Where’s the Keys? 1967 Chevrolet Impala
The 1967 Impala is a striking looking car, and while this example will require some work, it does appear to be a potentially solid candidate for a restoration project. The owner points out that the values on these are continuing to rise, and he is certainly right on that front. If you would like to get your hands on an Impala project car, you will find this one located in Ochelata, Oklahoma, and listed for sale here on eBay.
The owner says that the Impala has rust in the “typical places.” I can see it in the lower quarters and around the rear wheel arches, but the doors, rockers, lower fenders, and around the front and rear glass all look pretty good. I would assume from that statement that there may also be some present in the floors or trunk, but this is unclear.
Under the hood are a 327ci V8 and a 2-speed Powerglide transmission. The engine underwent a rebuild a few years ago and looks like it has received an Edelbrock carburetor as part of the deal. The engine is also fitted with double-hump heads, and the car is fitted with factory air conditioning. Now we get to the part that I find frustrating. The engine hasn’t been started in 3-years, as the owner has lost the keys. Personally, I would have made the effort to source replacements, as actions speak louder than words. Saying that an engine is fine, and actually being able to demonstrate it are two entirely different things, or am I wrong on that?
The interior looks to be complete, and the dash doesn’t look as though it has been altered by the addition of any aftermarket components. The dash pad is cracked, the seat upholstery is shot, and there is some work to do there. However, the base is certainly there to make the interior very nice again.
I really like this car, as I think that the ’67 Impala is a really nicely styled car. I am frustrated by the lack of keys, as a prospective buyer won’t hear the engine run. However, the owner is correct when he states that the values of these are continuing to increase. The sticking point though is that unless we’re talking about a true SS, then the values aren’t rising enormously. It is possible to find a similarly equipped car to this one in really nice condition for around the $25,000 mark. The owner has set a BIN price of $5,900 for this Impala, but there is the option to make an offer. Whether this really is a viable project car will depend on what rust, if any, there is under the Impala.
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Comments
All you need is a jumper wire to the hot side of the coil and a starter button on the starter solinoid. Give it a shot of gas down the carb and your past the key. When I was a kid my dad had one of these same colour same engine. His had a three speed transmission, bucket seats, and a console. His car was an SS model. My mom loved that car she still talks about it to this day. She used to race young guys off the green light with it which was something considering what a timid drivers she is. It’s the one car I wish my dad kept. That car was a real work horse for him, we’d go camping on the weak ends with a holiday trailer and three dirt bikes in tow. One bike on the front bumper, one on a lengthened hitch on the trailer, and one on the back bumper of the trailer. Yes my dad is a welder fabricator / mechanic too. He 87 now and those days are long gone. If I had money and a place to put it I’d be on a road trip right now to get this one. Nice find.
Buy it restore it, and give your mother a ride. That i had done.
Just what I was thinking, so easy to start without a key. I’ve had so many junkers that I started with all manor of things besides keys, no they weren’t stolen but had lost keys or worn tumblers. I once converted a Volvo 780 from diesel to gas (two computers). I had to turn the key to activate the body electronics then flip a household 120V switch ( to avoid relays) and push a button. Worked for ten years.
I had my keys to my 65 Malibu SS stole at a bar once, a friend had a 67 Chevy next store, I used his keys to get me home. Most old Chevy keys will work in old worn out ignitions.
Think like NASCAR…a push button to run the starter, a toggle switch for the rest.
Back then, locks were only to keep honest people from stealing the car. Hoods didn’t even lock, so popping the hood and jumping the solenoid was all that was required.
This is one of my favorite of the Chevys.
I found two in Mexico and of course they are low riders.
Here are the pictures.
#2
I had a red ’67 Impala SS 396 4sp blk int & loved it. Nothing could even come close to keepin up to it!
I wonder how much work it would be to take out all that low rider crap and make it stock again.
Yes, those should be converted back and saved.
Here is a crazy thing about the 1967 Impala I learned recently while helping a friend sell his grandmothers car. The 4 door sedan and 4 door hardtop are bringing way more money then the standard optioned hardtop/fastbacks and the converts. Crazy but true. Front specific 1967 only sheet metal rusty or not is bringing top money due to a TV show called Supernatural.
AMCFAN, that is true. People, including my wife, want a duplicate of that car.
I have located one here in Mexico but it is brown, although it can be wrapped.
Factory air conditioning and no power brakes. People checked off some unusual boxes on the order sheets back when you could “Have it your way”. I’ve had several cars where the combinations of factory options selected were a little strange.
Also, how does a concrete gas pump island get in the middle of a barnyard?
A lot of larger farms have large fuel storage and pumps for all of their equipment. It’s not practical to haul that much fuel in portable containers.
This car looks stuck in time, waiting and waiting for a fill-up that will never come.
jw454, My ’63. Plymouth has power windows, air, power steering, but no power brakes.
The original owner told me when her husband ordered the car, she had to beg him for the power steering but there was no way he trusted power brakes.
People were used to the earlier cars with no power accessories, and they didn’t trust they would work or keep working over time.
When I was working in South Carolina in 1997 I bought a 68 Satellite for $600. Grandma’s car, 4 doors, slant 6, automatic, vinyl top, fender blinkers, power steering, manual brakes, radio delete, chrome trim. In my life I only special ordered my first new truck, a 77 F150. The rest have been drive in with the old, drive home with the new.
Well like our farm ,if you got equipment you need fuel ,we had gas and diesel in the ground
Decent car priced a bit high Imo. 67 was a good year with major safety impronments and the 327/275 is a great motor. Wish I had kept my 68 impala custom but I needed to pay the bill and was laid off.
Never fails to amaze me how stylish American passenger cars were in the sixties. Great lines, a car a person could really be proud to own back then as well as now.
3″X14″, that was the size of open element air cleaner I was told to use by everybody and every magazine, not one of these.
Got keys? Ha ha ha!
No keys no motivation to get a 20 dollar part . No sale . Over priced check the frame. They are prone to rust away .
Hey JW454, I had purchased off Craig’s list a few years back a 1977 Plymouth Fury Sedan, slant 6, 3 on the tree, Manual steering but power brakes. I converted it to power steering. It was an absolute best to park here in Milwaukee with the arm-strong steering and the rather smallish steering wheel the factory put on it. Neat car though. I do really miss that one!
Regarding this Impala, I have always been a great fan of this body style. Here in Milwaukee this car would be considered very desirable. I wish I had the funds. Finishing up the restoration on a 1972 Eldorado convertible & just bought a new Harley last month. Now I am trying out how to buy my beer -n- brats lol.
Hey JW454, I had purchased off Craig’s list a few years back a 1977 Plymouth Fury Sedan, slant 6, 3 on the tree, Manual steering but power brakes. I converted it to power steering. It was an absolute best to park here in Milwaukee with the arm-strong steering and the rather smallish steering wheel the factory put on it. Neat car though. I do really miss that one!
Regarding this Impala, I have always been a great fan of this body style. Here in Milwaukee this car would be considered very desirable. I wish I had the funds. Finishing up the restoration on a 1972 Eldorado convertible & just bought a new Harley last month. Now I am trying out how to buy my beer -n- brats lol.
I have no idea what happened to the picture of the Cadillac. It looked right on my phone but now that I see it on my comment, something went terribly wrong lol.
Adam, you are not wrong about your engine statement. Maverick, you are right about the $20.00 part. Actions do speak louder than words…always. I’d give $4,000.00 tops. There is a lot of work to be done on this one, even if it is one of the best designed Chevies ever.
I have a matching numbers 68 396 with a/c and a 400 thm 5900 would own it.I had it for a year and haven’t had time to touch it
Can you send some photos of that 68 to: [email protected]
Could have serios intr.
Thanks Jesper
I had a 67 SS . I liked the 65 and 66 body better. I Had all three body styles.