Chevy Impala

Chevy Impala

Impala showcar
The Impala name was first used for the Corvette-based show car for the 1956 General Motors Motorama. Painted emerald green metalic, with a white interior, the Impala featured hardtop styling.

1958–1970
The Impala was introduced in 1958 as a new up-level, sporty trim package created for Bel Air coupes and convertibles. Unique to the model were its six taillights, which set it apart from lower trim levels with only two lights on a side. This classic styling cue would become its trademark. It was named for a southern African antelope. The Impala became a separate model in 1959 in both two and four-door versions and became the best-selling car in the Chevrolet lineup. For 1960, it became the best-selling automobile in the United States and held that position for the next decade. From 1958 until 1966, Impala sales were in excess of 13 million units, more than any other full-size car in the history of the automobile. In 1965, the Impala set an all-time industry annual sales record of more than 1 million units, which has never been bettered.

In 1965, Chevrolet introduced the Impala Caprice. Beginning with the four-door hardtop sedan body, Impala Caprices received unique upholstery, wood grained accents on the dashboard and specialty pulls on the insides of the doors. A one-year model, the Impala Caprice was reintroduced as the Chevrolet Caprice in 1966, taking the top position in the Chevrolet lineup. The Impala however, remained Chevrolet's top-selling model until late 1970s. 1967 body was redesigned in Buick Riviera(1963) style and it had corner parts that were possible to order as corner parking lamps as an option. The Coke bottle shape was strenghtened and the curves were biggest in 1967-68. During the 1969 model year, for example, Impala production topped Caprice production by 611,000 units.

The 1971 redesign introduced the largest Impala. The Impala's chassis would not be this extensively changed again until the downsizing it in 1977, which was the last year Impalas remaining Chevrolet's best-selling model. By 80s Impala was downgraded to a entry level -model. Biggest makeover ever to Impala was introduction of the 2000 forward wheel drive Impala, but it had nothing to do with old 58-90 Impala at all.

Engines available were sixes and Chevrolet Small-Block engine and Chevrolet Big-Block engines.

Sixes:

235cid 6-in-line (1961-1962) 230cid 140bhp 6-in-line (1963-1965) 250cid 155bhp 6-in-line (1966-1969)

Sb V8s:

283cid 195bhp-220bhp smallblock (1957-1967) 327cid 250-300bhp smallblock (1961-1967, 1968-1970) 350cid 250-350bhp smallblock (1968-1990) 400cid smallblock (1970-1976)

BB V8s:

396 360bhp-385bhp big block (1965-1970) 427 385bhp-425bhp big block (1966-1970) 454 450bhp(1971)- 235nethp(1976) big block (1971-1976)

Impala SS
In 1961, the Impala SS (Super Sport) was introduced to the market. The SS badge was to become Chevrolet's signature of performance on many models, though it has often been an appearance package only. The Impala's SS package in 1961 was truly a performance package, beginning with the high-performance 348 in³ (5.7 L) V8 engines (available with 305, 340, and 350 hp (230, 255 and 260 kW)) or the new 409 in³ (6.7 L) V8, which was available with up to 425 hp. The package also included upgraded tires on station wagon wheels, springs, shocks and special sintered metallic brake linings. Starting in 1962, the Impala SS could be had with any engine available in the Impala, right down to the 235 in³ 135 hp inline-6. With one exception, from this point until 1969, the SS was an appearance package only, though the heavy-duty parts and big engines could still be ordered. From 1962-on, Super Sports were limited to the hardtop coupe and convertible coupe exclusively.

The exception was the Z24 option package available in combination with the standard Z03 Super Sport package. Starting in 1967 through 1969, buyers of Impala Z24s got cars badged as "SS427" models. The SS427 included a heavy-duty suspension and other performance goodies, as well as a Turbo-Jet 427 in³ V8 in either L36 or L72 variations. Special SS427 badging inside and out were the rule, but few were sold, since muscle car enthusiasts were looking toward big-block intermediates like the Chevelle SS396 and Plymouth Road Runners, which were lighter and subsequently faster off the line. Interestingly, Z24 cars could be ordered without the Z03 SS package, which meant SS427 equipment but no bucket seats or center console.

The Impala SS could be identified by SS emblems on the rear fenders and trunklid. The Impala SS became its own series (separate model rather than an option package) for 1964. In 1968, the Impala SS once more became an option package rather than having its own model. 1967 and 1968 SS427s got a special domed hood and body emblems, and the 1968 model featured "gills" on the front fenders in front of the wheel opening, possibly to remind people of its Corvette cousin. In 1969, the Impala SS was only available as the Z24 (SS427), coming only with a 427 in³ V8 of 390 or 425 hp. This was the final year for the Impala SS until 1994. Another plus is that the 1969 Impala SS was the last year it came with the Z24 SS427, but the only year where front disc brakes became standard equipment, along with 15 inch wheels, which made the 1969 SS427 better then its previous version. Although the 427 was replaced by the 454 in³ Turbo-Jet V8 in 1970, the SS option was gone. Thus the 1969 Impala SS427 got the best of both worlds, which is why it is so valuable today.

1970-1976 Full Fullsizers
The 1970s showed a change in the American view of the automobile. The impact of the 1973 energy crisis on the industry was dramatic. Gasoline prices doubled between 1973 and 1979. Industry car sales plummeted 20% between 1973 and 1974, and for the first time in recent history, annual passenger car travel in the U.S. actually went down. The Impala's sales dropped to 176,376 units in 1975, the weakest sales year since its introduction in 1958. The 1970s cars had some notorious reliability issues, such as a large crack which would appear in the dashboard. Impala owners jokingly referred to it as the "Mark of Excellence" since like the GM logo, it was on virtually every car. 70s Fullsize Chevrolets were the biggest Chevies ever, partly because of state rules for bumper protection, 1973 front bumper had to withstand 6mph wall crash, and 1974 onwards also rear bumpers had to last the same. Powertrain consisted of V8 engines ONLY. Engine sizes: 350cid (1971-1986, not all years) 400cid (1971-1976), bigblock 454cid (1971-1976). All engines after 1972 were equipped with unleaded heads. All domestic vehicles had catalytic converters after 1975.