When I was about fifteen, I wanted to own a ’63 Impala SS just like this, even in this color. I imagined all sorts of things that could be done to it to make it seriously cool for street use. Well, that was a long time ago but I still have a hot-rod Jones for old Impalas and have owned a few over the last few years but not a ’63. That being the case, I wanted to take a close look at this intriguing example. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, it is available here on eBay for a current bid of $13,000, reserve not yet met.
The Impala SS was Chevrolet’s go-to muscle car before the Chevelle came along and grew into the SS396. Just beyond that time frame, the Camaro and its performance versions were introduced and the Impala SS receded further into the backseat. There were attempts to jolt the Impala SS back into the performance forefront with the SS427 version but that was a low volume, three-year experiment between ’67 and ’69 that produced only about 6,200 copies. By the time that movement started, it was pretty much over as the muscle car movement was well out of the stable and riding a stead other than the Impala.
This ’63 example is referred to as a pole barn find by the seller. There is an accompanying video that can be viewed here and it illustrates the Impala starting and driving. The narrator doesn’t seem to know a lot about the car, other than the obvious, or its origins. But based on photographic observations, there are a few uncertainties that can be better explained. This Impala is probably a 20 footer. It looks good at a distance but the finish, which reminds me of the type of work that a well-known auto painting chain provides, is thinly and unevenly applied. The passenger fender has something going on that looks like paint streaks over a poorly performed repair. Another consideration is the rocker-panel molding, it is completely incorrect as no ’63 Chevrolet “B” body, regardless of trim level, used such a molding. I know, sounds picky, but my thought is that it might be hiding something underneath. There is an included image of the underside of the doors and some rust is present but it doesn’t look invasive and there is no other evidence of any serious rot. Same goes for the underside, surface rust but nothing more notable. All in all, the body of this Impala is pretty straight though this big Chevy appears to have seen a little bumper action as the grille and rear bumper aren’t quite right. The rally wheels are OK; this Impala wears them pretty well though it precedes their introduction by about four years. The downside to the wheels is that they seem to show up on every old Chevy regardless of age or model. There are about 50 images included in the listing, good resolution, and all are worth reviewing.
Under the hood is a V8 engine but it’s not the right one, the seller indicates that he doesn’t know what it is. Well, the fender badging indicates a 327 CI V8 which would have been 250 or 300 gross HP. What’s in the engine room now looks like a ’70s vintage 350 CI, two-barrel carburetor equipped engine. The accompanying video illustrates the car starting and driving and it seems to move along well, but the motor would seem to be a pretty mild application. The transmission included is an automatic unit but the seller and the listing are silent as to what automatic transmission it actually is. My thought is that this was originally a manual transmission-equipped Chevy that was converted to an automatic and I’ll explain my thought around that coming up. In the image above, the accelerator linkage shows what looks like a kick-down linkage attached to it which tells me that the gearbox is a Powerglide. A Turbo-Hydramatic 350 automatic uses a kick-down cable that swings around to the passenger side of the engine and a Turbo-Hydramatic 400, regardless of age, uses an electronic kick-down switch.
Inside is a pleasant environment. The vinyl seats show quite well though the dash pad has seen better days. The door cards are replacements, I have bought similar ones, probably from the same vendor, for one of my projects. They’re accurate in their reproduction and nicely finish off the interior. The carpet is either dirty or faded but it could be cleaned or replaced pretty easily. The kick pads look pretty kicked-out but there are replacements available. There is an image of the headliner, which is a pertinent image to include, and it looks perfect. Note the brake pedal, it looks like the “small” brake pedal for a manual transmission-equipped car. So does the console; in one of the other images, you can see where the manual shift diagram plate has been removed. Of further interest is the non-working factory tachometer, makes great sense for a four-speed manual transmission, not so much so for an automatic, especially a Powerglide that shifts once and then goes on siesta until the car slows down and starts over again. Speaking of the tach, I’d have to trim off or replace that mounting gasket, it looks like Salvador Dali’s mustache sticking out the way it does. The interior in this Impala is really quite nice, I’ve seen much worse. I’d say it is in nicer condition than the exterior and what does need attention is pretty minor.
As ’63 Chevy Impalas go, this one is pretty solid and intact, it would seem that someone was interested in creating a nice driver and not necessarily a show car. And if that was their goal, I’d say mission accomplished. The only downside is the unknown, seemingly uninspired engine choice and the iffy finish. The engine can be ginned up a bit and the finish is presentable but will need attention down the road. These big Chevies, from a performance perspective, faded from popularity by the ’70s but that’s not the case today. They have a definite following and are a less expensive alternative to a similar era Chevelle or Camaro. I’d like to know if there are any Impala fans out there that have owned a ’63 or similar vintage. If so, what did you do with it, stock, modified or something else?
Never cared for 60’s Chevy’s, too big, but you have to admit, this is a sharp looking car. I don’t recall ever seeing someone taking a 4 speed car and making it automatic using the 4 speed shifter. These days, cars like this sell better with 4 speeds.
Agreed. Odd change for such a desirable design.
Should have a generator instead of alternator also should have short water pump
63 was the first year for an alternator my first car a 63 Bel Air with a 283 had an alternator
Regardless of what it should have, barring the loss of the 4-speed, it looks pretty solid.
Great detailed write up. Pretty decent car , I think a nice base to start with. As far as conversion from 4 speed to auto. the brake pedal is also smaller then in a automatic car from the factory. Manual trans. cars had a smaller break pedal to make room for the third pedal. Would be nice to transform this back to a 4 speed 327 ( slightly warmer over, ie: cam, headers, lots of chrome) and just have an awesome driver. These cars we’re big..but they we’re definitely very cool imo
When I was 17 I had 63 Impala SS that was originaly a 409 car but 409 was long gone when I purchased it,I put a 396 out of a65 SS in it with 4 speed and 488 posi rear end loved that car.i now have a 63 SS 327 car I am restoring can’t wait to drive it.
I purchased a tired and well-worn 1963 Chevrolet SS Impala convertible in the mid 80’s when I returned back home from the military. I fixed it up as I drove it daily. I still have that car today. It resides in my barn with an assortment of other interesting vehicles. I always enjoyed the stock look and styling of these linear cruisers, so that became the theme with the exception of adding front wheel, power boosted disc brakes. The outside body paint color is Chevrolet Cordovan brown with a beige convertible top. The interior upholstery is Saddle tan. The original 327 engine and 2spd. Powerglide are still with the car, both having been freshened up. The origiginal SS hubcaps still highlight the original 14″ steel wheels. The Rochester 4barrel carburetor has been freshened up and delivers the proper mixture as it was designed to. The key stays in the ignition when parked, and with a slight turn to the right is engaged for flight along the coastal highways of northern California. Continue to innovate not duplicate.
My 63 Impala SS was left in the not so loving hands of my (then) fiancé when I went to Vietnam in 1970. About 6 months into my deployment, she writes to tell me that the “red light thingy on the dash went on”. She was 75 miles from home, so she decided to just drive faster to get home. Needless to say, it threw a rod. Idiot lights don’t work on idiots. Another reason I never married her.
An SS427 was also available on 1966 Impalas
The ’63 Impala S?S are one of my favorites & this one looks great! The only change I would make is putting in a 4sp instead of the auto.
A 63 should have an alternator. 62 was the last year for a generator, at least on a passenger car. The alternator on this car is a 70’s vintage internal regulator unit mounted on the passenger’s side. A 63 small block should have an external voltage regulator and the alternator mounts high on the driver’s side. The mount is part of the driver’s side exhaust manifold.
The ’63 is one of my favorite Impalas. To say these are too big is like saying a Packard is too luxurious! It is what it is, and that’s great. If you want a race car, build a Nova or Camaro… if you want an awesome road cruiser, the Impala is hard to beat. Mine was an SS that came with a small-block & Powerglide. I re-powered it with a ’70 454, an M-20 4 speed and a 3.08 posi rear end with L-60/15’s. That car could bury the needle! I drove it from Chicago to Boston, then to Long Beach, Ca. then to Portland OR. where it was stolen. I’ll never forget that car!
Who ever took that video ought to be shot, it was dizzying. The motor looks like it could be a late 60’s or early 70’s judging by the air cleaner, pcv, long water pump, ETC, numbers off the pad would help to identify it further. The body doesnt look too bad, those rocker mouldings don’t look too bad, thinking back I think the SS had skinny ones. The tach isnt a factory tach and if you look close the needle is stuck on the extreme right almost out of view, the housing is factory correct tho, in the video the tach was not working & what was the red flashing idiot light behind it on the cluster for ? And yes a 4 speed would be the icing on the cake,,,,but beggers cant be choosers.
Engine is definately some early 70s SB. On one of the engine pics we can see the integrated alternator bracket exhaust manifold Camaro Joe mentions above – and no PS in an X-frame…?!? The tach housing itself is correct, but the face is probably some period parts store tach.
It’s obviously a factory 4spd car, and why anyone would convert a 4spd Impala to slush box (not even a TH gen tranny!) is beyond my understanding. This is a nice starting point that will (and should) be easily improved. It’s sad paintwork looks so sloppy and this hue is not this car’s original hue. It was born with Silver Blue (912) exterior and Blue vinyl seat (843) indicating it’s a true SS
Maybe they can’t push a clutch in anymore.
That’s true Howard, and would be the only reason I’d understand why anyone would do such a conversion. At a July 4th cruise some years back I stumbled upon an enthusiast who was in a wheel chair paralyzed from the hips down. That didn’t stop him from enjoying his ’65 Impala SS with slush box. It was converted to motorcycle style throttle and brake controls, apart from those anomalies it was a very nice stock looking cruiser
I have seen when googled 1963 impala’s with that molding below the doors so unless a bunch of owners decided to add that I would think it was some kind of package you could get. just google 1963 impala ss and look at all the pictures and you will see others with that molding. just fyi
I’ve never given those moldings much thought mainly because my own ’64 SS don’t have them and I find the car much cleaner without. It appears those ‘sill moldings'(as GM called them) were a dealer installed accessory for ’62 Chevs but also found their way onto many ’63-’64 cars – probably a way for dealers to spiff up the looks as these late X-frames are extremely clean from the factory.
Apparently they were/are a popular add-on as they’re being reproduced today. They’re offered by several Impala parts vendors as ’61-’64 Impala rocker moldings though strictly speaking correct for ’62 only
I like 63 SS Impala’s. Friend of one of my older cousins has a darker red 63 with a 409 4 speed, what a beast that was! I got a chance to ride in it a couple of times and if you weren’t ready, it would throw you all over the place. I don’t remember it having any passenger restraints in it other than grabbing onto the seat back or arm rests.
This one IMO looks like it could be a good starting point for the right person with the right talent and money to make it happen.
I had a 63 when I was 17 years old. A 327 300 hp with a 3-speed on the column . The great thing about that car other than drag racing across the dam was the big front bench seat. Great car and a lot of fun.