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Big Barn Find: 1968 Chevrolet Impala

UPDATE 05/23/2023: If there is one character trait I admire in a person, it is persistence. That appears to be one possessed by the owner of this 1968 Chevrolet Impala as they make their third attempt to find it a new home. It reached $8,800 off the back of moderate bidding last time, which was short of the reserve. If you thought you’d missed your chance to own this gentle giant, fate has given you another shot. The details remain the same, with the Impala listed here on eBay. Bidding sits below the reserve at $7,100, but there is a BIN option of $15,500. It will be fascinating to see whether it will be the third time lucky for this seller or if it will be three strikes and they’re out.

04/13/2023: Mistakes happen, which appears to be true with this 1968 Chevrolet Impala. However, the seller’s mistake could be good fortune for potential buyers. After their listing went live, they attempted to lower the reserve. The system prohibited that, so they canceled the original auction and relisted it here on eBay.

04/07/2023: One of the most successful cars of the 1960s was the full-size Chevrolet Impala. It topped the sales charts in 1965, even besting the new Ford Mustang, although they applied to different audiences. This 1968 Impala in the sleek fastback body style is numbers matching, but it’s going to need an extreme makeover to recover some of its spent youth. This classic Chevrolet is available on eBay in North Augusta, South Carolina.

The Impala pushed sales of full-size Chevies past the one million mark in 1965, a feat that has not since been repeated (to the best of my knowledge). More than 803,000 Impalas were produced in 1965 (excluding the Super Sport and Caprice), but dropped by 19% in 1966 and by another 12% in 1967 before rebounding nicely to 711,000 copies in 1968, the year our seller’s Impala rolled out of the factory.

Like so many others, it is equipped with a 327 cubic-inch V8, automatic transmission, and even factory air conditioning. We’re told the seller has owned this car for at least five years. They will attempt to get it running again because it doesn’t move in its current state. Before their purchase, the prior owner acquired the machine in 1997 with a reported 15,000 miles on the odometer. Just 4,000 more were added before it went idle for whatever reason.

It even lived in a barn for some 20 years. At a minimum, to get it going again, new manifolds will be needed, and the seller has those on order. Besides the manifold work and a new battery, you’ll likely need to work on the fuel delivery system and rebuild the carburetor. After this, the seller thinks it will fire up. We’re told the car has minimal rust, but the blue-ish paint could certainly stand a refresh.

The interior may clean up to a large extent, but the carpeting may be beyond what a vacuum cleaner can cure. It sports Chevy Rally wheels, but you’ll have to bring at least two with you mounted with tires, as the front pair are on loan to the seller. If you’re a fan of 4th generation Impalas, does this look like a project you’d be itching to get to?

Comments

  1. Avatar Autoworker

    Having a hard time with the 19,000 mile claim. Looks like she’s had a front clip at one point in her life.

    Like 39
    • Avatar Sean

      Agreed. That odometer has rolled over once.

      Like 25
      • Avatar Raoul-F

        Rooled over at least one time. The wear suggests that. My 66 Impala SS, 283 with Powerglide had more than 180.000 on the clock but was in much better shape..

        Like 2
    • Avatar Greg

      19,000 miles is a tall claim indeed. Having said that, one thing that I think works in his favor is that the lower right and corner of the brake pedal, as far as I can see, is not visibly worn. Usually in 119,000 miles, that corner will have a bit of wear visible.
      Just my two cents.

      Like 22
      • Avatar Sam

        That piece of rubber cost about $5.00 at any parts house I delivered many to many car lots when I was a parts driver

        Like 10
    • Avatar Alan Volk

      A possible front clip may help explain the 19,0000 claim.

      Like 1
  2. Avatar Zen

    Still, if it has good bones, it’ll be worth restoring and really neat to have. This one’s power brakes and factory A/C are more than I had in my 66 Impala, and one of the reasons I eventually sold it.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Hank

      not at that price.

      Like 3
  3. Avatar Bud Lee

    Was it 19,000 miles through a sand storm? I like the car, but do not trust odometers or odometer cables.

    Like 7
  4. Avatar Ray M

    Brings back memories, had a 68 Impala custom, squared off roof line, not the fastback. Gum metal gray, white vinyl top, white interior with factory 8 track player. It had a 275 hp 327, turbo 400, and a 12 bolt, ps, pb, a/c. The car drove and rode nice, but they were a tank, the car got rear ended and the only damage to our 68 was a broken taillight,and much damage to the other cars front end. Wish I still had that car. This one seems like it’s going to go for more than it’s really worth, I do agree I think it’s turned over once mileage wise. If someone is going to buy it fix it up and drive it, they might do ok for what they may pay for it, but if they want to flip it I don’t think they are going to do so well. Just my opinion.

    Like 5
    • Avatar 8banger Member

      Gum Metal, heh…

      Like 1
      • Avatar Robert Holt

        Yeah I believe that was a special order color… but seriously, the odometer quandary is troubling, I finally found a car on here that I’d really like to buy, because I’ve always loved the Impalas, and this one was made the same year I was. Hmm, aside from the worn brake pedal, where’s another good spot to identify that it has either 19,000 or something way north of that? I looked at a 76 Jeep once and the guy tried his best to convince me that it only had 48,000 miles on it, but it was nearly impossible to keep in the road, it smoked, and the right bottom corner of the brake pedal was sanded smooth with no rubber left on it. I asked if he was sure it hadn’t rolled over, because it didn’t have another digit on the odometer. He firmly stuck to his guns, so I thanked him for the ride, and bid him a good day…

        Like 0
  5. Avatar Gord

    Maggy. Not sure what you mean when you say your car is a cc not an sc. Great car by the way and I would be hesitant to give it up.

    Like 5
    • Avatar maggy

      custom coupe.

      Like 4
  6. Avatar Dan Almashy

    Looks good to me. I’ve seen some with less miles. As far as paint and rubber stuff. Age takes a toll on cars. I have an 85 with 8100 miles. A friend of mine has a 70 with 22k miles on it.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Timmyt

    I just sold a 68 sports roof,tripoli blue,396 325 horse factory air numbers car $4,000

    Like 4
  8. Avatar Bj

    Looks like the front end was protected from the sun better than the A pillar rearward

    Like 0
  9. Avatar George

    The interior sure looks likes it reflects a low mileage car. There is no wear and the dash is pristine. The carpet looks good as well. The headliner and rear shelf are in the worst shape. As for the shelf, vinyl covered fiberboard will do that.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar WaltL

    Comes with a full tank of gas!

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Gregory Mason

    When I met my wife in early 1970 she had a 68 impala custom coupe. Cream color with a black vinyl top and black interior. It had a 427 and a AM FM radio with separate controls under the dash. She bought it from the local Chevy dealer. Wish we still had it.

    Like 3
  12. Avatar Hank

    not at that price.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Chris Cornetto

    Just another overpriced whatever. The local pull-a-part has one right now they just placed in death row, only in green with black interior. 327 400 th with factory ac, ps, and pb. The dash and inside are just as nice. I took the black factory floor mats from it for one of my 60s or 70s Chevies. One thing I love about so-called car people (some) they can’t even get it off the raggy car trailer or rollback and clean it before the big looky here get it quick sales blitz. There is quite a bit of work to be done before you even know what you have. The brakes, fuel system, tank, and a wealth of other stuff is going to be crap on this, oh yeah for the 16k bring your own tires and rims. Even at the insane 12k current bid which will likely end with a no show as many do, the loose lug that gets this will have 30 plus grand in a car that in reality is worth 15 tops imo. Then there is the 19,000 mile claim, sorry that car for being in the south is way too grungy in certain places. The interiors hold up quite well in these especially if it was under roof and does have tinted glass. A small block no frills two door car, walk away there are nice fish to be had. Don’t let the two door chevy black hole suck you in.

    Like 5
  14. Avatar Demonsteve

    If you believe this car only has 19,000 miles then you are probably one of the bidders, a towel over the dash will protect it but take a good look at the undercarriage, don’t know about you but I see signs of rust and is that a engine compartment of a 19000 mile vehicle, maybe if it was parked with the hood open, oh and don’t forget its all original . Good luck to the buyer.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Dave

      There are 4 pics of the bottom of the car and one pic of the floor with carpet peeled back in the ad. The underside looks practically new, the top side of the floor has a few pimples of rust. As far as the price goes, I see alot of astonishment here, but no offers.

      Like 0
  15. Avatar Cooter914 Member

    My thoughts are maybe crazier than all y’all. I think it had a vinyl roof that was removed and they tried to blend paint from the trim up. The front clip lines up awfully well to have been replaced. Like others, I think the rest of the car might just show 19K of wear and weird storage. 🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️. Anyone else??

    Like 1
  16. Avatar stephen

    Had a 68 convertible 307ci–paint looked old & faded in 78– would rate only OK over all– had 66 model previously w/ 327 ran better–not a car I’d pay that kind of money for in that condition

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Big Bear 🇺🇸

    Ok.. the seller has been trying to find a new home for it. If it was me I would clean it up front to back . All the leaves and junk removed and clean up the engine the best it can get. Clean and vacuum the interior. Also the truck. Also wax the metal to show how nice the color is up front. And I bet it would be sold a lot faster. I done this in the past and it never failed me. 🐻🇺🇸

    Like 1
  18. Avatar ACZ

    Way too much “patina” and not enough engine for the money.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Big C

    When you see the toy hauler and the race car trailers scattered around his place? You know he’s going full price on this Impeller.

    Like 1

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