Recently Viewed

Saved

Car Tales: The Gazelle Of Lowriders, The 1964 Chevrolet Impala

‘Once upon a time the very idea of classic cars was synonymous with Americana. The great cars of the past all seemed to have been made in the USA, in the 1950s and 1960s. Now, with wonderful, often rare European examples high in the market, we’ve somewhat changed our minds.
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-Door Hardtop for sale
‘But with US-made beauties it was above all the design shapes that sealed this: gleaming chrome, giant fins, all of it more man-sized than breakfast at a roadside diner.

Buyer or Seller Questions? Let’s Talk! 310-975-0272

‘Just think of them: the Cadillac Eldorado, the Lincoln Continental, the Chevy Corvette, the Ford Mustang, the Buick Roadmaster, the DeSoto Coronado Fireflite…
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-Door Hardtop for sale rear view
‘The stuff that dreams were made of, pieces of art.
‘And the Chevrolet Impala, a status symbol in its time, certainly was a beautiful addition to such stellar line-ups. And one of the most standout examples from the Impala lineup is certainly the one from 1964.
‘We have one right now at Beverly Hills Car Club, a gorgeous 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-Door Hardtop that comes in Ember Red with an exceptionally pristine red interior. This Impala comes equipped with an automatic transmission, strong 350 V8 engine, air conditioning, power steering, center console, and front Wilwood disc brakes. This American classic is mechanically sound and ready to be driven and enjoyed.
‘The Chevrolet Impala was one of Chevrolet’s most popular models. It has been in production since 1958! With the most recent model the Impala 2020.
‘The 1964 Impala had an elegant look that didn’t speak much of the incredible power it packed in its extreme SS configuration: it could do 140 mph, quite extraordinary for a five-seater saloon car of that era and a fitting element for an automobile named after a gazelle capable of leaping up to 30 feet at a stretch.
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-Door Hardtop interior
‘The 1964 model, the last of the X-frame Impalas, had body panels that were crisply creased and fashionable. Construction was fairly typical for a body-on-frame automobile: steel cowl, roof, underbody and rear quarters welded together to form a solid shell with bolt-on fenders, hood, doors and decklid.
‘Early Impala’s X-frame placed the main frame support in the center of the car, allowing the body to be dropped low to the ground. The design also required a two-piece driveshaft that passed through the center of the X and connected via a carrier bearing.
‘Ultimately the quintessence of the 1964 Chevy Impala’s elegant look was its low ride. This made it an icon of the gangsta rap scene of the 1990s: Compton rapper The Game mentions Chevy Impala in a staggering 93 of his songs, 82 specifically citing the ’64 Impala. Many see the 1964 Chevrolet Impala as the “OG” lowrider archetype.

(Cruisin down the street in my ‘64)

‘A unique feature of the third generation Chevrolet Impala was the priority that was given to consumer choices: buyers could choose plenty of body styles and engines based on their different needs.
‘Accordingly, long before its hiphop connections, the 1964 Impala’s elegant look rather disguised the incredible power it packed in its extreme SS (SuperSport) configuration. The SuperSport treatment was an optional appearance package for all body styles, added mid-year 1964. It brought power brakes and steering, special sintered metallic brake linings, heavy-duty springs and shocks, beefed-up chassis components, and a 7,000-rpm tachometer.
‘Impala SS interiors featured deep-twist carpet, soft expanded vinyl-upholstered seats and door panels, bright trimmed center consoles with floor shifts for four-speed or Powerglide, as well as unique SS trim, courtesy lights and the buyer’s choice of eight colors.
‘The Chevrolet Impala was the first car to use the SS letters.
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-Door Hardtop engine
‘Because of this, many consider it as one of the pioneers of the muscle car craze that peaked in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Powered by 409 cu in V8, it could sprint from a standstill to 60mph in 6.3 seconds, with that 140mph top speed. A 230 Turbo Thrift 6-cylinder engine (140 horsepower) was the base engine for the 1964 Impala.
‘But for many, the omniscient V8s were the ones that truly counted – as in the case of the car we have here right now at Beverly Hills Car Club.
‘The 1964 Chevrolet Impala: a truly great American automobile.
-Alex Manos, Owner
1964 Chevrolet Impala Buyer Alex Manos

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

eighteen − fifteen =


 

Sell us your car

Pick up from any USA location - Any condition - Top $$$ Paid