For anyone in the market for a classic American car, the Chevrolet Impala is always a solid option. Not only is it one of the most popular models ever made, but there are so many of them still out there that it’s nearly impossible not to find one to satisfy any taste.
Americans can get Impalas in horrible condition, abandoned in fields and barns, mildly rusty ones that get some care from time to time, restored beauties, or fully customized examples meant to win awards.
The one we have here sits somewhere between a restored beauty and a mild custom. It’s an example from 1963, meaning it’s part of the breed’s third generation, the first with the B platform and a new body styling.
We’ve seen many Impalas over the years in all of the states mentioned above, but I have to admit this is one of the cleanest and closest shaved ones we’ve set eyes on in recent times: the firewall, the keyholes, emblems, window wiper cowl, and the wipers themselves are all gone or smoothed for a soft look.
This leaves the Impala with an incredibly clean body, made even more eye-catching by the rare Kandy Organic Green color sprayed all over it. Fresh chrome elements both contrast and enhance the House of Kolor green, perfectly blending in with the overall design.
The clean body is supported by Intro Twisted Vista billet wheels of undisclosed size and Pirelli P Zero tires. Beneath it hides what appears to be an unassuming interior made by Chevy specialist Ciadella. But that’s only a wrong impression, as the modern touches like the factory-powered front bench with built-in seat heaters and new foam are included in the package.
The dashboard holds Dakota Digital gauges, and the odometer shows 2,100 miles (3,400 km) of use since restoration work was completed. Those miles were traveled under the power supplied by a 5.7-liter LS1 engine tied to an automatic transmission.
The new engine is not the only mechanical modification made. Not visible to the naked eye, a Ridetech air suspension system lowers and raises the car as needed, while Wilwood braking hardware is on deck for stopping power.
We’re told it took the unknown crew behind this build no less than four years to put the Impala together. It is now listed for sale during the Barrett-Jackson auction taking place at the end of the month in New Orleans.
We’ll keep an eye out for this one and update as soon as we learn how far from that estimate it eventually lands.