1964 Chevrolet Impala: Classic Styling
| • Overall Satisfaction: | 5/5 |
| • Performance: | 5/5 |
| • Reliability: | 5/5 |
| • Comfort: | 5/5 |
| • Quality and Craftsmanship: | 5/5 |
I have been crazy about Impalas since my uncle took me for a ride in his new 67 SS when I was 5 years old. The 58 through 64 Impalas have the X frame which is a solid platform for building the car you want into a lowrider or hotrod. Part of the fun of owning an old car is being able to work on it yourself. No onboard computers controlling everything, no need to have a laptop connected to the car to figure out what is wrong.
When shopping for one, be on the lookout for rust, especially if it's a convertible. The body mounts, gas tank, floor pans and trunk are the first places to look.
I currently own a 64 SS convertible and have spent a lot of money replacing the engine and transmission, redoing the brakes, cooling and suspension and fixing wiring gremlins. Luckily, rust wasn't an issue as it had been stored in a container for many years. The car was all original and had matching numbers engine (327) and 2 speed Powerglide and ran fine for a 40 plus year old car, but I wanted a little more power and a transmission with overddrive, so I swapped in a built-up 350 and a 700R4 tranny. I lowered it 4 inches all around, put on some Torq Thrusts and have been happily cruising ever since. I have plans to put on front disc brakes this winter.
Unless you're very rich or have a friend that owns a repair shop, my advice to potential owners would be to get as much reference info as you can about the car and dive in and do the work yourself. I am not an ASE mechanic, just a jack-leg wrench turner. Parts are readily available at your local auto store for the mechanical parts (engine, brakes, suspension, cooling, etc.), and there are many after-market dealers who specialize in Impalas (Eckler's Late Great Chevy and Year One to name a couple), so you won't be pulling your hair out trying to find a part. Plus, doing the work yourself is a great excuse to buy a lot of cool tools!
The 58 through 64 Impalas continue to grow in value each year. Because of this, you can essentially drive it for "free" each year because of the rising value.
Review ID: 10000000008217365

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