Full Restoration Required: 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS
The owner of this 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS is a person of few words, and unfortunately, his pictures don’t say a lot either. Still, it’s what we have to work with, so let’s do our best. The Impala is listed for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Seymour, Indiana, and is being offered for sale with a clean title. The price for this SS has been set at $8,500.
This is what I mean about the photos. We get no clear shots of the sides of the car, no indications of rust issues, so we have to work with what we’ve got. What we can see looks quite clean. The seller states that the car will need a complete restoration, but looking at the photos closely may give us some idea of the environment in which this Impala has spent at least some of its time. There is some form of lichen growing on the deck-lid, and this is not something that you will usually find present in a dry garage or shed. I think that this alone is a fair indication that storage conditions have been less than ideal.
The interior is going to need a complete re-trim. While everything appears to be present, external shots of the car show the headliner hanging down badly. Interior shots of the car show that while some of the covers on the seats may be able to be salvaged, for the sake of consistency, these should probably be replaced, along with virtually every upholstered or plastic component in the car. I say virtually, because much to my surprise, it looks like the dash pad may have survived intact.
Under the hood is the 283ci V8, backed by an automatic transmission. The seller makes it clear that he has never heard the engine run, but gives no indication as to whether the engine turns freely. Further to my earlier comments about the storage conditions for this car: It is interesting to note the amounts of pine needles in various locations, including around some of the hoses in the engine bay. Those pine needles are insidious little fellows. If they’ve worked their way down through the grille-work near the wipers, they can block drain holes and be a great moisture trap. If the car has spent any time in the elements, then this is something to be very aware of.
I may have come across in this article as being quite negative, and this is a bit unfortunate. I really like the Impala, as it is one of those cars that has a no-nonsense presence on the road. This one appears to have potential, but it has been let down by the lack of information provided by the owner. It’s one of the first laws of selling: You need to tell the potential customer why they should buy your product.
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Comments
Perhaps the blue Nova (SS?) will also pop up
With the photos we have, it looks like a decent project. Personal inspection required. My favorite year Impala.
I would pass to much money for this car.2500 tops.
I like 62’s, have 1, would rather have the Nova!
He’s dropped the price 2 grand since your write up Adam, so just shy of 2 weeks running this ad he’s showing motivation, or maybe disappointment.
The dried moss on the deck lid, the moldy interior, fine surface rust and pine needles under the hood all point to this having been stored under some trees for a spell. It does have most (all?) of the nifty SS stuff including the spinner hubcaps, so there’s some to like here. Given the signs a deal will probably be made by someone who does a good inspection and convinces the seller of what he really has value wise.
Pictures posted look like from May of 2017 a year and a half ago. Looks like a guy selling cars out of his front yard. That Nova is a non-“SS” 2 door hardtop. However, even some of those were factory L79 327/350 12 bolt bench seat 4-speed cars.
Regarding Uncle Bob’s e mail, glad to hear it, established values notwithstanding this is a $2000.00 car maybe, the parts are easy to come by, you’ll end up with a really nice driver.
Id be interested in the Nova. SS or not, still one of my favorite cars.
My maternal grandfather had a white ’62 Impala coupe with the 327. It went like the wind. “Grandfather, you’re beating a motorcycle!” my seven year-old self told him once. His last-ever car, a ’69 Impala, had the 327 (I vividly remember the badge) and the assist cables attached to the motor mounts from a recall campaign in ’70. Two of my younger brothers inherited my grandfather’s pride and joy and not having worked to acquire it nor appreciate it gradually destroyed it. My hard working grandfather passed away in August of ’84 and that ’69 Chevrolet Impala with the 327 mill and Chevrolet’s Astro Ventilation had but 33k on the odometer.
The very best of 60s Impalas! Looks like it’s Anniversary Gold with the pale yellow Fawn interior. It doesn’t get better than this color combination. Oh to be able to bring this one back to its deserved condition!
I’ll take ’em both, thank you very much!!