1996 Chevrolet Impala SS

Description

This sinister-looking 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS isn't your run-of-the-mill Imp. Formerly owned by musician CeeLo Green, it's been given a full makeover that turns up the nasty a few notches without eliminating that fantastic and comfortable performance that makes the Impala SS a perennial favorite.

With a flat black wrapper, the full-sized Impala takes on a whole new look. Looking more like an industrial-strength military vehicle rather than a performance sedan, you can't help but notice it. That also means that you can change the look any time you like without the expense of a full paint job, and since this wrap has some age on it, perhaps that's worth considering. Not that it doesn't look great, and they were careful to leave some of the details intact, including the requisite Impala emblems on the sail panels and trunk lid. It's instantly identifiable as an SS, of course, thanks to the full radius rear wheel arches and taillights, but it's easy to imagine cruising through traffic with it parting for you like the Red Sea for Moses due to its imposing law-enforcement look. We have to say, after looking at gloss black Impalas all these years, this one really looks cool.

Inside, you can instantly see that CeeLo spent a rather substantial pile of cash on a huge makeover, starting with acres of black leather. All the factory Impala SS interiors were gray, so you can see just how extensive the changes really were. Some red stitching and SS embroidery on the headrests adds just the right amount of contrast, and you'll note they even gave the steering wheel and dash pad a fresh skin. All the standard equipment was standard and it's all here now, including cold A/C, power windows, locks, and mirrors, a tilt steering column, and cruise control. And you know a guy like CeeLo wouldn't put up with a standard Delco stereo, because this one carries a custom Pioneer head unit, four 12-inch Quantum subwoofers, and a custom enclosure to house it. There's enough bass here that you'll be afraid of blowing the windshield out! There's also a beautiful suede headliner, custom door panels, and a lot of neat little details that will delight you as you drive. Ordinary this Impala is not!

There's more good news under the hood where you'll find a factory-spec LT1 350 cubic inch V8, which in the Impala SS was good for 260 horsepower. Yes, I know they're very modification-friendly, but this one remains completely stock and with only 56,296 original miles, it's got a lot of life left in it. It's smooth, torquey, and bulletproof reliable, making the full-sized sedan feel 700 pounds lighter than it is. There is an aftermarket dual exhaust system with a great mellow tone that definitely helps with the intimidation factory this car has, but the rest can be serviced at any Mr. Goodwrench without any difficulties. And if you're into modifications, this car is ready for them. Thanks to a lifetime in the warm, dry south, the undercarriage is in fantastic condition with all stock components still in place, including those expensive Sachs shocks that GM was using back in the '90s. The stance is just about right and we really dig the simple but purposeful 20-inch LB Forged aluminum wheels with 255/35/20 performance radials wrapped around them.

Clean, fast, and only a little bit customized, this is an Impala with attitude. Add in a bit of celebrity history and the ability to tweak it to your liking makes it a great choice at a great price. Call today!