-correct 409 cubic inch V8 rated at a whopping 425
horsepower. The most respected engine in the Chevy performance
world in 1964, this engine transforms the Impala from merely a nice
car to a muscle machine that will eat Mustangs for lunch. With a
casting that decodes to a '64-'65 409 V8, everything in the motor
was restored, replaced, or replaced a reported 380 miles ago, and
now features a new Crane camshaft, new dual Edelbrock 4-barrel
carburetors, and a performance intake up top. Beautifully finished
with Chevy Orange paint, those unique W-shaped chrome valve covers,
and a chrome dual-inlet air cleaner, it looks very hi-po in every
sense of the word. Because it was rebuilt fairly recently and
everything is fresh and clean, and it drives like a new car today
with power and torque felt through all gears of the Muncie M-21
4-speed manual that spins the posi-traction rear end out back. A
3-inch Flowmaster dual exhaust system weaves its way through the
X-frame and gives it a wicked voice and the undercarriage is
extremely clean but not over-done, so you can actually drive it
without worries. Power steering and power front disc brakes with
slotted rotors improve this Imp's road manners, while fresh shocks
underneath help set that wicked stance atop a set of flashy chrome
SS wheels wrapped in 225/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A white-letter
radials.
We sell a lot of early Impalas, but this might be the nicest of
them all, and you can't argue with 409 cubes of thunder under your
right foot. Call today!