1965 Chevrolet Impala

Description

For some guys, "muscle car" means a big car with a lot of firepower, and this 1965 Chevrolet Impala hardtop would certainly qualify. Bright red means you won't be sneaking around and the 350 cubic inch crate motor makes sure that the car can deliver on its brilliant good looks. This car represents a lot of style, performance, and value for the money.

Originally a low-profile gold color (probably Harvest Tan, a particularly dull 1965 Impala color), this big Imp was repainted two years ago in brilliant bright red, and we welcome the upgrade. This must have been a pretty straight car to begin with, because those giant quarter panels just don't turn out this well if they need a lot of bodywork and the crease that runs from nose to tail is sharp enough to give you a paper cut. There's a lot of depth and gloss to the finish, suggesting quality materials (red paints are particularly expensive) and careful prep before it went on. They refrained from making it something other than it is, so no fake SS badges, stripes, or custom hoods were used during the restoration, and the parts that did go back on were carefully polished or replaced if there was a need. The '65s are particularly appealing to hobbyists for their round taillights, which would disappear in 1966 and it was definitely not an improvement. It appears that the bumpers are recent and the rest of the brightwork is really in great shape.

We really like the contrasting Parchment upholstery and red dashboard and carpets, the combination is vivid without being too intense. The upholstery appears to be quite recent, and the seat covers and door panels reproduce the original look quite nicely. A matching headliner overhead makes it feel bright and airy inside and as a full-sized car, there's plenty of stretch-out room for everyone. The original dash was painted red to match the body and includes a beautifully finished steering wheel and a subtle strip of woodgrainining along the lower edges. Auxiliary gauges were discreetly installed under the dash, right next to a modern AM/FM/CD stereo head unit, so the dash didn't need to be cut or modified. Experts will quickly spot the factory A/C, which now uses R134a refrigerant so it's easy to service (a recharge would pay big dividends here), and the trunk is big enough for just about everything you'd like to take with you on a road trip.

The original 327 was dumped in favor of a recent 350 cubic inch GM create motor, which was obviously an easy installation in the giant Impala engine bay. There's a massive aluminum radiator up front so you'll never worry about overheating and the combination of satin black valve covers and red lettering makes the engine seem like it was custom made just for this car. Power steering and brakes, a new alternator, and a quick-shifting PowerGlide 2-speed automatic never hesitates to deliver the power. The dual exhaust system uses glasspack-style mufflers for a great sound and while the suspension is mostly stock, it has a great stance thanks to 255/70/15 blackwall radials on Corvette Rallye wheels.

This Impala represents a ton of fun for not a lot of scratch, all wrapped in a bright red package that looks like it should cost thousands more. Call today!