Over the decades, Chevrolet manufactured a wide variety of outstanding vehicles. From the Corvette to the El Camino, Chevy provided gearheads with enough toys to entertain themselves and completely ruin their finances. Among all these amazing cars stands the Impala.
The Impala is one of the most impressive full-size cars made by Chevy. It is definitely not one of the most overrated classic American muscle cars. From the creation of the model until recently, the Impala was a tremendous car with a lot of potential. Unlike what the general public thinks, the Impala is a notorious car with a very interesting story.
10 Very First Impala
In 1958, the US faced a recession so strong that it also affected Europe and Canada. It really shows that even back then, the world was already highly globalized. The same year, Chevy released several high-end vehicles such as the Bel-Air and the Impala. Both vehicles are now legends.
The '58 Impala definitely is the sort of classic American car every gearhead should drive at least once. As a matter of fact, the very first Impala is a true collectible. Do not expect anything too powerful here. The 348 ci W-Series Turbo Thrust V8 only produces 250 hp. It is not much for a yacht that size; but it is more than enough to cruise down Pacific Boulevard in style.
9 Family-Friendly Impala
Anyone that has ever owned a two-door car knows how annoying it gets to fold the front seat down to let people in and out. Imagine having to repeat the same maneuver several times daily. The Chevy Impala, though elongated and roomy, received two more doors in 1959.
The second generation of Impalas was made available in a four-door version. The car retained its humongous body but received a couple more features. One of the most important is the fact that the 348 ci V8 offered is capable of churning out 335 hp. That is a steep increase compared to '58 Impala.
8 Most Valuable Impala
The Impala does not have the reputation of being a legitimate muscle car. It is mostly perceived as a car that can be turned into a beast, but not as a de-facto American-made, classic muscle car. Most gearheads with a love for classic cars know too well that the Impala is a sheep in wolf disguise.
It is well-known among American car fans that some classics cost a significant amount of money. For example, a '71 Plymouth Cuda Hemi convertible sold at auction for $2.2 million. The Impala Z11 Lightweight is that sort of car. With only 57 models ever made (only two in black), the Z11 is estimated to cost between $375,000 and $450,000.
7 Impala: A Sign Of Success
To gearheads from all over the country, the Impala is a true American classic. The Impala released back in the mid-'60s has the best of both worlds. It is a beautifully designed car that can either be a cruiser, or an absolute beast. Today, the Impala is quite popular among specific portions of the population.
Believe it or not, the Impala played a significant part in race relations in the States. To make a long story short, the '64 Impala was the very first Impala to reach one of the few Chevy dealerships in south Los Angeles, after Chevy's no-test-drive policy for African Americans was lifted. The Civil Rights Act was signed coincidentally the same day. Consequently, the Impala became a sign of success among the Black community.
6 Gangstas' Favorite
Hip Hop may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it does have a huge fan base worldwide. Though the music genre was initially listened to by people from inner cities, it eventually reached the suburbs and captivated millions of people. Since Hip Hop artists tend to have an acute taste for cars, it is quite normal that the Impala became an important item in the culture.
Eazy E's Boyz-N-The-Hood is one of the most popular songs of the artist. The video features a '64 Impala on hydraulics. The '64 Impala is not exclusive to African American rappers. The Latino community also regarded the Impala as a sign of success, which is a clear indicator that its members must have faced the same level of racial discrimination and disenfranchisement that African Americans were subject to.
5 Impala On Screen
Most movies require the use of cars, unless some sci-fi movie taking place in outer space. In Gone In 60 Seconds, several astonishing sports cars were used. It is well-known that the GT500 Eleanor was the cherry on top. In Back To The Future, a DeLorean allowed Marty McFly to go back to the '50s to play matchmaker.
Baby, Supernatural's Impala, is one of the most iconic Impala ever shown on TV. Originally featured on The WB, the TV show became very popular among sci-fi and non-sci-fi fans alike. Though the '67 Impala was not at the center of the TV show, it did have a huge impact on the characters' adventures.
4 Rarest Impala
Gearheads always dream about owning very special cars. Not special in a bad way. Not Pontiac Aztek special. Truly special cars, such as the '69 Camaro ZL1 or the Ford Mustang Boss 429, are every gearhead's dream. However, there are other emblematic muscle cars that do not receive the recognition they deserve.
The Impala SS is one of the sickest muscle cars made in 1969. First of all, the high-end SS trim comes with a potent 427 ci Turbo Jet V8 that produces 425 hp. Only 2,500 units were ever made, thus making this classic a true collectible. Its value is not as high as it should be, which will make any gearhead think twice before buying a Fox Body Mustang.
3 Hate It Or Love It
Things were changing quite drastically in the 1980s. The Malaise Era was in full swing and carmakers simply could not keep up with the constant changes in regulation. In 1985, the Impala was discontinued. Nine years later, Chevy decided to revive the nameplate. The Impala SS was back on the streets.
The Impala SS was brought back to life in 1994. It used the Caprice as a base but was powered by a much more interesting powerplant. Underneath the hood sits the 350 ci LT1 V8 from the Corvette of the same era. The engine develops 260 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. It may not be much by today's standards, but it was quite something back then.
2 Last Impala Ever Made, So Far.
Domestically manufactured sedans have been under the threat of increasingly luxurious and fast German and Japanese sports sedans. The Impala, who was marketed as a muscle sedan in the 90s, ended becoming a bit more subtle. With the SS trim gone, it was nothing compared to a Lexus or BMW in the same category.
The vast majority of Impalas released from the year 2000 onward tend to be disappointing. In 2020, Chevrolet decided to halt the production of Impalas because of low sales numbers. Though the last Impala was nicely designed, the fact that it only came with a 3.6L V6 that makes 305 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque may have turned off potential customers.
1 Wrong Side
To most people, General Motors belongs to Detroit. It is the company that helped Detroit earning the nickname of "Motor City." However, as business knows no boundaries, literately, companies have outsourced their production to countries worldwide. General Motors actually produced some Impalas outside the continental US.
As crazy as it may sound, Impalas destined for foreign markets were made in Oshawa in Canada. It was not all Impalas; mainly the ones that were meant to be driven on the wrong side of the road. Most, if not all, Impalas sent to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa were made in Canada.