1963 Chevrolet Impala SS

Description

This is as about as good as 1963 Impalas get, with a great-running 327/4-speed drivetrain, a correctly coded black bucket seat interior, and an older restoration that has aged very little since it was completed. We can't seem to keep these cars in stock and this one gets so much right that we expect it to disappear just as fast as the others.

Correctly restored in Riverside Red, it's exactly what most Impala enthusiasts imagine when they think of one of these classic luxury/muscle coupes. Bodywork is straight, with a big investment in all that expensive hand labor that delivers the best results. There are few waves or ripples anywhere on the body, including those giant quarter panels, and it fits together with precision that you can feel every time you open or close the door. Details like the crease that runs the length of the body remain sharp, and on a car that is as restrained as this Impala, it's important to get these things right because there's not a lot of trim to hide behind. Fortunately, the trim that the designers included has been equally well restored, including the beautifully ornate grille, and the stainless strips that run the length of the body, which feature black accents. Correct SS emblems have been fitted, and it appears that the bumpers and tail panel are nicely preserved original pieces.

The only way to tell for certain if a 1963 Impala is a real SS is to check the cowl tag and verify that it has factory bucket seats. Inside this one, you will indeed find a pair of lovely red buckets flanking a center console with more of that SS-grade engine turned trim. The seat covers are exact duplicates of the originals, and show off Chevy's commitment to their luxury customers, with ornate button-tufted details on the seatbacks and door panels. This car carries a Sunpro tachometer mounted in a factory accessory type pod atop the steering column so it looks like a cool period piece, and there's an AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit in the dash. Things like the steering wheel, dash pad, and carpets are all finished to the same standards, and the overall presentation is of a car that has had a ton of money invested in making it right. Even the trunk is correctly detailed with spatter paint, reproduction mats, and a full-sized spare with jack assembly.

The 327 cubic inch V8 under the hood runs like a small block Chevy should. Nicely detailed with Chevy Orange paint on the block, reproduction decals on the shiny valve covers, and a chrome air cleaner, it shows quite well. A 4-barrel carburetor on an Edelbrock intake manifold help build horsepower, along with the "ram's horn" exhaust manifolds that feed a dual exhaust system that sounds awesome thanks to a set of stock-style mufflers. Upgrades include a fresh paint on the inner fenders, new belts and hoses, and an alternator, as well as recent shocks at all four corners. The chassis is solid and doesn't show any major signs of trouble, but it was clearly intended to hit the road so you can cruise without worries. Four fresh 215/70/14 whitewall radials have been fitted and dressed with correct SS wheel covers.

Finding unmodified, clean, Impala SS hardtops is getting harder all the time, and this one is 100% ready to enjoy with all the features that have made them an icon. Call today!