49k Original Miles! 1960 Chevrolet Impala
Survivor-grade classics with low odometer readings always attract attention when they hit the market, and this 1960 Chevrolet Impala is no exception. If it is all the seller claims, it is an extraordinary find that would suit a meticulous new owner. It isn’t perfect, but you wouldn’t expect that from a classic of this type. The Impala is listed here on eBay in Ocoee, Florida. Twenty-eight bids have pushed the price to $25,100, which remains below the reserve.
Chevrolet introduced the Second Generation Impala in 1959, with this Generation remaining in production for only two years. Fins were still the dominant styling trend when these cars were unveiled, but Chevrolet took a different tack from the opposition by ignoring the desire for height in favor of fins that looked like arched eyebrows. Another distinctive styling element is the enormous back window and elegant rear pillars. They combine to give the Impala a light and airy appearance, which is impressive in a car that tips the scales at 3,810 lbs. Our feature car rolled off the line in 1960 wearing what the seller claims is a rare shade called Suntan Copper. I cannot confirm that claim, and it will require detective work by the winning bidder to unearth the truth. The car has been garage-kept throughout its life, helping explain why it is so nicely preserved. The original paint is consistent across the entire vehicle, with no patchiness or other significant issues. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and the enormous selection of supplied photos confirms the floors and frame are rock-solid and rust-free. The bright trim and chrome are in excellent order, and the glass appears spotless. This Impala rolls on its original steel wheels with the correct hubcaps, while the wide whitewalls add the perfect finishing touch.
Lifting the hood reveals what the seller claims is the numbers-matching 283ci V8, with the original owner selecting a two-speed Powerglide transmission and power steering. I am unsure which version of the 283 this is, but the new owner will have at least 170hp and 275 ft/lbs of torque on tap. That doesn’t make it a rubber burner off the lights, but these Impalas are renowned for their ability to cruise effortlessly on the open road. The seller claims that our feature car has a genuine 49,000 miles on the clock, although no mention is made of supporting evidence. The vehicle’s overall condition makes the claim plausible, but one slight inconsistency makes me scratch my head. The engine bay presents as I would expect for a survivor of this vintage, but the engine looks almost brand new. It makes me wonder whether it is rebuilt or has been pulled and detailed to a high level. The owner appears approachable, making that a question worth asking.
This Impala’s interior is a highlight, with its only glaring fault being wear and staining on the carpet below the driver’s feet. The remaining carpet looks excellent, and the Bronze vinyl and cloth houndstooth cloth upholstery shows no signs of wear or other issues. The dash is spotless, the wheel is free from cracks and significant wear, and there are no aftermarket additions. The original owner ordered this classic with an AM radio, but who needs anything else when the presentation would make any journey feel like a special occasion?
A seller’s claims must be taken at face value without verifying evidence. That appears to be the case with this 1960 Impala, and assessing almost every aspect of the car seems to support the odometer reading. The engine bay inconsistency is the only thing that raises questions in my mind, and it would be worth pursuing. If everything checks out, would you consider bidding on this Impala? I would hardly blame you if you did.
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Comments
It looks like a Chevy ad of the day.
The interior is impressively original, but it has been repainted and chromed for sure.
It’s a beauty!
Very very nice. Manual drums on all fours means long stopping distances. The windshield washer bottle ( if thats what it is ) looks outta place but all in all worth it
Drums stop these cars just about as well as front discs…ONCE! After that first stop fade plays hell with stopping distance.
What a great looking car…I’d guess $40K+ reserve.
Original washer jug in correct location. What’s the problem?
ouch!
I owned the same car when new and it had the bottle with cap on it. My car was a off white with same interior. Nice Car.
Good locking car, but the front fenders are missing the Impala trim (hockey sticks and 4 bars) on both sides. So obviously at least the fenders have been repainted. Copper paint visible on the hood hinges too.
Makes you wonder if it got a crunched nose at some point earlier in life and had new fenders installed. Or a Belair or Biscayne nose from a salvage yard.
those are org bumpers the hockey sticks where a option parents bouya new 1960 Impala 4 door ht it’s the car they had in 1961 when I turned 16 and got my license great memories it was also a 283 2barral powerglide
took a other look you are rt the 4 hash marks and chrome strip missing from front fenders
Good eye, but my guess is nothing major. But the old ‘tap the body’ and magnet in felt technique would be wise, checking for Bondo (slightly pulling away as you glide along the surface…when magnetic field allows you to pull it away, tap there for the sounds of going from paint with metal to more of a fiberglassed wood noise). But the car is beautiful. If it has been crunched, I’m going to retrofit Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid drivetrain underneath, shave about 800 pounds, lose 300 to battery, so 500 pounds lighter and about 50 horsepower increase. Upgrade brakes and suspension, and I can drive around probably 40 miles battery only, go 500+ miles on 25 gallon gas tank. But if the damage was superficial, I’d try to get it original as possible just fuel injection and CDI ignition upgrading. Perhaps transmission as well, as that is overlooked in swaps. That V-8 updated could get 25-30mpg on the highway with the correct transmission. Idling at 1900rpm at 65mph. But still gotta do something about the brakes in any case.
That powerglide from underneath
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/neQAAOSwRDFkt~gY/s-l1600.jpg
looks nothing like a late ’60s glide. I don’t even see a pan to drop. Or even a torque converter. Odd. Is there even a filter or screen inside the trans?
& that oil filter is mighty close to the exhaust pipe.
Omg, I had a 60 with the same color interior. Mine was white. I bought it for 80 bucks in 1979
.was rusted but ran. Shouldve kept.it.
It would take a better look than a picture but I get very suspicious when a seller says a car pre mid 70s is all original and the panels and gaps are perfect. NEVER did a car of this era come from the factory with perfect fit and finish. Especially the gaps. The panels were not manufactured well enough for the gaps to be perfect and the assembly line was just pumping cars out. So not a single car came out perfect
If you buy a older car that’s “all original” and the panels and gaps are perfect…. It’s not “original”
Great simple driving cars. I spent my early life in 59 to 64 Chevies. I had several 60s. I still have a delivery version and a very rough convertible that is destined for the scrapyard. great copy here but very basically equipped. I will say these cars with clear glass are HOT, but mine except for the delivery were all convertibles and the first thing I did to them was change out the windshield for a shaded one.
Great looking car…. this was a good year for Chevy….
Reading many of the comments on this car, makes me feel very uninformed and not much of a expert on older cars. How, just from pictures you can draw how, can you make conclusions of paint condition and many other small details, I just don’t know? I can’t, all I can tell is ,it certainly looks like a great car and the bid right now could easily be half of what it is worth. If I could buy I would want to verify its condition myself or with a third party expert.
If you like it buy it. I don’t expect anything older than me to be untouched or flawless. The fact that any car survives 60 plus years intact is nothing short of a miracle. These are great cars in any condition to me.
The 348 woud make it even better.
yes it sure would one with tri power and 4 speed
Big car……low to the ground.
they only had 14 inch tires down from the 15 and 16 inch tires of early 50s
yes very big trunk know from experience and only older people will understand this trunk easily held 2 people for getting to the drive in theater
wow my parents traded our 1956 Ford Fairlane 9 passenger wagon for a new 1960 Impala 4 Dr ht 283 power glide and yes got new car every 4 years next was a 1964 Pontiac Catalina convertible
Nothing low to the ground on this car. It came from the factory much lower than this is now. Probably gas shocks of wrong size.
Dad replaced the family ’56 Ford sedan with a pretty bare-bones ’60 station wagon (Belair or Biscayne? Not Impala) in this color. Was definitely not a car which could hide in traffic! Rear-facing 3rd row seat, electric tailgate window, although all the others were hand crank. I’m pretty sure it had a 6-cylinder engine.
The habit was to get a new car every 4 years, so back to sedans in ’64, with a turquoise Impala. That one had the 283.
A HS friend bought one like this but in white with the black fender trim insert right after graduation in 1966. It was already badly rusted in the rear quarters and patched with Bondo, but that’s Midwest winters for you. Cars did not last back then once the tin worm took hold. His had the 283, PG. Good-looking car. I prefer these “toned down” ’60s to the ’59s though both are cool.
Color is probably correct. A friend in high school had a ’59 in this color. I had ’60 BelAir repainted in blue with Covette 283 and 3-speed manual! Sweet ride with heavy duty clutch spring…couldn’t leave stop sign without burning rubber. Skinny legs on 17 year-old!
There’s to many know it all critic’s on here.You don’t know everything from just looking at a few pictures.
Amen Richard, can’t agree at with the perfect lines comment, and I’ve seen lots of hinges from that era with over spray from the factory