55,659 Actual Mile California Impala Bubbletop 348 V8 4 Speed Factory A/C

1961 Chevrolet Impala Description

SUMMARY

Owned by one owner for roughly 30 years / Restored as needed
348 cubic inch Turbo Thrust V8
Borg Warner T10 4-speed manual transmission
Correct Fawn vinyl and cloth interior / Correct factory air conditioning
Correct Coronna Cream paint
Sale includes: A partial Build Sheet / Service records dating to 1991
Sale includes: An original Application for Registration of New Vehicle / Misc. California registrations
Factory power steering
Factory 4-wheel power drum brakes
14-inch wheels

If you're a fan of Super Sport Chevys, it seems like every show you attend features rows of Chevelles and Camaros. It's almost as if a large segment of the hobby has simply forgotten about the marque's classy founder... The godfather of cars that mix just the right amount of style with just the right amount of performance... The precedent for modern wonders like the current Camaro SS and modern SS sedan... The legendary 'bubble top' Impala! This sunny California coupe, owned by the same enthusiast for roughly 30 years, wraps a buff 348/4-speed drivetrain in rich aesthetics that have been preserved through select restoration. Are you a discerning enthusiast who's looking for a rock-solid classic that's stylish, powerful and poised to gain value? Then this super slick Super Sport is just the car you need!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Assembled in Los Angeles, California and sold to its first California owner in April of 1961, this solid coupe is believed to hang all-original sheetmetal under mostly-original Coronna Cream pigment. While that paint, as nice as it is, certainly reflects a few minor touch-ups, the car's metal is completely free of even the slightest dents and dings. Those impressive aesthetics are the fruit of a fastidious enthusiast who protected this Chevy for the first 30 years of its life and, more recently, a series of loving collectors who enjoyed the car sparingly. At the front of its rust-free panels, an ornate bumper centers requisite Super Sport guards beneath a broad grille that's bordered with bright T3 headlights. Behind that grille, a flat hood plants polished "C H E V R O L E T" lettering in front of factory-tint glass, which rides under polished wipers, polished frames and a small driver's mirror. At the sides of that hood, a ridged profile, founded in thin wheel liners, centers guarded doors and "Impala SS" branded spears between an angled antenna, guarded handles and polished fender toppers. And at the back of that profile, a second ornate bumper hangs a second set of Super Sport guards beneath polished deck louvers, jet-inspired taillights and a stainless-trimmed valance that's centered on a stylized "Impala SS" emblem.

ENGINE

Tilt the hood and this hardtop's survivor charm shines like a new Cragar at sunset! At the center of its unrestored engine bay, a tough Turbo Thrust big block features a correct 3755011 casting number. A staple of working-class luxury, Chevrolet's impressive 348 is one of the many reasons the Impala still enjoys such fantastic name recognition. And, pulled a few years ago for a through cosmetic restoration, this big torque big block glows like a pumpkin on a sunny fall morning! Okay... Okay... Maybe that second simile was a bit much. But, the point is: this Chevy is a lot nicer than its 56 years suggest. At the top of the mill, a Satin Black, single-snorkel air cleaner funnels wind in to a big Rochester carburetor that's married to a cast intake and fresh stainless fuel line. At the sides of that carb, restored exhaust manifolds allow the oversquare cylinders ample breathing room by funneling spent gases in to throaty, true-dual pipes. At the back of those manifolds, a traditional points distributor sequences fire through pliable AC-Delco Packard TV-R Suppression cables. Cooling is provided by a factory-spec radiator, which sends water past correct squeeze clamps via reproduction GM hoses. Charge comes courtesy of a reproduction Delco Energizer, which jolts a tagged Delco-Remy generator. And the car's Satin Black engine bay, almost as clean as the paint on its Coronna Cream body, serves as an ideal backdrop for the mill's many different textures.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Park this Chevy on a lift and you'll find a solid undercarriage that's clean, fit and ready rock and roll. Undercoated floors ride a sturdy X-frame that easily provides the safe-like isolation old GM cars are known for. A rebuilt Borg Warner T10 4-speed spins a familiar GM rear end that literally sails the engine through its broad power band. Under that capable drivetrain, a fully sorted suspension has been equipped with optional power steering and power drum brakes. At the center of the floors, aluminized, true-dual exhaust utilizes dual-chamber Flowmasters to weave an aggressive, full-throttle rumble into a subdued and classy idle. And at the corners of the suspension, 8.00-14 BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls frame correct black wheels and polished, spinner-style covers.

INTERIOR

This Impala's correct Fawn interior wraps color-keyed paint and bright trim around a factory-correct blend of cloth and vinyl surfacing. The wide bench seats, featuring power adjustment for the car's front passengers, show no signs of significant weathering. At the base of those thrones, Impala-themed mats protect clean carpet, which is cut around a chrome-trimmed shifter. At the sides of that rug, 2-tone door panels hang straight stainless trim around traditional handles and simple armrests. At the front of those panels, a padded dash, chock full of rebuilt gauges, seats factory air conditioning beneath a familiar pushbutton radio. In front of the driver, a color-keyed steering wheel spins a color-keyed rim around a classic Sun tachometer. And behind the passengers, a fully restored trunk seals correct mats, a correct jack and a full-size spare tire beneath a correct decklid decal.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

A partial Build Sheet
An original Owner's Guide, complete with factory accessory literature
An original California Application for Registration of New Vehicle
Miscellaneous California registrations dating from 1961 to 1992
Vintage AAA literature
Service records dating to 1991
A sample Build Sheet

Wrapping the flair of '50s optimism around the flash of '60s performance, car's like this sweet Impala are universally appealing. More to point, this classy Super Sport represents 'muscle motoring' at its very finest, combining stunning visuals with clean restoration and no-excuses power. Call your friends at RK Motors Charlotte to schedule a visit!