The Impala from 1965 is legendary. Not I, but the yearly sales figures for Chevrolet’s new star vehicle.
Impala made history in 1965 when they broke a significant record. It became the first nameplate in the US to sell over 1 million units in a calendar year following World War II. Given that Chevrolet had introduced the vehicle eight years earlier, the accomplishment was impressive.
Impala, therefore, needed less than a decade to conquer America, becoming (almost) everybody’s favorite car thanks to a clever mix of great looks, potent engines, and fair pricing.
The 1965 Impala you can see in the photo gallery checks the right boxes for an all-original restoration candidate, mainly because it spent 30 years in a garage without a human being getting close to it. The previous and only owner planned a restoration, but life got in the way. When their children came, the owner put their plans on hold, eventually abandoning the SS in a garage.
The car has been sitting ever since, with mikeydege explaining that the initial owner purchased the vehicle from Cooley Chevrolet in New Haven, Connecticut. Transferred it to Milford, where it’s now waiting for a new destination.
It’s not hard to figure out the main selling points of this Impala. First of all, it’s an SS. All essential parts are still there, including the SuperSport tags and trim. Second, it’s a convertible, but it’ll require significant fixes. The decades of sitting have caused typical issues, including underside rust. Fortunately, the vehicle is still restorable, with original bucket seats and an overall decent interior.
The vehicle’s 283 (4.7-liter) V8 engine is meant to propel the vehicle forward. Although it’s not the ideal option for an Impala SS, you could upgrade and install a big-block engine given its unknown condition. On the other hand, if you want to purchase an all-original Impala that has been restored to factory standards, the 283 is powerful enough. However, you should properly analyze the powertrain because a vehicle that has spent three decades in one location can have a locked-up engine.
Has generated an incredible response from the Chevrolet fanboy community.