1961 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe – Today’s Tempter
Ex-Unique Cars cover car! This thing is an absolute gem down to the tiniest details
As it appeared on the cover of Unique Cars issue 353, the cover line read "Is this Australia’s finest ’61 Impala?" – a question we still find pertinent as this still remains one of the most pain-staking restorations of the bubbletop body we’ve seen.
Arriving in 1961, the third-generation Impala was a new restyled body on top of the GM B platform whose underpinnings were also utilised in various Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile models spanning the better part of a century.
The third-gen Impala’s body was more boxy and smooth than the wildly-styled second generation. Engine options ranged from a 3.8lt inline-six, through 4.6lt, 5.4lt, 5.7lt and 6.7lt V8s. In 1963, there was also the rarely spec’d option of a 427ci (7.0lt) V8 available in the 1963 Chevrolet Sport Coupe.
This 1961 Impala Sport Coupe is a rare factory option order, originally specified with the 348ci (5.7lt) Big Block ‘Turbo Thrust’ motor, with ‘Tri Power’ triple 2 barrel carburettors, and mated to a Powerglide automatic.
The car bears all original documentation from 1961, including original service books, order sheet, brochures and even the original $3,214 invoice from the dealership in Kentucky.
Almost nothing has been left untouched on the gorgeous ’61 Impala, having received a pain-staking ground up resto to factory original specifications. The car is a true time capsule, with period correct whitewall ply tires, new fluid reservoirs and heater hoses utilising factory original replacements. No detail was left unattended – note the ‘factory’ chalk markings on the firewall!
The car is concours grade, with trophies to show for it.
For sale in Victoria, the car is listed for $69,990, you can check out the full listing here!
See our 2016 feature (note that prices have gone up since)
Muscle Car Value Guide home page
Unique Cars magazine Value Guides
Sell your car for free right here
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