The 1963 Chevrolet Impala, famous for its unique body styling and the hefty price tag, was associated with prominent people who loved something rare and iconic.
Production of the Chevrolet Impala commenced in 1958. Five years later, it was leading the pack in car sales. In 1963, the automakers changed the Impala's body styling while maintaining the mechanical components present in previous models. The body design easily sent the Impala into history books as the best-selling car in the 1960s till the early 1980s. Ice Cube is one of the celebrities that owned the Chevy Impala. The unit was stylish and appealing compared to its predecessors, thanks to the General Motor automotive designers who facilitated body changes and built the unit.
Ice Cube is an American Rapper, actor, and filmmaker popularly known for his political raps that went viral in the 1990s. He is an award-winning artist who started shining in the entertainment industry as early as a sixteen-year-old. His two pieces, Amerikkka most wanted and death certificate topped the music charts gaining him popularity. As a man of taste, Ice Cube owned a 1963 Chevy Impala, a car popular with celebrities back then because of its high purchase cost. The specific car is a full-size, convertible SS trim in gold color, a rare unit, especially with its color and features. The car features in some of his videos.
Read on to get more details on Ice Cube’s Chevy Impala, what makes it outstanding, and why it is one of his special cars.
An Exterior With Crisp Lines
On the exterior, notable changes included crisp lines and pointed rear and front fenders. In this era, most cars were flat with simple lights and body styling, so the unit came with styles to please car enthusiasts who wanted to stand out from the crowd. Another highlight is the aluminum rear taillights that gave the car the aesthetics car lovers could look into when picking a car.
The designers built a boxy and trimmed body with a long chassis under the General Motors B platform popular for long sedans. The car was 5.3 meters in length and two meters in width arguably one of the largest sedans in the 1960s. The fact that one could get such a long car as a convertible attracted many buyers.
At the moment, convertibles were short chassis cars that were mainly seating two passengers. The Impala came as a full-size sedan seating six passengers with no roof above them at the touch of a button. It couldn’t get better. The Impala featured a well-crafted interior with leather upholstery giving the unit a premium look and a high rating among cars. Notable features in the car included high chrome finishes, wooden trims, and stylish door panels. The car was probably one of the most-sought cars in the 1960s due to its stylish looks that oozed style.
Looking Under The Hood Of The 1963 Impala
The 1963 Impala came with two engine variants, all 8-cylinder normally signaled by the V-shaped emblem. They were 4600cc and 5400cc engines, which could produce 230 and 407 brake horsepower, respectively. The 5.4l was mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Other transmission options included a 3-speed and 4-speed stick-shifts. Back then, people were not into towing; thus, little interest was given to the torque. Later changes to the Impala included a new big capacity engine at 6700cc.
The performance could easily rival a Ferrari though at a slightly lower budget. It was not a sports car, but the V8 engines with a biased rear-wheel drive could rumble loudly.
An Interior With Plenty Of Leg Room
Ice Cube’s car was a 2-door sedan with a retractable roof, giving the car what is presently referred to as a convertible look when the roof is lowered. The Impala also offered buyers a 9-seater station wagon. Improvements from the previous models that attracted buyers to the unit included a new covet instrument panel, air conditioning, and a factory-built tachometer. In the era, only a few units could come with the features giving why many buyers, including Ice Cube, went for the Impala.
Away from the body styling, the interior space is another factor where the Impala hit the sweet spot for buyers. It offered plenty of legroom to both front and rear passengers. It could sit six tall people without compromising on their comfort even on long travels. The car’s music system also signified elegance leaving the predecessors gasping.
Here's How Much The 1963 Impala Costs
The Chevy Impala was priced in the range of $2000 to around $2700 when first launched, depending on the trim levels, i.e. 2-door, 4-door, convertible, sedan, or station wagon. Ice Cube’s car being a convertible 2-door sedan was among the highest-priced Impala’s at the moment. A convertible and sedan combo formed the best trim in the Impalas but at a cost.
The Impala’s greatness has lasted to the present, enshrined in its collectability. The 57-year old car costs north of $25000 in the current market despite the high mileages and outdated interiors. There’s something unique with classic cars; styling and old-school look. The Impala is one of the greatest American cars and is powered by the greatest production engines ever built. A combination of performance, versatility, comfort, and elegance in the 1963 Chevy Impala. Its overall greatness may never be surpassed considering the hype and fame that came along owning one like Ice Cube.