Vehicle Description
1960 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe
In celebration of their 50th year of production, Chevrolet
introduced the Impala. Designs were changing, moving away from
traditional tail fins being replaced by deep sculpted rear panels,
dual headlamps, larger "greenhouse" passenger compartments, and
upgrades in suspension and engine options. Interior finishes such
as color keyed door panels, and brushed aluminum began at this time
as well. Through generations 1 to 3, styling got sleeker, passenger
compartments lower, and emphasis was on a look of a car in motion,
when it was sitting still.
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. A wonderful 1960
Chevrolet Impala just dripping with space age styling, arare paint
color, and a correct new interior. The correct 283ci engine,
automatic transmission, swept back antenna, and bubble glass. I'm
pulling up to my butterfly winged roof mid century modern house,
right in the carport with open block styling. Call me a baby
boomerang!
Exterior
Bleeding cool cat looks, and bathed in a single older respray of
Suntan Copper, a rather rare color for the model year, no expense
was spared on the polishing of the numerous trimmings. Grille,
bumper, front quarter trimmings, polished rocket like spears with
red contrails doubling as the rear quarter trimmings, and the
batwing tail fins topped with a stainless trimming and a swept back
antenna, you just cannot go wrong with this early 60's looker. Gaps
are well minded and no rust seen within 10 feet of this cruiser,but
we do note some chips and scratches along with age appropriate wear
to the finish of the paint. Window trimmings 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! And as with all Impalas the triple ice cream cone shaped
taillights are within a polished piece of aluminum trim which
extends across the entire rear pod of this car just below the
trunkline. A shiny bumper stretches across the bottom and just
below dual exhausts peek out from underneath the wrap-around bumper
edges. Wide white wall tires have a Suntan Copper ring just inside
the whitewalls and standard wheel covers with a black and white
checkered and fleur de lis crossed flag behind a 3D chevron. I'm
crusin' in long and low, wide chromed edged bat winged early 60's
style baby.
Interior
Award winning from the swing of the doors, where you'll find yards
of multi-shade copper vinyl swooping through the doors with a
chrome trimmed delineator between the panel hues and a copper sill
with some chrome trimmings set into it. A copper houndstooth insert
with an off-white background panel is in the middle of the dark
copper center vinyl panel. Shiny cranks and the copper vinyl
covered armrest are here too and on the armrest's end is the paddle
actuator. Inside more yards of copper vinyl for the bolsters of the
split back front bench and solid rear bench. These chairs have a
healthy dose of thin white and copper houndstooth pattern for their
broadcloth inserts and present very well. We note the rear bench
presents with a lighter houndstooth insert and may be the original
material. The copper 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. A beautifully preserved
center chromed chevron style steering wheel with a copper rim and
half horn rich fronts the dash, and brown carpeting floods the
floors and is protected by black rubber mats. Up above is the
copper headliner which is copper vinyl nice and tight, but does
present with some staining.
Drivetrain
Under the hood in a satin black engine bay a GM orange/red block
and valve covered 283ci V8. Our consigner states that this engine
is the original and the stamping numbers and casting numbers agree.
It is topped with a single 2-barrel carburetor, and a 2-speed
Powerglide automatic is shifted from the tree. A 3.36 rear axle is
on, and all is looking just fine under this hood.
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
just great with no rust. Floor pans and rockers are solid and have
a healthy undercoating covering them. The dual exhaust has
stainless steel glass pack mufflers and presents with a mix of
surface rust and black paint.
Drive-Ability
One of the few cars when you get in and not only IS it definitely
cool, but it makes the driver look that way as well!! Magical. As
was the operation of this car with great acceleration, smooth bias
free panic stopping, and good handling. Sadly the radio does not
work, so my tenure behind the wheel was with a serenade of Brenda
Lee's "I'm Sorry" performed by my crack decoder. Also, I noted the
windshield wipers did not function.
A real looker 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. A real looker especially from the side,
snazzy copper and white houndstooth paneled interior, copper dash,
and a cool 283ci V8 under the hood. Honey, you may want to tighten
your bandanna. I don't want that bouffant hair to get messed
up.
01837N161686
0-1960
18-Impala V8
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
N-Norwood, OH Assy Plant
161686-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
STYLE 60 1837-1960 Impala 2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
BODY NW8069-Norwood Body #
TRIM 865-Copper Cloth & Vinyl
PAINT 970-Suntan Copper
37B-?
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
