1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 409

Description

The ultimate heavy Chevy of the 1960s has to be the 1964 Impala SS, and of those, there's nothing more appealing than a slick-red hardtop with a legendary 409 under the hood. It's indeed a real SS hardtop with a date-code correct engine matched with a quick-shifting Muncie 4-speed manual transmission – the ultimate combination for anyone that likes to have a little fun behind the wheel. Punctuated with a high-end, frame-off restoration and some choice options at the ready, this stunning '64 Imp 409 provides maximum doses of Chevy performance and luxury.

Code 922 Ember Red is about as good as it gets on a '64 Impala, so when it came time to restore this beauty, the builders wisely knew to leave the original color combination intact. Even without a color change (although to be fair, the former owner does call this shade Viper Red) the frame-off restoration was still comprehensive – the sweeping bodywork was straightened, smoothed, and sanded to perfection before several coats of that gorgeous red paint were applied. It's the right choice on something like this car, which offers a unique combination of performance and comfort, a kind of grown-up's muscle car. Ultra-straight sheetmetal is especially critical on the Impala, what with those impossibly long quarters and straight lines that demand care when putting everything back together again. And as a very clean car before the restoration, you know that the beauty is more than skin deep. It's also good to see that this one is a real SS and comes by its ornate trim honestly instead of being some kind of clone. Triple taillights still signified something special in 1964, while that Impala logo on the flanks certainly inspired and intimidated other motorists, and this car captures all of that brilliantly. The chrome has been restored, the trim is straight and shiny, and, well, there just can't be many Impalas nicer than this one running around. Add in the raked stance, the capped headers that poke out underneath, and those flashy chrome wheels and you've got one of the best-looking Imps we've ever featured.

If you're impressed by the body, then the interior will likewise stand up to close scrutiny. Code 815 black vinyl bucket seats wear fresh factory-style seat covers, plush carpets insulate the floors, and SS door panels claim the flanks, while a beautiful thin-rim steering wheel anchors the cockpit. The factory gauges were fully restored as well by all accounts, including the rather unusual factory tachometer mounted atop the steering column in its own pod, and a trio of AutoGage auxiliary units under the dash keep a close eye on the big block under the hood. The original '64 Impala dash was such a beautifully designed piece back then and remains as such today, complete with the engine-turned accents laid into the center. The factory center console is accented with a matching engine-turned panel, and it houses a cue-ball topped chrome shifter that manages the Muncie 4-speed manual below. The original AM radio is gone, replaced by a modern Clarion AM/FM/CD/AUX unit that powers a much-improved stereo inside, while a working factory heater/defrost unit and seatbelts up front round out the options list. There's a taut black headliner above, the back seat was beautifully finished and barely looks used, while out back the trunk was neatly finished with spatter paint, a reproduction mat, and a stock spare tire set-up that is likely the car's original unit.

So, the car's obviously gorgeous, but the true appeal of this Impala is under the hood, where you'll find a thumping, period-correct 409 cubic inch V8 rated at a whopping 425 horsepower. The most respected engine in the Chevy performance world in 1964, this engine transforms the Impala from merely a nice car to a muscle machine that will eat Mustangs for lunch. With a casting that decodes to a '64-'65 409 V8, everything in the motor was restored, replaced, or replaced a reported 380 miles ago, and now features a new Crane camshaft, new dual Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetors, and a performance intake up top. Beautifully finished with Chevy Orange paint, those unique W-shaped chrome valve covers, and a chrome dual-inlet air cleaner, it looks very hi-po in every sense of the word. Because it was rebuilt fairly recently and everything is fresh and clean, and it drives like a new car today with power and torque felt through all gears of the Muncie M-21 4-speed manual that spins the posi-traction rear end out back. A 3-inch Flowmaster dual exhaust system weaves its way through the X-frame and gives it a wicked voice and the undercarriage is extremely clean but not over-done, so you can actually drive it without worries. Power steering and power front disc brakes with slotted rotors improve this Imp's road manners, while fresh shocks underneath help set that wicked stance atop a set of flashy chrome SS wheels wrapped in 225/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials.

We sell a lot of early Impalas, but this might be the nicest of them all, and you can't argue with 409 cubes of thunder under your right foot. Call today!