1963 Chevrolet Impala

Description

If you wanted full-sized performance in the early 1960s, the biggest name in the game was Impala. With a half-dozen V8 engines, a dizzying array of performance-enhancing options, and styling that still turns heads today, the 1963 Impala delivers. This one is remarkably stock and retains the timeless character that makes these cars such popular collector's items today.

Silver Blue was an original color on the '63 Impala, and it never goes out of style. On this car, it looks to be an older repaint that was done well, and it's always refreshing to see a period Impala hardtop that hasn't been dressed up like a fake SS. The cool, clean paint also emphasizes the Impala's length, and someone spent the time to get the bodywork right, so it looks extremely trim and sleek, especially with the contrasting white top. It's a few years old, so it's not perfect, but the impact is there and everyone will notice this big Imp pulling into the parking lot. The chrome and bright pieces remain in place, and have been nicely polished to bring out the car's shape and both the front and rear bumpers are new. Out back, the Impala's traditional six-taillight arrangement remains, set into a silver panel that looks great against the silvery blue paint. It also wears the right badges on the quarters, including IMPALA block letters in the white rub strip that's a cool, yet subtle, touch. The look is elegant, but carries enough performance to make them fair warning to potential competitors.

Like the exterior, the upholstery is very nicely done in the original style, with patterned blue cloth and vinyl stitched into the correct factory patterns. Generous bench seats make this a true 6-passenger cruiser, and the workmanship on the interior is first-rate. The dash features a wide instrument panel that's dominated by the speedometer, with a lower panel with bright trim and all the auxiliary controls. The seats show very little wear, the carpets are excellent, and the highly ornamental door panels have to be seen to be truly appreciated. The only possible demerits are some light cracking in the dash pad and a missing fan switch knob, but those are pretty small nits to pick. It does have a later AM/FM stereo radio in the dash and factory A/C which is a fantastic find in a vintage Imp. Also be sure to have a look in the trunk where you'll find a very clean cargo hold with a full-sized spare tire up on its own little shelf.

Power comes from a 327 cubic inch V8 that's been dressed in Chevy Orange so it looks period-correct. In addition to the aforementioned A/C system, this one also carries power steering and power brakes, making it as easy to drive in traffic as your modern iron. It's completely stock, so it's smooth and torquey thanks to a Rochester 4-barrel carburetor and factory manifolds. Even the air cleaner is vintage 1963. Underneath, there's a recent Flowmaster dual exhaust system, which snakes through the chassis to maximize ground clearance, and you'll be impressed by the clean original condition of the chassis itself. A column-shifted automatic transmission feeds the original rear end, and again, it's all pretty much the way the factory intended so it rides and handles quite well. Classic factory Rally wheels wear 235/70/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials that seem to emphasize the Impala's sporty stance.

Look at the condition and presentation on this car, then take another look at the price. This is one heck of a lot of car for the money. Call today!