Vehicle Description
Attractive restoration in correct colors. 283/automatic. Power
steering, power top. Brand new Diamondback wide whitewall radials.
Runs and drives extremely well. Beautiful full-sized ragtop that
delivers the luxury ride Chevy intended!Our first contact with this
lovely 1960 Chevrolet Impala convertible was when it came off the
trailer. I was standing next to it as the driver climbed out and
the car was so quiet that assumed the engine had stalled. Looking
in, however, there were no lights on the dash, the key was still in
the RUN position, and sure enough, the 283 cubic inch V8 was idling
away at about 500 RPM in near total silence. It was a rather
remarkable experience that I've never had with another car?that's
not so easy to do after more than 2000 cars have passed through our
hands. At any rate, the quality of the engine build is but one
aspect of this big red ragtop, which is easily the flashiest car in
our showroom. The trim tag says it was originally Ermine White, but
during the frame-off restoration a few years ago, it was changed to
correct code 923 Roman Red, and we think that was the right choice.
The 1960 Chevys were long and lean and there's just no reason to be
subtle about that rocket ship styling. Those massive quarter panels
are about a mile long and they're quite straight so it looks
fantastic from any angle. The bright red paint is deep and shiny
and with all that glittering trim, it does indeed look like a
top-of-the-line car. The stainless has all been polished properly
and it lines up from panel to panel, so you know there's plenty of
time invested here. Dual antennas complete the jet-age look.The
two-tone red and white interior is likewise quite correct, with
that funky houndstooth pattern on the inserts. Those awesome door
panels continue the jet-inspired theme that runs throughout the
car, and you'll note that the weather seals are new and the door
seams show no evidence of major rust?this car lived someplace warm.
Red carpets with flecks of black is correct for 1960, a pattern
unique to GM and it works rather well to keep the interior from
being overwhelmingly bright. The steering wheel shows more aircraft
influence, and the individual pods for the gauges are just plain
cool. They also fitted red seat belts for front and rear seat
occupants, which is always a good idea for safety. The only real
demerit is the brake pedal pad that says 'power brakes' although
this car has manual brakes?likely a supply issue. The AM radio
powers up but we were unable to tune a station inside our building,
and that knob under the dash is the choke control for the
carburetor. Overhead there's a new white power convertible top with
a correct plastic rear window, and it stows itself neatly under a
matching red vinyl boot. The massive trunk is outfitted with proper
mats and more new weather seals to keep things tight.The
aforementioned 283 cubic inch V8 is the 2-barrel version, so this
car isn't a drag strip brawler. Instead, it's a very relaxed
cruiser that remains just effortless going down the road. It starts
easily, idles nearly silently, and makes the kind of torque that
moves the big convertible without ever seeming to work very hard.
It's correctly dressed in Chevy Orange engine enamel with a factory
air cleaner on top, so it looks right, and a few subtle upgrades
make it easier to live with in the real world: an alternator and a
big aluminum radiator. There's also a new wiring harness, coated
'ram's horn' exhaust manifolds, and a dual master cylinder for
safety. It starts quickly and easily, hot or cold, and just goes
about its business without any fuss?that's the beauty of the small
block Chevy, right? The 2-speed PowerGlide automatic transmission
provides crisp shifts and we figure there are 3.36 gears out back,
which are a nice compromise between acceleration and easy cruising.
The X-frame is completely solid with no evidence it has ever been
hit, and the floors remain in excellent condition with no rot. New
shocks, a fresh exhaust system, rebuilt brakes, and a new gas tank
mean this Impala is ready to cruise as soon as it comes off the
trailer. And those gorgeous 205/75/14 Diamondback wide whitewall
radials were just installed and look exactly right.A beautiful
cruiser with exactly zero bad habits, this Impala remains a
first-class way to enjoy the warm weather. It should be bulletproof
reliable, easy to maintain, and the dramatic look still turns heads
wherever it goes. Impossible to duplicate for the asking price,
it's an excellent car in a market that's still on its way up. Call
today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or
professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to
purchase.
