1963 Chevrolet Impala SS

Description

This is as about as good as 1963 Impalas get, with a great-running 327/4-speed drivetrain, a handsome 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.

Nicely restored in Riverside Red with an Ermine White top, 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 aside from a few minor signs of use and age, it still looks like a million bucks. 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, and this one did indeed sport a code 843 blue bucket seat interior. Today you will indeed find a pair of correct black buckets flanking a center console with more of that SS-grade engine turned trim. The seat covers are 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 an accessory tachometer mounted in a pod atop the steering column so it looks like it was born there, and there's an AM/FM 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 helps build horsepower, along with double hump cylinder heads, an MSD ignition system, and Hedman long-tube headers feeding a dual exhaust system that sounds awesome thanks to a set of Flowmaster mufflers. Upgrades include an alternator, modern dual master cylinder, front disc brakes, and a big aluminum radiator. 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 and there's a new gas tank out back. Four 225/70/15 BFGoodrich T/A radials have been fitted to a set of Torque Thrust wheels for just the right period look.

Finding 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!