1960 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop

Description for Chevrolet Impala 1960

The red and white interior was freshened a few years ago as well. It's not entirely correct, however given the sticky flat vinyl used by Chevrolet in 1960, it's a big improvement for someone who prefers to drive his car. Crisp white bench seats with pleated red inserts and piping look right inside the bright red Imp and it shows only minor wear since the restoration was completed. Beautiful matching door panels were created and work with the original trim to give it a period-perfect look, particularly with the armrests that look like exhaust ports. New carpets, a taut headliner, and a beautifully restored dash all make it feel very fresh inside, and the seats are firm and comfortable for long hauls. The steering wheel was restored as well, and while the shift indicator still suggests that there's a 2-speed Powerglide, you'll find that there's an extra detent in there for the more modern TH350 3-speed automatic in the car today. Restored gauges look great and are fully functional (save for the clock, which is typical), and the bright trim along the lower edge is as shiny as the bumpers outside. A factory AM radio in the dash appears to be operational, as are all the lights and switch gear, and there's a lot of new weather-stripping that helps it seal up tight and prevent rattles. Someone really spent the time to get this car fully sorted. Even the trunk is professionally finished with gray matting and a matching spare wheel and wide whitewall radial.
One of the top engines in 1960 was the 348 cubic inch Super Turbo Thrust V8, which used three 2-barrel carburetors to make a very stout 280 horsepower. . Known as "W" motors, due to the uniquely-shaped valve covers, the gorgeous Chevy Orange V8 looks impressive sitting between the fender wells and snarls like a genuine performance piece. Correct components and finishes were used throughout, right down to the hoses and clamps, and even the exhaust manifolds were treated to a cast iron coating that looks right but won't rust. Three deuces live under the large round air cleaner, and to the uninitiated, it wouldn't look intimidating at all, which was perhaps Chevy's intent all along. It starts easily, even after it's been sitting and settles into an even idle without a lot of drama. Out on the street, it happily idles in traffic without getting cranky and it's hard to resist the urge to dip into all six barrels, because this car really wants to run.
A modern power steering box replaces the leak-prone external cylinder that was standard equipment and makes this car track like a cruise missile on the highway. As I mentioned, it's backed by a TH350 3-speed automatic which always seems to be in the right gear and you can summon up a quick downshift merely by cracking the throttles on the outer two carburetors. When that happens, hang on, because this big boat is surprisingly swift! The original rear end was freshened and reinstalled and it appears that there are new coil springs in back to maintain the correct ride height. 3.23 gears mean that this is a very comfortable highway cruiser, and with a somewhat throaty non-stock dual exhaust system, it happily burbles away at speed and offers a fantastic vintage V8 soundtrack under acceleration. There are a few minor patches in the floors (but no wholesale replacements), which is typical even of cars that lived in a warm climate due to failing weather seals over the years, but the rockers and other structural members are in excellent condition with no repairs needed. The brakes are firm and do an effective job of stopping this big car, although with the performance the 348 can generate, it's probably smart to look well down the road. Four restored steel wheels wear Roman Red paint, plus factory hubcaps and brand new 215/75/14 Coker wide whitewall radials that look right and handle superbly.
This lovely Impala is accompanied by a vast treasure trove of parts, including a second 4-barrel carburetor and intake, multiple cooling fans, the original cast iron PowerGlide 2-speed automatic transmission, wiring, brackets, and many other components collected over the years, which represent a significant value all by themselves.