Matchbox No 20 Chevrolet Impala Taxi - Restoration Video 

If this car were a DnD character, you'd have to pull off some serious high level magic to do what you just did. You brought it back to life and restored it to near perfect condition. Hats off sir.

I HAVE a bunch of Match Box car from when I was a youngster in the 1970s ,and FOUND YOUR U TUBE VIDEO EXTREMELY HELPFUL YOU HELD MY INTEREST AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF YOUR TECHNICAL SKILLS, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS, NEW YORK STATE GIVES YOU 5 STARS GREAT SHOW

A blind man would be happy to see that! You did a smashing job on it.

Oh boy!!! One of the holy grail cars when I grew up in the 1970s as it was out of production, but older kids had some in their collection....actually my cousin's model was a write-off as the top was missing and gone (it must have gone under a truck....). THIS garage repair is classic. I love your techniques in rebuilding the roof, and the masking tape to hold the roof in place is something I never thought of and will be EXTREMELY useful for me moving forward. THANKS!!!!!!

I've got two left hands and zero patience. However, in some strange way, I find your videos fascinating. I much admire your tenacity, skill and patience AND I love the finished article. You are a RU-vid star!

Matchbox were my favorites as a kid, but I am now 64, but still have my old matchbox cars. My son was hard on my old toys but was into hot wheels and these were boxed away, this was in the early 2000s. Loved the outcome, you did a great job on it

As an art history teacher, I can only tell you that a work of this excellent standard - at a time when people take for granted a cultural legacy that everyone seems not so keen to preserve - this work renews my faith in artists and artists. technicians willing to preserve things simple, beautiful and historic. Thank you very much.

I'm doing some work on a mates old racing bike and watched your video on restoring rusty old bolts. Then saw this , had to watch it, remember bashing these cars up as a kid in the 80s. Fascinating skill you've got. Thanks for the rusty bolts tip.

Amazing that you even tackled it. Most would have trashed it. Awesome job!

Wow, from a wreck to a very beautiful model. My respect. Greetings from Flanders, Belgium

What amazing patience and precision you use to astound us with your work. IF ONLY you could do the same with people; the world would be an amazing place. As it is, your little world with these cars is a powerfully relaxing and satisfying place to hang out! Cheers!

I caught myself smiling throughout the transformation. I remember taking permanent markers and giving my Matchbox and Hot Wheels touch ups wherever they got scratched. I would even wash the cars and Armor-All the tires.

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT SALVAGE!!!! I appreciate the sped up repair video as I found the methods used to repair the roof (superglue and baking powder) extremely useful. The results are nearly perfect! Thanks, Rob!!!! It gives hope for all those well-loved toys out there that they may be beautiful once again!

For me , you more like an artist who is sculpting a new masterpiece.

Stumbled across your channel... what great work in giving these little vehicles a second chance! Such impressive work. Wish I could do something like this, as I frequent flea markets and often see old toys/Matchbox cars that could find new life with some paint and work. Thanks for sharing your work!

Wow! I enjoyed watching you work. I thought that taxi was beyond repair, and you brought her back. I’ll enjoy watching more of your channel.

Amazing work with one of the most damaged vehicles possible! Repairs to the roof are amazing. I had serious concerns over how this would turn out, but my worries were unnecessary. Great work!🤹‍♂️

Your level of skill, creativity and passion about what you do is awesome... I grew up with these and had a friend with the same taxi. Thank you for sharing your artistry!!

me and my brother destroyed so many of these things in a no grow grass zone in our back yard. good job!

That is a beautiful restoration. Absolutely stunning. I had this particular Matchbox Chevy Impala is a child in the early "70's, and I'm very happy to see it again. Well done!

Add a drop of Vaseline with a Q-tip to the threads/inside the super glue cap, you'll never have to throw out unused glue or battle taking off the cap again.

Wow! Your restoration skill is LEVEL INCREDIBLE! That car was a throw away and you saved it. One of my favorite castings btw. Love the old Chevys.

Thanks Rob, this is a great restoration. An absolute wreck before you started, a beaut when you had finished. Thanks for sharing.

Just watched this video again for. the fifth time. Great save. One of your best videos this one. I always enjoy revisiting here.

That is incredible! You have a serious talent!

You are a genius restoring the English made Matchbox collection fleet from the 60's and 70's...we had lots of fun pushing these vehicles around when we were lads....you've got such an amazing skill...Congratulations for that! Made in England was a sign of authentic hand -made quality products ...I really enjoy watching you how you bring these one of a kind treasures back to life again! Cheers!

Fantastic piece of work and very informative commentary, thank you. As an aside possibly the most difficult charades task is the Chevrolet Impala Drivers Handbook.

Amazing restoration! I have neither the skill nor the patience to tackle something like this and am amazed at people who can actually pull it off.

Considering the sad state it was in, you did a great restoration. Looks a treat.

OUTSTANDING job on those drivers side vent windows!!

Nice job man, love seeing things being restored instead of going to waste.

That’s what I call a great restoration. Keep well regards Glyn

A labor of love. Simply beautiful!

Nice piece friend, i love the chevy impala, i love the driver you left like the factory, i loved the final result, excellent work rob as always, grettings

You sure have a lot of patience! You do awesome work! You have a new subscriber! Thank you for a great video. The things you find at 2:30 in the morning to watch! Matchbox restoration. Went from demolition derbies to Matchbox restoration!

"Remember when removing the flange to lubricate your piece when you tap those holes, you definitely don't want it snapping off in the hole" Anyone else have to fight off those schoolboy thoughts or is it just me? XD

Holy COW!!! ! Very Impressed! You do such awesome work!! Nice job!

Hello, nicely done, for your adhesive on Matchbox projects, I've used JB Weld for years, this is a 2K Epoxy which when blended creates a grey colored, fast cure however, not as fast as Super Glue (cyanoacrylate). It may not be available in the UK but guessing it actually is. Super Glue somewhat thick both before and after blending equal portions but has a more intense strength and for broken, cracked, and thin metal pieces and parts, it enables one to sand with special Dremel diamond bits. It takes paints beautifully, currently, I only solvent based Krylon paints, which, I spray into containers and add various other colors, as needed, to get both unique and colors dead on. In my previous job, I formulated aftermarket automotive colors for Sherwin Williams. Regardless, when my son's were younger, 10-12 years ago, a gentleman came over to our home with a box of VERY old Matchbox cars, a couple Dump Trucks, Bulldozers, etc., 34 in total. I remembered my uncles playing with these cars when I was young, they came in paper boxes and they were very particular with them and would occasionally let me hold one, kind of funny. Some of the cars he gave my sons were decent, others were trash can ready but surprisingly my sons wanted the worse cars. Over the next 2 years and as time allowed, I restored all of the cars that needed work, others, I took them apart, stripped down to the metal, fabricated plastic, when CNC came about and available, that made replicating parts miraculous, then, repainting using an airbrush. All the best,

Never seen a taxi with a hitch.....Amazing work !!

I was born in 1965, so I was stuck with the 70's Hot Wheels, we loved Matchbox cars but they were always beat up bad, one of the most infamous was the Greyhound Bus, when you found one it either had a bent-in frame, missing tires, and of course the green glass was always broken or missing. I am 54 now and I finally got to see one restored and in mint condition, kool!

I don’t know why, but I truly enjoy watching these posts. It is relaxing and above all, I respect and admire your gift of fixing these. You’re preserving history. A history that I enjoyed as a kid. Thank you sir

Nicely done! That was one of my favorite castings when I was small. (still have it too!) Keep up the good work!

Sou Apaixonado pelas essa escalas , tenho varias , Cara voce ta de PARABENS , Otimo Trabalho....

I don't make jokes when i call you the Edd China of the toy cars. Perfect job. Respect.

Wow , great job with that roof 👍🏼

Absolutely fantastic restoration job well done

That's an impressive result. You're a brave man!

You are a miracle worker. Fabulous job.

I don't collect toy cars.. Have very little Interest but iam a avid restorer even tho lately I don't restore anything.. But I watched this beg to end. Enjoyed watching this guy's technique. Nice end finish. Time well spent. Experience is everything. Lovely little bit of work there.

Outstanding!!! That looks wonderful! I'm always so happy to see a sad/forlorned looking car able to look happy and full of life once again! Keep up the great artistry!!

Given the state of damage, I am quite surprised that the tow hitch was completely intact! Well done on that adventurous restoration. Cheers.

It took exactly 45 seconds of watching your video for me subscribe. I've never heard a more dead pan delivery of dirty jokes in my whole life. 10/10

Rare car 1964 chevrolet impala taxi 4 doors and model unique and view final work with new paint buttocks good work rob my greetings from mexico city👋👍👍

Oh my, the Matchbox I craved when I saw it in the rotating display at the toy store ca. 1973! I was really into Matchboxes that looked like actual cars I saw in driveways and on the street, and this '64 Chevy was the closest to what I was familiar with at the time. By the early 1970s Matchbox seemed to be selling too many British Fords, Minis, sports cars and other exotica that didn't match what I saw in everyday life in the U.S.

Rob, a lot of sweat equity you put into the restoration, which ended up outstanding, considering it's initial broken appearance. My compliments to you from your American, So. Cal follower.

That s kickass man! You did an exilient job with that 64 Chevy die cast impala taxi! Nothing's ever ready for the bone yard,anything can be fixed! 😎hope to see more soon!

You did an amazing restoration on the car!!!

I had a large Matchbox car collection as a kid. I don't remember ever seeing one with a trailer hitch before. Excellent work!

Brilliant job on this one Rob, it would've been a custom convertible the second the roof came off if it was me!

You British restoration artists have the patience of a SAINT! Even in the middle of the vid, I was astonished with the repair job!

Super job! I have a box of matchbox cars somewhere that hasn't been opened in 45 years.

Looks really good. Happy I watched it. Thank you!!

Great job restoring that old banger. Greetings,, Kitty.

Beautiful job bringing that one back to life. That was definitely a tough one. I knew you could do it

OMG! I remember the day when I was with my father in the auto parts store and I picked one of these from a vast box of cars. That was 1970, I was 4 years old, several people around had these Chevys in all body styles. Great job! Brings back great memories. I had so many British cars as well as American cars. I remember the Ford Zodiac which was classy looking in it's green/blue paint. Rolls Royce, Rover, Austin America, just so many I don't remember. I preferred the elegance of the Matchbox cars to Hot Wheels.

Rob from Where you started with the Wreck of a car to where the finish up truly B Amazing Thank You

Tip for extending the tip life of a super glue tip nozzle. After I use some, I take a piece of clear tape a small bit, place it atop the nozzle then fold down and twist it onto the nozzle, this way it both keeps the glue inside and instead of glueing the top onto the bottle you can just remove the tape and if there is dried glue you can puncture it with a tack or needle, then redo this process a lot until the glue is empty or just unusable.

What an unbelievable job you have done with restoration of an obvious "basket case." I always wondered why Matchbox used the 1964 Impala hardtop for the taxi, as most Chevrolet taxis were four door sedans. The hardtop has no "B" pillar, the small pillar directly behind the windshield pillar was only there for the wing window, and only attached to the door. The red interior was always a mystery. It would have been quite common with a white, black, or red exterior. The dealership and area service managers would have done everything within their power to discourage this combination, as it would greatly limit the resale value of the vehicle. Again, great job!

Amazing resurrection. Big balls pillar work. Now they look OEM. Lovely paint and decal. Epic restoration.

Great job as always my friend, the result is beautiful👌 Peace ✌️

Nice job repairing the pillars

Excellent, really enjoyed watching this restore, well done rob. 😮

I'm blown away by how good it turned out. Makes me want to get my scrap yard ones out of storage. My ex never understood why I wouldn't throw them or any of our boys cars no matter how badly they were trashed. As someone who is a third generation taxi driver, I have a great love for this casting. Keep up the stellar work and as always looking forward to the next.

Great job! I enjoyed that. We had one of these Impala's new, it was blue. We were Chevy dealers at the time. UK cars were built in Canada with RHD.

I'm such a fan of you. I mean, most people would have trashed that vimpala or used it for parts, but you made it from zero. I really wanna learn to repair cars because I also have some diecast disasters in my house

Amazing restoration turned out well considering the damage nice work well done 👍.

I like what you do. A different approach to Marty, but you're both eminently watchable. Very relaxing...

Bravo, decisamente emozionante e commovente......un lavoro da numero 1. Bruno from Milano Italy

You never cease to amaze me man well done

Sweet …. Gave it a new life ! Fantastic job !!!

no rob you did a very good job again its a teaching experience for you to learn something. im so happy for you its a great job. i watched this guy get him 911 repainted i would imagine the job cost 1/2 a million us dollars. it was just brautiful. they kept painting and sanding then washing all the dust off. i want to send you pics of my two hot rod pickup. 1 is a 1940 ford the other is a 1961 ford f-100. keep up the good work. thanks for reading my whinnying.

The car turned out wonderful.

Great effort! I finally obtained one of thee castings recently, I was amazed at how detailed the fine details are on the casting. Cheers

Hi Rob, wow what a result given the basic pos you had to work with. You gave yourself quite a challenge with this project and your skill set has once again proved your strength. Kudos for undertaking this challenge.. 👍🏽👍🏻👍😉

You did a real awesome Work on this Impala 👍👍👍 the Car looks like brand new and no one can see the Damaged it had before Lots of respect from me ,because i do a few Models At the Moment they have a lots of damages and i know how difficult it is to bring those pillars at a almost good look again

WOW! Awesome restore. That car was absolutely dead. But you resurrected it. Absolute greatness. Thanks for posting.

Great job on this one, man. I enjoy seeing cars some would deem "beyond repair" get brought back to life!

Super cool ! it looked in all honesty like a scrap yard car! then you brought it back to life! :D

I wouldn't have attempted this as looked to far gone but just shows what can be done, a great job.

Amazing transformation!

Subscribed. Awesome restoration especially given how small the car is.

Ottimo restauro 👍 like from Italy 🇮🇹

Awesome restoration, well done.

I got to hand it to you Rob , you've just performed the best restoration l've seen considering what you started out with . Good on ya mate 👍👏👏👏👏

Brave project to take on Kudos to you Rob really well done

I admire your patience mate...I had a great collection of cars as a kid...passed them down to my first born son...and he trashed the lot...I have a VW Beetle left...I could cry...

I think you just got me interested in a new hobby. Not so much to sell, but to bring back to their last glory. Thank you for the inspiration.

Wow! Awesome amout of work dedicated to one piece. A little rough around the edges but I would show it on my wall, along with a picture of "before". A little clarification on the whole A-B pillar thing. First, its only a pillar if its a permanent part of the car, meaning, non removable part. If its part of the door then its not considered the pillar. So the other little part next to the pillar was part of the door, those cars had as an option vent windows. Finally I appreciate that you did not add B-pillars. In a casting like that with the roof half pulled off the "post" or B-pillar breaks off easily. But Impalas and several other cars of the area are "postless" or "non-post" models, and for younger folks that were not around back then have never seen this since pretty much all cars made since the 80s have a B-pillar. You have done your homework sir! Hats off!

It needs a white with red text taxi sign on the roof. Generally these were lit up when the taxi was in service. You could fake it with some styrene board. The tail lights were distinctive that year too. Three lozenges per side with impossible to replicate chrome on the lens trim. They were right above the chrome bumper. Yes, I probably rode in one of these as a child.

Really nice work. I love restoration of anything, so definitely worth the time to watch this.