1960 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop - $38,000

1960 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop

For consignment, a 1960 Chevrolet Impala hardtop with a 283ci V8 and a 3-speed automatic transmission.  In 1960, the base price for this car would have been $2,597 and from there, upwards of fifty options were available to essentially add a combination of features that would make your car different from your neighbors.  And yes, it's likely your neighbor had one as more than 511,000 Impalas were produced in 1960 and this particular car comes to us with 139,970 title verified miles. 

Exterior
Just after you notice the nice Onyx Black paint and fantastic shape in profile, the legendary side ornament will undoubtedly grab your attention.  Is it a bird?  Is it a plane?  It's described as a quarter panel missile ornament which bleeds off two trim moldings that trail off rearward, the gap between filled with a red insert and Impala script.  The shoulder line is heavily defined here starting with a flare of front fender, a fold that continues over the door where it is met by a spear trim piece that extends to the back becoming the defining line of the horizontal fin.  Up front, twin pairs of bar molding add some visual interest but still compete with the fantastic tail that features three lights on each side, a pair of canted antenna, and on this car, dual exhaust with angle cut pipes at the end of a long rear deck.  14-inch Cragar SS wheels fit the vibe of the car, and a pair of fender ornaments contribute to this cornucopia of visual delights.  Imperfections include areas of uneven or touched up paint, some paint crazing, and a decent amount of bubbling down low. 

Interior
Houndstooth cloth inserts highlight the door panels which are dominated by black and feature a white stripe that doesn't stop until the back seat.  The split bench combines white panels on the upper, black panels on the lower, and houndstooth inserts on each with a slight patina, but in presentable condition.  The back bench mimics the patterns and colors and shows some staining on the lower portion, while the package tray is wavy.  Up front, a bright red racy steering wheel with horn ring greets the driver, sharing its column with a slim shifter leading to the red dash with individually chambered gauges and an added tachometer that's mounted next to the column.  Textured metal panels make up the lower dash where it houses a triple gauge cluster below, and an AM/FM/Cassette radio above.  The sculpted red and metallic surfaces of the passenger's dash and glove box are beautifully formed.   Newer black loop carpet looks fantastic, protected by matching Impala mats, and the white headliner is flanked by a pair of side mounted dome lights in a configuration we rarely see. 

Drivetrain
Under the hood, a clean 283ci V8 circa 1965-1967 is topped by an Edelbrock intake and four barrel carburetor.  It's backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the back axle housing 3.08 gears.  Drum brakes occupy the front and the back.  The red block of the engine is enhanced with chrome valve covers but the engine otherwise presents as non showy and clean. 

Undercarriage
Driver quality underneath with surface rust on some components but mainly reserved for the exhaust.  That dual exhaust enters Cherrybomb mufflers right after leaving the engine, then follows the lines of the X-frame before going up and over the rear axle and out the back via beveled chrome tips.  We note some residual oil on the pan, some grease build up on the knuckles, and some slight dampness at the pinion seal.  Suspension consists of coil springs in front and a 3 link, coil springs, and a panhard bar in back. 

Drive-Ability
The 283 starts up without hesitation and we drop the shifter to Drive and roll this long car onto our testing route.  Behind us, we note some smoke and it appears to be burning some oil.  But it runs fine, tracks well, and provides gobs of visibility with the curved windshield, large rear window, and slim C-pillar.  Things that don't work include the horn, the wipers, the speedometer, the clock, and the radio turns on but no sound is heard. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase. 

While we'd hate to use an outdated idiom, "sell like hotcakes" is appropriate here as 60's Impalas always find a new home after being posted at Classic Auto Mall.  There's just something very special about the car and all you really have to do is look at it to know this is not your ordinary 60's commuter, even though it was an ordinary 60's commuter.  What black and white and red all over?  Hopefully, your next acquisition. 

01837S137346

0-1960
18-Impala V8
37-2 Door Hardtop Sport Coupe
S-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
137346-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.

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