Forget about the two extra doors, as many consider the 1995 Chevy Impala SS a true muscle car that cannot be denied. The 'SS' designation is included for a reason.
Just when you thought muscle cars were mostly a thing of the past, Chevrolet had the gumption to step up to the plate and with their seventh generation Impala, load it up with a solid V-8 engine, along with other mechanical goodies. What was it that lead Chevy to the decision to beef up the Impala? Perhaps the price of gas in 1995 was a factor, which was not too terribly high considering the cost of housing and other key expenses. All in all, the car fared well mechanically, sporting just two safety recalls.
Regardless of why the 95 Impala SS was built, at the time it must have been quite a treat for those that preferred Impalas but wanted some additional horsepower. Unfortunately, this particular model had relatively few options (no manual transmission) to choose from and yes, it looked like a cop car. But imagine the fun of pulling up behind a couple of your buddies while in this vehicle! And with the power of the V-8 it would not be hard to keep up with most cars on the road.
What Made This Car So Special
Chevy stuck with the hot rod mentality and manufactured the 95 Impala with rear wheel drive. As with the 94 model, the 95 had a LT1 V-8 motor, which was similar to the Chevrolet Corvette engine at the time. Although the Impala weighed over 4000 pounds, it could still pull a zero to sixty in a respectable time of under 8 seconds.
For a four-door sedan with a four speed automatic, this is simply a mechanical feat. Due to the weight (approximately 700 additional pounds), shape and other factors, the Impala could not match the 1995 Corvette's zero to sixty time. Still, the top speed was stated at an admirable 145 miles per hour. Did the 95 Impala suck up some gas? Yes, but this model was made for fun, not for saving fuel.
The 1995 Impala SS also sported a fancy leather interior. The same year also brought a few other paint options, but overall, there were few changes between the 1994 and 1995 model. It also sported a heavier suspension for better handling.
The Competition
The Chevrolet Caprice Classic closely resembles the Impala, and for good reasons. The cars are obviously made by the same company and share many characteristics. The Caprice typically sells for more than the Impala, primarily due to extra options and is considered more of a luxury model. Let us not forget the other popular American car, the Ford Crown Victoria.
Another similarly equipped sedan not sold in the United States but none the less a competitor of the 1995 Chevrolet Impala SS, was the Holden Commodore V-8 Executive. This sedan was manufactured in Australia by Holden, which was a subsidiary of General Motors. At the time, the 1995 Holden Commodore was not sold in America. It's now possible to find Holden vehicles in the U.S. When it comes to international companies, the roads become blurred when it comes to who is manufacturing what and for who.
Was The Impala Used As A Cop Car?
The answer is yes, the Chevrolet Impala was used as a cop car. The Ford Crown Victoria was more frequently selected as a law enforcement vehicle in the 1990s, as was the Chevrolet Caprice. To be honest, when suited up as a police vehicle, it takes a bit of digging to tell the difference between the Impala and the Caprice. Nowadays, a SUV model is the most common type of police vehicle in the United States. In the 1990s however, sedans ruled the roads, and the Chevy Impala played an important role in keeping the freeways safe.
The truth of the matter is Chevy sneakily cloaked a muscle car within a sedan. More than likely, this permitted numerous guys the pleasure of having a quality hot rod while fulfilling family needs, hauling kids around town and such. In other words, they had their cake and ate it too.