396/4-Speed! 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS

There was a time in the ’60s and ’70s when you couldn’t have pitched a horseshoe without hitting a Chevrolet Impala. They were everywhere! Part of the reason for the Impala’s tremendous sales success was the fact that it held something for everyone. While four-door sedans were the most common,  there were four-door hardtops, two-door hardtops, two-door hardtop “Customs” (formal roofline), two-door sedans (briefly), two-door convertibles, and six or nine-passenger station wagons. The exciting versions, however, were those marked as SS (Super Sport) models like this ’67 example, located in Gerlaw, Illinois and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,000. Thanks to Will H. for this tip!

The Impala SS is a curious tale. It was introduced as a sporty option on the ’61 model and it was a true performance variant. Required were either a 348 CI or the later available 409 CI V8 engine (all above 300 gross HP), four-speed manual transmission (except with the lowest performance engine), heavy-duty suspension, sintered metallic brakes and SS badging. The real twist is that the SS package was available on two or four-door hardtops and convertibles as well. In 1962, the SS option was reduced to an appearance package i.e. badging, trim, bucket seats, center console, special wheel covers, items as such. The big performance engines, four-speed manual transmissions and H.D. suspensions were still available but they were options, not standard on SS equipped models. Actually, a six-cylinder engine was the base engine in a SS equipped Impala just as it was in any Impala. This trend continued through the end of the SS Impala’s initial run in ’68. There was a different, performance version of the Impala referred to as SS427, built between ’67 and ’69, but that’s a different car and a different discussion for a different day. Of note, the Impala SS was actually an individual model, recognizable by its VIN between ’64 and ’67. In ’68, it reverted to being a regular production option as it had been from ’61 to ’63.

When I spied the listing for this ’67 SS, I had to take a closer look as I have bookended it by owning both a ’66 and a ’68 so this ’67 warranted an investigation. Right out of the gate, this Impala, according to its VIN, is a “6887” so it is, in fact, a ’67 Impala V8 equipped SS model. The listing rates it as being in “poor” condition and I would have to concur. Any way you cut it, these are rust buckets if domiciled in the wrong climate. In addition to my ’66 and ’68, I had a ’69 for a while and that was the worst of the three – disappearing fenders on that baby! You can’t really tell from the small images but the lower left quarter and the leading edge of the hood have some of their own attrition occurring. The finish appears to be original. The trim tag on this Lordstown produced Chevy indicates the paint code as “M” which is “Royal Plum” or purple. These are not encountered often and it’s a bit remarkable to find a 53-year-old example still wearing it. Another nice inclusion is that all of the unique Impala SS trim and wheel covers are still present – rare to find one of these where that’s the case. The frames on these “B” bodies, which are essentially the same from ’65 to ’70, have their own corrosion proclivities so it’s worth a deep dive on that aspect of this SS as well.  One last exterior observation is the presence of the cool “crossed-flag” 396 Turbo-Jet emblems located on both front fenders; this was the third and final year for their use and it’s nice to see this Impala still wearing them.

Speaking of the 396 Turbo-Jet, that’s what resides under the hood of this SS. I did a decode on the engine pad I.D. and it is in fact a 396 CI, 325 HP engine V8, cast at Tonawanda, New York two weeks before this Impala’s third week of December ’66 production date. I can make out three of the sequence numbers and they match the car’s VIN, so I would say it is the original, matching number engine. How’s it run? Don’t really know as the seller claims that it “will run for a second”. That could mean a whole lot of things but at least it’s a start. I can tell you from experience that this L35, 325 HP engine will move a Camaro or a Chevelle in style; not so much so in an Impala, the car is just too heavy. It will move out in respectable form but not firebrand muscle car kind of motivation. One huge advantage, in this case, is the inclusion of the Muncie four-speed manual transmission, that will seriously help with forward progression while upping the fun factor. As an aside, there were two automatic transmissions offered as well in ’67, the ultimate Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic and the unenthusiastic two-speed Powerglide automatic. The Powerglide was, in fact, the standard automatic behind the 396 engine through the ’68 model year. I don’t know why but it was.

Moving inside, we view a trashed interior with very questionable floors. It appears to be complete with bucket seats and center console but it will require a major overhaul. Barring the floors, it’s not really that big a deal as all of the interior components for this vintage Impala are available from one of many different suppliers. The seller claims that this Chevy also has a factory tachometer, a very nice touch!

By ’67 the Camaro was out of the bag and the SS396 Chevelle was ascendent so interest in full-size performance cars started to understandably wane. The aforementioned SS427 option was an attempt to jolt that flagging interest but it ultimately failed and after ’69, Chevrolet was out of the full-size “B” body performance realm until the mid-nineties with the reintroduction of the Impala SS sedan. This Impala needs a lot of work but I’ve seen worse brought back to life and this example appears to be a good foundation for just such a project. You would be amazed at what you can still buy at most known retail auto parts stores for one of these. I’m not going to go for a hat trick with this Impala but maybe there’s some interest out there in breathing new life into this one-time important segment of domestic muscle car history. Might you be that individual?