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409/4-Speed: 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS

This 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS has a lot of positive attributes. Not only does it still feature its numbers-matching drivetrain, but it has a genuine 26,000 miles on the clock. Barn Finder Pat L has had the radar working overtime to spot this beauty, so thank you so much for that, Pat. The owner has decided to part with the SS, so he has listed it for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the asking price for this piece of motoring magnificence is $75,000.

If I could provide one piece of advice to sellers of cars like this, it would be to ensure that they use high-quality photos in their listing. Don’t adjust your eyes here because those shots really are that grainy. However, they do show an Impala that is finished in Monaco Blue and Ermine White. It is a brilliant color combination, and it serves to accentuate the Impala’s 18′ of overall length. While the photos aren’t great, the paint seems to have an excellent shine to it. I can’t spot any defects or dings, and there is no mention of rust problems in the listing. If the SS has spent most of its life in sunny Nevada, there is the chance that it has managed to remain rust-free. The trim and chrome appear promising, as does the glass. The Impala has been fitted with aftermarket wheels, and whether these stay or go will be a call that the buyer will need to make.

This Impala isn’t just a numbers-matching car, but it should offer the buyer an enjoyable and rewarding driving experience. What the buyer will be getting for their money will be a 409ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, power steering, and power brakes. It isn’t clear which version of the 409 we’re looking at here, but it could be producing either 340 or 400hp. Even with the lower figure, this is a big car with a stout heart that should be capable of covering the ¼ mile in 15.1 seconds. If it is the more powerful motor, that figure drops to 14.6 seconds. However, neither figure is anything to be ashamed of, and both stack up well in a car of this size. The owner says that the SS runs and drives very well and that he has just treated it to new brakes. The removed components are claimed to be the original factory items, which could be correct if the claim that the Impala has a genuine 26,000 miles is accurate. The owner doesn’t indicate whether he holds verifying evidence for the mileage claim, so that’s a question for potential buyers to ask.

When I got to this photo of the Impala’s interior, I admit that I have been scratching my head a bit. The first thing to note is that apart from some gauges under the dash, it appears to be original and unmolested. The factory pushbutton radio is present, as is the cool factory tach. The upholstery is free from rips and splits, but there is a significant stain on the driver’s seat. It would be worth having this checked by a professional detailer because it would be a shame to replace the cover because of this one issue. It is hard to be sure from the supplied photos, but the rest of the trim and the dash look like they are in decent condition. However, it is the missing components that have me scratching my head. The speaker frame and grille are gone from the back seat, and if replacements are required, that will cost approximately $200. The horn ring and emblem are missing from the wheel, so the buyer can wave goodbye to another $100. It looks like some of the handles and other pieces are missing from the passenger door, and while none of the items that we’re talking about will cost a fortune, they all add up in a car that is a long way from being cheap.

I’ve been sitting here contemplating this 1963 Impala SS and examining the information that the owner supplies in this listing. One of the photos is a screenshot of the NADA online valuation of the car, and I’m surprised that he included it. This shows a valuation of $47,300 plus an additional $950 for the transmission. However, it cuts off the vital information about the 409 V8, giving potential buyers a false impression that the Impala is worth considerably less than the listed price. Values on these have taken a substantial hit over the past 3-years, and they have dropped by around 25% across the board. They are beginning to show signs that this trend might be reversing, but if it is, it’s making slow progress. Whether they will reach or surpass their old levels is hard to say, and that is a gamble that some potential buyers will need to consider when assessing this car. It’s in Las Vegas, and it’s a gamble, but would you stake your money on it to be a winner?

Comments

  1. Avatar Luke Fitzgerald

    Brilliant photography – just fuzzy enough neither to confirm or deny the claims – can see a nice period correct air cleaner tho’

    Like 13
    • Avatar JEFFERY

      Almost looks like the images were taken thru a screen years ago. Very odd…

      Like 2
      • Avatar John S Dressler

        Dear Jeff,

        As someone with a bit of photography experience, I can tell you that these photos are not grainy as has been suggested. They were taken with a camera that had what’s called a “decorative filter” attached to the lens.

        Since most of us when taking photos of cars we want to sell usually make images as clear as we can to highlight the best attributes of the car, I suspect the only reason to photograph a special car in this way would be to hide some of its shortcomings.

        Like 5
  2. Avatar Steve R

    It’s always a good sales technique to take a picture of a price guide, then mark up your asking price by more 60% over its listed retail high.

    Steve R

    Like 17
  3. Avatar tphaff

    This seller is as shape as a Bowling Ball, fuzzy pics, non-factory parts on the car, missing parts, and priced like he’s at Barret Jackson’s action.

    Like 18
  4. Avatar Connecticut Mark

    These are pictures of photos I think. This may be a scam.

    Like 19
    • Avatar Larry

      Good call. As well, area code 960 in the pictures is in North Carolina.

      Like 8
  5. Avatar CCFisher

    Those are photos of images on a monitor. Odds are, this listing is totally bogus and someone is about to lose a large deposit.

    Like 16
  6. Avatar Fred W

    “Well, I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes….”

    And then they were gone.

    Like 6
  7. Avatar Joe Machado

    This is a scam. I picked up this 409 about a year ago and now resides here in the desert.
    Pictures are taken from a computer screen.

    Like 23
  8. Avatar A.G.

    One of the images includes a telephone number suggesting this car was previously for sale in CO. The boy-racer gear (auxiliary gauges, air cleaner, wheels etc.) along with the missing trim and hardware question the claimed mileage.

    Is this really an SS? According to GM engineering documents 1963’s RPO Z03 would have bucket seats instead of a bench. Floor-shifted M20/21 and PG transmissions would be shifted from a center console.

    Too many red flags.

    Like 11
    • Avatar Gregparish

      Agree. My 63 SS had bucket seats with floor shifter in console. Pretty sure all SS’s were built this way regardless of engine size.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Mayham

    Why, just, why, does everyone have to have a picture of the car on a trailer? Always baffled me. Just to show, – you’re a flipper?

    Like 0
  10. Avatar 64 Bonneville

    I think this is the same car I came across on a website about 4 years ago. Car was in Minnesota, with a $22,500 asking price.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar JP

    I’ll keep waiting & saven my pennies & saven my dimes!

    Like 0
  12. Avatar JCA

    The pic under the tree has been PhotoShopped. You can see the same faint white mark twice, once on the the real tree and another time on the copy that was pasted beside it.

    Like 2
  13. Avatar JCA

    The last pic under the tree has been PhotoShopped I believe.

    Like 2
  14. Avatar Francisco Andrade

    Big money for A 63 Chevy that may not even be the 425 HP version. The Grainy pictures and other inconsistencies others have mentioned should make you think twice.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar Naptown Mark

    That’s it. My last will and testament will explicitly forbid the next stewards of all my cars from ‘upgrading’ to stupid air cleaners.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Jcs

    Barn Finds readers bust another scam. Nice.

    Of course, the Craigslist listing is still up, actively lurking for victims.

    Like 2
  17. Avatar m. stewart

    had a 63 409..340hp and didn’t have an air cleaner like that…this post is b.s.!

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Gary

    Yeah , and then the seller work up 🤣

    Like 0

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