Unlike Australians, who demand and value fast sedans as equal or superior to two-doors, most Americans automatically demote four-doors to “OK” status no matter their potency. One exception is the 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS. For one thing, there is no two-door version of this car, and it would have probably been gone by the mid-’90s were it not for its copious use by police departments and taxi companies. This SS in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is offered here on eBay with over 200 pictures and an excellent description.
Even before the Blues Brothers, cop cars held the power to ratchet your Bad Boy or Bad Girl attitude up a notch. After driving one for a while, however, the lack of convenience features, holes where special equipment was removed, vomit-proof rear seat, and phenomenon of other cars dropping 20 MPH as you get behind them on your way to work tarnish of the awesome Cop Car luster.
That’s where cars like this save the day, offering the space, comfort, and V8 sound and performance of a retired police car, except with leather, a real rear seat, a sunroof, alloy wheels, and “SS” badges to impress your friends and intimidate your enemies.
The 1994-1996 Impala SS became a cult classic and, while the stock 260 HP LT1 could be spanked by any number of today’s four and six cylinder cars, it had more than enough moxie in its day, and getting power under the hood is only a mouse click away. Be sure to visit hotrod.com for an excellent history of this car’s development. So, if the 415 HP Australian-blooded 2017 Chevy SS is out of reach, consider one of these and an LS3 crate motor. Bidding on this one-owner machine has eclipsed $5200. Who’s going to take this bad boy home to meet the family?
Much prefer this colour to the black ones. Love it.
Is it me or is the passenger side floor look wet or has been wet before?
Yeah carpets look rough😨
Not sure they will ever be worth collecting. Make it a 600 HP Granny getter.
I’m pretty confident these will become decent collectables in the future, probably taking a similar path as Buick Grand Nationals. They are the last RWD Impalas in the “muscle car” mold and good clean examples are getting harder and harder to find. Lots of them have been beaten on and questionably modded.
Plus, they are cool in a way that few other mid-90s American cars can pull off.
Not a GM or 4 door fan but this car would make a heck of a daily driver if the price stays reasonable.
Boy GM sure made some ugly cars in the 90’s and this is no exception
Flood car, run!
A few years back, while in traffic, I pulled to a stop alongside a Caprice Taxi, or so I thought. Upon closer inspection, it was actually an SS. I couldn’t believe it. What a waste.
The best magazine ad I ever saw for a car was for one of these when they first came out. It was a centerfold ad in Popular Mechanics with a picture of the SS in black and the caption read, “Lord Vader, your car is ready”! I was hooked!!!
Nice car but not the original maroon color…. I have a good friend who owns 3 as daily drivers, all same color and year, his are more deep maroon, more purplish, This is too red. You can see the proper color in the open door jams on the pictures.
Could have been some body work done. Still a good buy, good bang for the buck. My friend likes to drive faster than posted and always gets compliments on the car from the cops that stop him, how they miss driving theirs….
You can find decent Caprice 6 litre PPV “unmarked” cars for $8,000 to $12,000 all day long. Not as plush as a used G8 6.2 but more under the radar.
Beautiful car! I keep my 95 SS original and put it in car shows where it gets a lot of compliments.
I remember that ad, and fell in love with this car myself. Instead of an LS3 why not put a turbo,or nitrous on it.At least you would still have the original engine.
These cars drive and handle way better than you can imagine.
I always thought GM went out of their way to make the dash on these extra bland.
New someone who bought one of these Brand New & 2 Model years old off the lot for a song. Nobody wanted them when new.
You would be incorrect. Must have been a fluke. As soon as they hit the dealerships they went like hotcakes. Where is this?
BigKahuna13 It was in Toronto, Canada’s biggest city. Major Dealership,no small town,no fluke.
Not a problem in the US. They were getting over sticker. Especially when they announced 96 was last year of production.
I’ve got a 1996,black with grey interior.I fell in love the moment I saw it.I keep it original.
I have a 95, bought it new, best car ive owned, and driven, especially since i swapped the auto to a t56 6 speed, the car now has 383hp to the wheels , and its a beasst, wouldn’t trade it for anything else, also has 145000 miles and running very strong
Had my ’95 9C1 recently restored @ a crackerjack facility. Bought it new…no law enforcement agency ever owned it…had to pull some strings but it’s been w/me 22+ years now. Never sell it!