Chevrolet had its Impala present in its lineup for quite some time, but the origin models date back to 1959. At the time, General Motors redesigned the Impala to more closely resemble other models and then give it a line of its own.

One particular unit was given an extensively detailed and comprehensive restoration about a decade ago that largely restored its original appearance, albeit with some interior retrofitting, thanks to a lot of custom-built parts. Read on to find out just how customized this particular 1959 Chevy Impala can get.

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Quite The Extensive Restoration Was Performed On This Impala

1959 Impala, interior view of driver's side

Via: Mecum

This particular Impala had a very detailed and comprehensive facelift performed at several locations over more recent years. Granted, it was already preserved in a very good condition when it was purchased in 2010, and a lot of the features and options were still present in factory condition. This included air conditioning, power windows, power steering, power convertible top, and power brakes.

However, the owners decided some restoration was still necessary despite all these intact options. Therefore, the Impala was shipped away to Steve Cooley Motor in Homosassa, Florida, for an extensive two-year restoration that ended in 2012. This facility was climate-controlled to ensure no heat or cool weather damage would impact the restoration.

Alabama Graves Plating Co. took care of all the chrome items, including the refinishing and molding, while the body was finished with DuPont products that were accurate to that period, including Inca Silver paint. That said, new components were also added, such as hydraulics. To top it off, the car was painted semi-gloss black. The restoration was so detailed that the entire frame had to be removed.

Showing Off On The 1950 Chevy Impala Custom Exterior

1959 Impala, interior view on passenger's side

Via: Mecum

The exterior has been redone to strongly resemble the vehicle's original appearance. Items that were not left untouched were replaced with period-correct pieces in superior conditions. Diamondback 215/65R15 radial Whitewall tires complete with custom, billet aluminum 15x8-inch replica wheels were part of the exterior restoration, and so was a handmade convertible top, which used Mercedes-Benz Sonnenland materials as part of the construction.

Admittedly, the exterior body and chassis were deliberately avoided during the retrofitting part of the restoration process to preserve the Impala's original appearance as much as possible. Therefore, no modifications were made during that stage of restoration.

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This Impala Convertible Custom Gets A Lot Of Powertrain Mods

1959 Impala, engine view

Via: Mecum

However, the restoration doesn't end there. Underneath the hood, plenty of alterations and modifications have also been performed to the engine and interior, even to a higher degree than the exterior. To improve stability without sacrificing ride quality, custom coil springs by Coil Spring Specialties and RideTech adjustable shocks were incorporated into the restoration.

The coil springs also ensured the car had the proper ride height, and front and rear sway bars were also added. Further, four-wheel disc brakes from Wilwood Engineering helped upgrade the brake system, with a repainted master cylinder inserted into the engine bay, as well as custom brake lines that match factory specs.

The steering also had some custom upgrades, most notably a Saginaw 600 series power steering gearbox that also had custom-designed original-style hoses and a period-correct pump. When it comes to fuel, many features were custom, including an original mechanical fuel pump fit to the engine, custom-machined factory fuel injection emblems, a custom-fit fuel cap, and custom fuel lines. Holley EFI electronics is responsible for controlling the fuel injection and ignition system, and the electrical system has a Maxi fuse installed to make sure the system as a whole is protected properly.

The four-core US Radiator is also a custom creation designed to fit its given space, and a Hughes Performance torque converter was custom-built to deliver power to the factory differential from the engine. The interior retained its silver appearance, with the gauges functioning as they originally did and calibrated to keep them accurate. Power seat frames were completely restored, and even the floor pans were finished to match their original look.

A Brief On The Chevy Impala

1959 Impala, rear view

Via: Mecum

The Impala brand began life as a spin-off of one of Chevrolet's other models. It was even exported to other countries. Back in 1959, General Motors, Chevrolet's parent company, had the Impala's body redesigned, so it would be identical to the ones the lower-end Buicks, Oldsmobiles, and Pontiacs used.

This was combined with an X-Frame chassis, albeit with a few minor modifications, such as a lower roofline, longer wheelbase, increased curb weight, and wider body. As a result, the Impala then spun off into its line, and it was its series. The Impala was offered in sedan, coupe, and convertible styles, each with its distinctive attributes.

The base engine was a 4.6 L V8 that could put out 185 HP. An optional engine was a more powerful 5.7 L V8 that could put out 335 HP. These Impalas debuted the new six-way power seat option, and they also had a needle that could be set at a particular speed called the "Speedminder.”

Cruise control also made its debut among the options, and certain exports had the design altered to be right-hand drive cars for places such as New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa that drive on the left side of the road.

Source: Mecum