1961 was the first year of the 3rd-generation Impala. Introduced in 1958 and undergoing major revisions each of the following few years, this example is quite a bit different from those made just a few years before. This car is running and driving, although it will need some work to ensure it stays on the road for years to come. It can be found for sale here on eBay in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bidding is currently at $27,000 but the reserve is not yet met.
While the SS (Super Sport) trim may be well-known today as Chevy’s performance package, it was first introduced as an official full sport and appearance package on the 1961 Impala. It included Super Sport trim for the interior and exterior, a reinforced chassis, upgraded springs and shocks, and a few other items. It also included a 7000-rpm tach mounted on the steering column. Chevrolet built 491,000 Impalas in 1961, of which 453 had the SS package. I couldn’t find how many were built with the bubble top, but either way this is a rare car!
This Impala SS has a fun powertrain – a 409 engine and 4-speed manual transmission. The current owner thinks this car originally came with a 348 engine, with a year-correct 409 swapped in later. It should be making 360 hp and 409 lb-ft of torque. Car and Driver tested it back in the day and reported a 0-60mph time of 6.7 seconds. That’s pretty fast now, and was even more impressive for 1961. The engine and transmission are reported to be in good working order and the car steers well, but the brakes could use some work.
The photos of the exterior and interior make this car look good. Red on red with lots of chrome is always a win. But, the owner says there are many areas of rust that will need to be fixed. A few areas that are highlighted are bubbling on the rocker panels, holes in the trunk, and missing welds around the new floor pan. There are also apparent sheet metal and frame repairs done at some point in the car’s history that are below-average quality, so that should be addressed as well. Inside, the seat covers appear to be the only significant item to replace – everything else looks as if a good cleaning is all that’s needed. Overall, a solid candidate for a relatively rare car that has some special features that will make it fun to drive for its next owner.
Love this car. What a gorgeous color combo. Often I get annoyed with the “it’s gotta be stock crowd”. In this case I’m gonna be in agreement. I’d love to see this restored. What a piece of history. Us modified guys can find a less significant example to hot rod. Birth of the Super Sport? You bet.
Make it safe, clean it up and drive!
Any drag racers here able to estimate the acceleration on a set of modern DOT-legal drag radials?
Probably mid to high 13’s all depends on the condition of the motor rear gear ,etc. and being a 4 speed with the factory shifter how fast you can shift it, that spaghetti shifter is not known for quick power shifts
Love the car. I’m surprised that I’ve not seen this car around town at one time or another. I go to a fair number of car shows and this is one I’ve not seen.
I thought that in 61 the SS package was a bucket seat int ? Anyone know ?
No, the SS package in 61 came with the standard Impala bench seat. It wasn’t until 62, that the SS got bucket seats and a full length console.
In 61, the SS was a trim package that could be ordered on any 61 Impala, including the wagon and 4 door. Included with the SS package were full wheel covers with spinners, a padded dash with an SS badged grab bar, SS hood, trunk lid and rear quarter panel emblems, and a small stainless “console” when a manual trans was ordered. I don’t believe the Sun tach came with the SS package unless a 348 or 409 and a manual trans were ordered too. I’m not sure that’s a real 61 tach though. I know that in 62, the Sun tach’s that Chevrolet used had a redline on them, but I don’t remember right now if 61’s also had a redline.
The Impala SS brochure clearly states that the SS package is available on any Impala. However, the Impala-level wagon was called the Nomad, so what does that mean as far as SS availability? Are you aware of Nomads built with the SS package?
Buckets made their debut in SS ‘palas ’62
1961 SS Impalas did not have buckets. 1962 was the first year.
Dont think the 409 was available at all till ’62?
Only the “61 SS had bucket seats and you could get the optional 409 360 HP engine. Missing from picture are the SS hubcaps??
If I remember correctly they didn’t come up with the buckets until 62
Insanely cool car. Sympathetic restoration and enjoy it.
With 453 SS’s made 60 years back, it’s almost shocking there are still unrestored specimens left. The ’61 happens to be my favorite ‘pala too – and this comes from a ’64 SS owner
This one has floors and quarters replaced. Tough to declare this a real 409 SS without documentation unless you really know these cars.
The seller think, the car had a 348, later installed the 409.
The seller actually says that they think it was originally a 348 car. Documenting a true 409 car would be really hard, as you say. From what I know, you can probably figure out if it was *likely* a true factory SS, but even that is tough. Dealers installed the package, too.
You have my favorite!
Even if you found it wasn’t a legit SS, that’s a beautiful car. My Dad had one new in 61 and and owned 3 others through the years. Bucket list car for me.
With 453 Impala SSs built and 142 factory-installed 409s, this would be a lot more expensive if some documentation existed that showed to be an original SS and/or 409. It’s unfortunate that Chevrolet didn’t indicate engine in the serial number, other than 6 or V8.
Interesting tidbit: the Impala SS brochure issued when the model was announced featured a sport sedan.
OK, so it’s an authentic “SS”, but without a number-matching 409 and patch panels for the quarters installed It won’t have quite the value it would if all original. I would believe it had a 348 originally simply based on the ratio built.
(453 vs. 142)
My understanding is that the 409 was introduced in 1962. A friend’s father bought one and the son was allowed to take it out occasionally. With a 4-speed it did some lurid hookups when shifted under power. What fun!
No, the 409 was introduced in ’61, and the SS package was, too. Both are far more rare in ’61 than later years though.
Mid year introduction, 142 cars so equipped from what I read.
SOLD for $30, 100
Might not even be a real factory SS. If I remember correctly the SS trim was being sold as an aftermarket dealer installed option as well in ‘61. As for the 409 on this particular car it sais right in the article it’s not original to this car.
I had a early 61 it had a 348 350 Hp the 409 came out late in 61
All 409 ha a specific casting number for the year. Since there are so few correct year 409 blocks in 61—142 —-this was probably a 348 car, like mine 348-350 HP mechanical cam, tri power dripper valve covers , deep groove pulleys, dual points, 2 1/2 exhaust manifolds idler pulley in place of power steering.
Why do they mention that they do not know how many were bubble tops? I thought in 61 all 2 door hard tops had that roofline.62 they changed the Impulse to the other roofline And I don’t remember them being called bubble tops till years later.People knew the difference between Impala ,Bellaire and Biscayne.
I have a 61 SS. The SS option I believe required a 348 or 409. Mine has the base 348 (250 HP). What I always look for other than the stuff previously mentioned, which is correct, is the extra bumper piece in front with the lever handle to pull to open the hood. and the rear vertical bumper guards. Rare accessories available from Chevrolet but standard on a true SS.
I worked with a guy in the early ‘70’s at a Chevrolet dealership. He owned a ‘61 SS and was missing one piece for the SS. He searched high and low for about 1yr. and finally procured the piece. He paid an ungodly price for the piece, but had no choice. They were rare back in the day.
Thats how I got to be a chevy guy, Two brand new 1961 chevy 409 4 speeds on my block. i was 14 at the timeBoy did those cars run.One was all blue and the other one was all black
Back in July 1970 when I was 17 I got a job at a supermarket in Southern California. I needed a car to go back and forth to work and school. My Dad’s coworker was selling his 1962 white Chevrolet Bel Air station wagon for $200. My Dad and I went to look at it in Culver City near where I lived in Santa Monica. The car had a 409 with factory A/C, PS, automatic power glide, and PB. I didn’t realize what a great and popular engine the 409 was. The checkered flags with 409 under them gave it away. The power glide automatic didn’t provide great power off the line, but once it got going and you punched it, it really took off. The wagon only had 60K miles when I got it and 107K miles when I sold it in 1975. Fun car to work on and drive! Sold it for $500 not realizing how valuable it would become!
Stop the madness ! It’s a 1961 GM hard top – the only hardtop GM had – not yet it should be considered a bubble top !
In 1962 GM offered two different hardtops – which one would be called the “bubble” top.
Bel-Air, Impala had the formal convertible style roof
Yes in 1962.
When I was many years younger a neighbor had one of these, 61 or 62. It had chrome exhaust ports in the side rear fenders and she called it a Super Stock option. I thought I had also read about this option at a later time but can find no info stating this. Any of you knowledgeable Chevy guys able to fill me in?
We didn’t wee many of these in the UK
We didn’t see many of these in the UK, but the one we did see was an Impala SS driven by Dan Gurney at the the British Empire Trophy Race at Silverstone in May 1961. It was stellar quick and scared the s*** out of the all dominant 3.8 litre Jaguar Mk IIs and was on its way to a definite win until a rear wheel collapsed. It was said to be a Police Spec vehicle with a 409 ci V8 outputting 360 or maybe 435 bhp from iuts 6.7 litres. The British couildn’t hack that and had the car banned from future National and International events.
So tired of 61’s being called bubble-tops.
I restored and sold a 1964 SS Impala and it was both an extensive and expensive project. This 61 with questionable upgrades and no factory AC brackets and manifold on the replacement 409 engine makes the $27,000 price an extremely costly car
According to Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930 to 2006 The 409 was released on December 17th, 1960.
https://musclecars.howstuffworks.com/classic-muscle-cars/1961-chevrolet-impala-ss-409.htm
For the ’61 Impala guys here, how many of you have seen a 2dr post model Impala? I would think of it as a Sport Coupe but not sure what the Chevy lineup called it.. Rare then and I would think today it is mighty rare.
My Brother bought one back in about 2001, stored it several months then thanks to local County reg’s lost place to keep it, sold it to keep the peace now kicks himself for selling it. True Impala post car Burgundy on same if I recall.
I have an original 1961 new car booklet that shows an optional roofline for the 1961 Impala that is the same as the 1962 “coach” roof. Not to say any were made.