The Impala came to be two years after smiling in front of the world as a concept. It was born in 1958, with Chevrolet using the popular Bel Air lineup specifically to pave the way for a successful Impala unveiling.
The Impala was originally offered as a hardtop and convertible version of the Bel Air, though the GM brand rapidly understood that the two models should embrace different paths. It upgraded the Impala to series status in 1959, with the Bel Air slowly but surely becoming a second-class citizen in its full-size lineup.
The Impala and the Bel Air continued to share most of the parts, engines, and looks. As a result, Bel Air projects converted into Impalas are common, especially because the differences often come down to the available equipment.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see where this is going. The Impala is the model qualifying for a complete restoration, while the Bel Air is the brother ready to donate everything.
However, it doesn’t mean that saving the Impala will be an easy business. The two cars look like they’ve been left to rot in someone’s yard for several years, so they now come with rusty floors and similar damage in the trunk. The Impala is complete, the owner says, though it’s unclear if the package also includes an engine.
I wouldn’t expect good news on this front, especially considering the overall shape. A car in this condition likely comes with heavy damage under the hood, so if there’s still an engine, it’s likely locked up from sitting. The top choice on the 1960 Impala was the 348, but most units rolled off the assembly lines with a 283 V8. Six-cylinder Impalas are not uncommon, but most people eventually upgrade them to V8s, especially when the engine is no longer in the car or is stuck.
The good news is the cars still have most of the trim, and you can find it in the trunk. You shouldn’t expect everything to come in good shape, so you probably won’t have all the missing pieces to solve the Impala puzzle, but it’s a good starting point nonetheless.
The rough shape doesn’t make this duo more affordable. The owner expects to get $10,000 for the hardtops, though they also say they’ll consider the closest offer. You’ll need a trailer to take them home, and you can find the Chevy projects close to Salem
The Impala and the Bel Air continued to share most of the parts, engines, and looks. As a result, Bel Air projects converted into Impalas are common, especially because the differences often come down to the available equipment.
Someone on Craigslist posted the perfect duo for someone looking for a complete Impala restoration project. Their 1960 hardtop coupe includes one Impala and one Bel Air, though the latter exhibits a very challenging shape and could only be used for parts.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see where this is going. The Impala is the model qualifying for a complete restoration, while the Bel Air is the brother ready to donate everything.
However, it doesn’t mean that saving the Impala will be an easy business. The two cars look like they’ve been left to rot in someone’s yard for several years, so they now come with rusty floors and similar damage in the trunk. The Impala is complete, the owner says, though it’s unclear if the package also includes an engine.
I wouldn’t expect good news on this front, especially considering the overall shape. A car in this condition likely comes with heavy damage under the hood, so if there’s still an engine, it’s likely locked up from sitting. The top choice on the 1960 Impala was the 348, but most units rolled off the assembly lines with a 283 V8. Six-cylinder Impalas are not uncommon, but most people eventually upgrade them to V8s, especially when the engine is no longer in the car or is stuck.
The good news is the cars still have most of the trim, and you can find it in the trunk. You shouldn’t expect everything to come in good shape, so you probably won’t have all the missing pieces to solve the Impala puzzle, but it’s a good starting point nonetheless.
The rough shape doesn’t make this duo more affordable. The owner expects to get $10,000 for the hardtops, though they also say they’ll consider the closest offer. You’ll need a trailer to take them home, and you can find the Chevy projects close to Salem
