The 1961 model year is one of the most captivating launches of Chevrolet’s superstar, in my opinion as a major Impala lover. Two significant events in the history of this nameplate occurred in the year.
First of all, the third-generation Impala made its premiere. The top-tier Bel Air model of the first model debuted in 1958, and the Impala acquired series status a year later, when the second model made its appearance. It was manufactured for two years until the third generation was given the go-ahead in 1961.
Second, this year witnessed the introduction of the Super Sport. If you’re a diehard Chevy fan, you certainly know what the SS means for the GM brand, providing customers with sporty upgrades (initially, all these upgrades were limited to cosmetic goodies but later included performance improvements, too). The SS package could be had for just $53 in 1961.
Despite not having SS tags, the 1961 Impala that arrived this week thanks to seller murfs39 has something else that will draw notice from everyone. Only 23,000 miles (37,000 km) have been put on the automobile, and it’s thought that this is the original mileage.
A low-mileage Impala is a sought-after classic, particularly if it’s complete and exclusively uses original components. The car we have here may not have everything in place, but despite some minor rust, it makes a good candidate for repair.
The photos reveal the typical rust on the floors, though I can’t tell from the pics if the floors and the trunk pan can be saved. Patches will certainly be needed, but the seller says the rust mostly results from the car not getting “regular driving.”
Now, let’s talk engines.
Although the car appears to have a V8 engine, the owner asserts in the item summary that their Impala actually has a 350 big-block engine. If this is true, the vehicle no longer possesses the original 350 engine because it wasn’t offered for this model year. As the big-block option for the 1961 Impala, a 348 was an option, so hopefully it’s a typo. Later in the middle of the year, Chevrolet also introduced a 409, which was simply a 348 with a larger cylinder bore and a 360 horsepower maximum power rating.