Vehicle Description
1960 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop
"A more conservative approach, with "jet smooth" lines, evident
with the aircraft inspired side trim. Chevrolet changed much of the
bodylines from the more wild 1959's. The new look for 1960 suited
the glamorous top of the line Impala, as Chevrolet reshaped and
separated the "bat wing" tail fins, and added 3 round tail lamps to
the rear. The 1960 Chevrolet Impala also became the best selling
automobile in the US, and continued to hold that position for the
next decade." Thxoldride.com
For consignment, a 1960 Chevrolet Impala hardtop with a 283ci V8
and a 3-speed automatic transmission. In 1960, the base price for
this car would have been $2,597 and from there, upwards of fifty
options were available to essentially add a combination of features
that would make your car different from your neighbors. And yes,
it's likely your neighbor had one as more than 511,000 Impalas were
produced in 1960 and this particular car comes to us with 139,970
title verified miles.
Exterior
Just after you notice the nice Onyx Black paint and fantastic shape
in profile, the legendary side ornament will undoubtedly grab your
attention. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's described as a quarter
panel missile ornament which bleeds off two trim moldings that
trail off rearward, the gap between filled with a red insert and
Impala script. The shoulder line is heavily defined here starting
with a flare of front fender, a fold that continues over the door
where it is met by a spear trim piece that extends to the back
becoming the defining line of the horizontal fin. Up front, twin
pairs of bar molding add some visual interest but still compete
with the fantastic tail that features three lights on each side, a
pair of canted antenna, and on this car, dual exhaust with angle
cut pipes at the end of a long rear deck. 14-inch Cragar SS wheels
fit the vibe of the car, and a pair of fender ornaments contribute
to this cornucopia of visual delights. Imperfections include areas
of uneven or touched up paint, some paint crazing, and a decent
amount of bubbling down low.
Interior
Houndstooth cloth inserts highlight the door panels which are
dominated by black and feature a white stripe that doesn't stop
until the back seat. The split bench combines white panels on the
upper, black panels on the lower, and houndstooth inserts on each
with a slight patina, but in presentable condition. The back bench
mimics the patterns and colors and shows some staining on the lower
portion, while the package tray is wavy. Up front, a bright red
racy steering wheel with horn ring greets the driver, sharing its
column with a slim shifter leading to the red dash with
individually chambered gauges and an added tachometer that's
mounted next to the column. Textured metal panels make up the lower
dash where it houses a triple gauge cluster below, and an
AM/FM/Cassette radio above. The sculpted red and metallic surfaces
of the passenger's dash and glove box are beautifully formed. Newer
black loop carpet looks fantastic, protected by matching Impala
mats, and the white headliner is flanked by a pair of side mounted
dome lights in a configuration we rarely see.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, a clean 283ci V8 circa 1965-1967 is topped by an
Edelbrock intake and four barrel carburetor. It's backed by a TH350
3-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the back axle
housing 3.08 gears. Drum brakes occupy the front and the back. The
red block of the engine is enhanced with chrome valve covers but
the engine otherwise presents as non showy and clean.
Undercarriage
Driver quality underneath with surface rust on some components but
mainly reserved for the exhaust. That dual exhaust enters
Cherrybomb mufflers right after leaving the engine, then follows
the lines of the X-frame before going up and over the rear axle and
out the back via beveled chrome tips. We note some residual oil on
the pan, some grease build up on the knuckles, and some slight
dampness at the pinion seal. Suspension consists of coil springs in
front and a 3 link, coil springs, and a panhard bar in back.
Drive-Ability
The 283 starts up without hesitation and we drop the shifter to
Drive and roll this long car onto our testing route. Behind us, we
note some smoke and it appears to be burning some oil. But it runs
fine, tracks well, and provides gobs of visibility with the curved
windshield, large rear window, and slim C-pillar. Things that don't
work include the horn, the wipers, the speedometer, the clock, and
the radio turns on but no sound is heard. While Classic Auto Mall
represents that these functions were working at the time of our
test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at
the time of your purchase.
While we'd hate to use an outdated idiom, "sell like hotcakes" is
appropriate here as 60's Impalas always find a new home after being
posted at Classic Auto Mall. There's just something very special
about the car and all you really have to do is look at it to know
this is not your ordinary 60's commuter, even though it was an
ordinary 60's commuter. What black and white and red all over?
Hopefully, your next acquisition.
01837S137346
0-1960
18-Impala V8
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
S-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
137346-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
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