Vehicle Description
Early '60s Impalas are red-hot right now, and this
classically-styled 1962 Impala hardtop is a frame-off restored,
super clean car with a bit of a resto-mod look and a wicked stance.
A V8-powered hardtop in great colors with a great vintage
performance look that's 100% Impala make for a compelling cruise
night ride.
By 1962, the fins were long gone and the resulting car was one of
the cleanest, most attractive designs in years. Restrained and
handsome, it was relatively easy to make it look racy with just a
few additions like the crossed-flag emblems on the fenders and
subtle twin tailpipes just behind the rear wheel wells. This bright
white Imp carries all its original sheetmetal and floors, a
testament to just how clean it really is. After spending decades in
a warm climate, it got a nice freshening about five years ago in
its original Ermine White, which was pretty popular with the guys
going racing on weekends. Gaps are tight, the long strip of trim
with a red insert adds some brilliant contrast, and the distinctive
shape of the top is evidently designed to mimic that of the ragtop.
Regardless, it looks fantastic from any angle and the work really
was top-notch. Nice chrome bumpers, traditional triple Impala
taillights, and no fake SS badges really make this one stand
out.
This car also came with a factory code 874 red interior, which
gives it a ton of eyeball appeal and looks wonderfully vintage
inside. The upholstery was obviously restored at some point in the
not-too-distant past and uses correct striped vinyl inserts to
re-create the original look. Beautifully ornate door panels look
like they should be on a much more expensive car and the dash is
covered in bright trim, just like on the SS. A handsome steering
wheel frames the original gauges, which consist of a wide
speedometer and round auxiliary dials underneath. A column shifter
means there's a surprising amount of room up front and it looks
very trim and orderly. The original AM radio is gone, replaced by a
modern digital AM/FM unit from Retro Sound, so it fits well and
blends in nicely. Better still, everything works, including all the
gauges and lights, always nice on a 55 year old car. Finally, the
trunk is nicely finished and includes proper spatter-finish paint,
a fresh mat set, and a full-sized spare up there on its own
shelf.
The stout 350 cubic inch crate motor under the hood is an awesome
runner that more that fulfils the promises of the vintage racer
look. Brightly dressed in black with lots of chrome, it's got a
performance look that still seems appropriate in the vintage Imp.
Obvious upgrades include the chrome air cleaner and valve covers,
an alternator, an aluminum intake with a Holley carb, and an HEI
ignition system. Stock manifolds control noise and heat pretty
well, and it's been upgraded with power steering and power brakes.
Underneath, there's a custom exhaust system with Flowmaster
mufflers so it sounds intimidating as hell and the transmission is
now a TH350 3-speed automatic rather than the original 2-speed
PowerGlide. With shiny black paint on the undercarriage, there's no
place for body rot to hide and with just 1934 miles on the clock
since it was finished, it remains in exceptionally good shape.
Staggered Torque Thrust wheels work well with a 3-inch lowering job
and 18-inch tires up front and giant 20-inchers out back.
Expertly finished with a modern twist, this is a surprisingly quick
car that often catches the other guy looking the other way. Fast
fun that will always look fantastic. Call today!