The 1950s and 1960s were the golden years for Chevrolet and no other car was more representative of this period of Chevrolet's greatness than the 1961-1964 Impala. Find out why this third generation Impala was such a special car.
School was out for the day, and we all came out to see a mother pull up to pick up her daughter. Mom was driving a new '64 Impala SS. It was a very light yellow with black interior w/bucket seats. There were so many boys crowded around that car that the girl had to squeeze in between us boys just to get in. That was the most beautiful car I had ever seen. I still think it's one of the most beautiful cars GM has made. Here I am, 60 years later, still talking about a wonderful memory and a beautiful car.
I had a sixty three Impala I unfortunately had to let go in 2019. It was my first car got it in my junior year of high school. It’s about one hundred miles away and some day I will go see it.
The worst mistake all those old drag racers made was to use ball joint spacers to lift the front end for what they thought would give the car more “bite” however the cars turned into parachutes at about 300’ out too much air underneath the car, grumpy Jenkins , frank sanders , butch leal all did this. Getting the front end down was the key. My point?? All those Z11 Impalas were a half second quicker by slamming the front end.
I still have the’62 Impala I learned to drive in 47 years ago. It has been in the family for 57 years. Very smooth ride and very reliable as we take good care of the mechanicals.
General Motors could not make these cars today despite the fact that people would be standing in line to buy them. Designers would “modernize” them with plastics, fake wood trim, aluminum and bucket seats while engineers would forfeit horsepower for economy and “ugh” maybe even electric power. These cars were produced during the best of times and have left those of my age with fond memories and experiences.
I remember neighbors who had a '63 SS and then '64 SS, I believe. Maybe 327 engines. Interiors looked quite dazzling, for it's time. Thanks for snapshot memories.
A few days ago I was loooking at the front and rear lights of present cars and I hate most. Back then cars looked like cars with decent lights and styles. I do miss them.
Learned to drive in a 14 year old 62 Impala station wagon. 283 with 2 speed powerglide automatic. Over 4000 lbs, it took forever to get to 60mph. It floated down the road like an aircraft carrier. It also ran and ran. Drove it to college for 4 years. It would haul a lot of stuff. Lot of really good memories in that car 😊😊 Wish I still had it.
My 2nd grade teacher had 1 1964. It was beautiful with the Ermine White paint, and blue interior. She still had it when I moved on to middle school a few years later.
My first car was a 61 Impala 2 door sport coupe with a 283 engine. It was white with a red and white interior. It was the greatest looking car. I used to cruise up and down the boulevard and always turn heads! I wish I still had it!
I remember we moved to California in 1963 and my mom’s friend bought a new 1963 Chevy impala. My brother and I would ride in the back and marvel at the music speaker in the center of the rear seat. That was my introduction to music which continues to this day.
That was GM's plan - get people to trade in every 2-3 years and after awhile, move up to Olds, Buick and Cadillac. That's also why they changed styling so much - you would be ashamed to be seen in an old model.
Continued great reviews of classic cars. Myself, along with many others, appreciate your hard work. Look forward to seeing your next video of car history.
I made my living as an automotive tech. Well remember these beauties gracing the roads. They were really well constructed. A pleasure to both drive and service.
Dad had a '61 Biscayne 2 DR sedan, with the 283 V-8, 3 speed auto tranny...very spartan model. No body trim, carpet, creature comforts limited to heater, and AM radio! I grew up in that car, it was my gateway to fun and adventure (And dentist appointments) in my youth.
My older brother came back from Germany in late ‘61 and bought a brand new 62 Impala convertible with a 327. White with red interior and top. I was 8 and thought it was the most beautiful car I’d ever seen. That started a family wide love of Impalas. My dad never bought cars new back then. Around ‘68 he bought a ‘65 Bel Air when I got my license in ‘69 that was the car I used. I bought a ‘63 Sport Coupe/327 4v. Super nice car! My dad then bought a 396 ‘66 Caprice. A year later I bought a ‘64 Impala SC 283 4v. Always wanted a ‘61 Bubbletop!
Figure 8 frame wasn't the best protection, two piece drive shaft could be a challenge when one wanted to get serious w/the horse power. Full frame in 65 up was big improvement.
I thought the highest engine on the Impalas before 1964 was the 409 but I didn't even know a 427 was even available then!!!! Absolutely crazy!!! 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and 10.8 seconds at 120mph quarter mile!!!!! Absolutely insane!!!!
You had to be a real car nut those years just to even know what was available.. The factory didn't exactly make huge headlines about these cars availability. The Z11 option with the 427 you mention, the 1962 Pontiac 2 + 2 with the 421 tri power.. under rated horsepower, and insane compression ratios.. I wish I had a time machine.
Thanks for the great video which brought back many memories of my youth. In my neighborhood there were many of the 61-64 Big Chevys... a very rare 61 Impala 2 door Sedan, 61 Impala 4 door hardtop, 62 Bel Air 4 door sedan, 62 Impala 2 and 4 door hardtops, 63 Biscayne 2 door sedan, 63 Impala Wagon, 63 Impala 4 door hardtop, 64 Impala 4 door sedan. My favorite was a 63 Impala SS Hardtop red with a black vinyl roof, white bucket seats and rare factory wire wheel covers. Those were the days. I never remember seeing a gray car back then, now they are everywhere.
I remember my mom's sister Elsie had a 1962 SS red with white interior 283 four barrel and powerglide. My oldest sister had a '61 Bel Air tudor sedan with the six cylinder and two speed powerglide. I really liked the 61-64's but when Chevy came out with the '65's and the all new styling I thought they looked great and still do.
A friend of my mother drove a '64 Impala convertible. Light blue with a white interior. It used to be fun riding in that car during the summer, with the top down.
I owned a1964 SS 327/300. My brother had a 1963 SS 327/250. Both were one heck of a great car and very nice looking cars. I had a very nice tone red exterior and white interior. Sadly my car ended up being stolen from the employee parking lot at my work and was never recovered. It had a hidden kill switch which I never used at work because it was at an airport, dumb me!
As a wholesaler to the classic and antique GM car and truck restoration market (41-87), I can tell you, these cars are red hot. Personally, I always thought they looked better than the Galaxie.
GM styling during the 1960s under Bill Mitchell was pure fire.. Ford and Mopar products were clunky in comparison.. AMC wasn't even in the running. Great, great era..
The '61 has always been my favorite. My mom had one when I was a kid . A blue convertible. It was stolen on a day trip to Mystic Seaport her next car was a '66 rag top
I have always been a Chevy owner until they downsized the Impala to the size of a large compact. My favorite was my 1965 Chevy Impala SS. I wish I had that car today. I also liked the 59, 60 Chevy fins. Back then, cars were made out of metal, had a great quiet ride, luxury interior, and powerful engines unlike the cars of today. "Body by Fisher" was valued and proud to have their name on vehicles, back then. Long live the Chevy Impala line.
My uncle bought the twin to the car featured with the 427. It was stolen 3 months later. He couldn't find another one with the 427 and ended up with the 409. Traded that one for a 67 GTX 440.
My favorite Impala is the '61 bubble top i like the way the rear clip is, and how many cars have song's written about them, gitty up gitty up my "409"😊
Great video. I was a crossing guard as a student at my elementary school and we looked at all the cars that came to drop off the kids. We got to see the new cars as soon as they were delivered to the customers and it was so exciting to see all the changes from year to year.
An excellent-ly narrated, informative video and report on these beautiful, classic Chevrolet Impalas. As a young boy, I was crazy about cars… and knew every make and year going down the street… simply by their taillights. These triple tail lamp Impalas were easy to spot for their distinct, sharp styling, and tail lamps were refreshed in some way each year. I was only about 6 years old when the ‘61 Impala came out… I remember them all so well. Thanks for your research and hard work in making your videos! Hope you can keep more of these coming! These were beautiful and varied examples. Great job! Thanks!
Dec 31, 1962 my mom traded in her 59 Parkwood station wagon for an SS63 Impala. Two tone, ice blue with white top, light blue interior, AC, AT, PS, PB. 327 300 HP V8. So beautiful. She sold it in 75 with 55k for $500. I had to replace the starter. I wished I had the $500. The buyer turned it into a low rider, broke my heart.
My brother, your content is absolutely spot on with all aspects of video production. You're pace, information, etc....greatness. And on top of that, attention to detail should be, and is, appreciated Bravo!!!!!.
My Dad built that honduras maroon 1961 Impala SS in the 90s. It was a really nice survivor plain impala with a 283. He made it into a "dealer installed SS" and added a correct QA block 409 and 4 speed.
Dad was an old Chevy man for a long time. In 1962, I convinced him to buy a leftover ‘61 Impala, four door hardtop, black with red and white interior; fabulous vehicle I took to my senior prom…
My parents had a '62 Biscayne 2 door sedan in the late 60s. Same great lines with less chrome. It had the 283 with an automatic trans. It also had add-on air conditioning. One of my favorites that they owned. My father was in the USAF and was stationed in W. Germany at the time. We traveled to Italy and Switzerland in it. Great memories.
Back in 1978, I was desperate for a car. One day on our way home from shopping, I spied a green 1961 Belair 4 door sedan. I liked what I saw. But my older brother shot it down. Not long after that a neighbor was selling a White 64 Impala 2 door hardtop. V-8 auto. A week later it got side swiped. Long story short. I ended up a year later with a green 1973 Olds Omega 2 door 350 V-8 Auto.
Well, it was at 283 comments. On to 327 !! I’ll never forget 3rd grade recess, was with my constant pal of those school years, Roger, and his quite older brother rolled in, stopped,and talked with Rog. Brother was driving a black beauty 65 SS, buckets, 4 speed and I noted the larger race flags on front fender and the engine displacement started with a “4”, research to refresh old memory, it may have been last of 409, or first of 396. Sure seems like it started with a “4”. My jaw hung slack, such a beauty !! To this day my fav Impala taillights are the 65’s sticking slightly out at a slant, resembling rocket after burners. I see 1965 full sized Chevrolets sold more than 1 million in one year, a record that has never been bested. Many dark maroon colored ones, pretty electric blue, red, remember the light lavender colored 65’s ? Seems like a bold move to offer that color and it looked good. Now I’m leaping to the wildly fun bright youthful colors MOPAR offered in the late 60’s, Plum Purple, Lime Greene, burnt orange, I’m forgetting official name of that one. The psychedelic years and hippies, peace, love. Make love, not war. Don’t trust the establishment, no one over 30. Hitch hiking, flower power, tie died t shirts, VW bug and van, long hair and mustaches, sideburns. Mini skirts and longer sun dresses with sandals. Burn the bra. Organic food shops. Head shops behind beaded curtains of a record shop. Thousands of albums to paw through. Beautiful art album covers. A look back.
My dad used to buy a brand new Impala every year. We were not rich, by any means. It was the fact that Impalas retained so much of their retail value that he was able to do that. Nowadays, when you buy a new car it depreciates something like 40% the second you drive it off the lot. What surprised me in this video was the lack of mention about the Chevrolet Impala later became the #1 choice for low-riders everywhere! 😎
My dad's first car was a 61 Impala bubble top, red with white stripe and a white roof. Long gone, but in 2012 we bought a copy of her and drive her around now!! Both 283 power
My dad ordered a brand new '63 2-door hardtop Impala while he was a foreman at the GM assembly plant in St. Louis. It was the first new car he ever purchased. The car is Laurel Green with green interior and white top, 250 h.p. 3-speed on the column, AM radio, tinted glass, padded dash, and front & rear bumper guards. He was able to watch the car go down the assembly line, and actually assist in its production. I was 8 years old in '63. I grew up in that car and picked up my wife for our first date in 1979 in the '63. She was rather dismayed that I wasn't driving my '72 LT-1 Corvette that I was in the night we met at White Castle, but I guess she got over it. We're still married, and I still own the car. More memories than I could hope to list here -- and more to come.
First and my high school car was '63 2 door hardtop, white over turquoise, black interior, 283 4 barrel with the V emblem, 3 speed manual, no A/C, no seat belts, AM radio, bench seat, and 50 years later I still miss it!
My uncles first car was a new 57 BelAir, then got a 60' Impala, then a 63' Impala...I remember them all as a small kid. I also remember those were the days when America was still sane. He's dead now. My current car is a 17' SS Camaro 6 speed manual.
The town I grew up in, all 4 door Chevrolets went to Star Cab Company, got painted yellow, and got abused. I have one that got away, a 4 door 63 Belair.
