Chevrolet’s full-size cars were redesigned for 1961, losing the tailfins that had dominated the cars’ styling the prior two years. The Impala was once again the top-of-the-line model and a popular choice was the 2-door Sport Coupe, sometimes referred to as a “bubbletop” given the amount of glass surrounding the roof. We’re told this ’61 Impala is an original car except for some rust and mechanical repairs the seller has made. It still needs some more effort but should be dependable to tool around in. Located in St. Charles, Illinois, this Chevy is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $15,800.
The platform designed for the 1961 full-size Chevies would serve the cars through 1965 when the Impala itself would top the one million mark in a single year’s sales. In those days, Chevrolet did not track production by series but by body style, so the Sport Coupe (aka Bubbletop) saw nearly 178,000 copies built in ’61. That was the second-best-selling body style, right behind the family 4-door sedan. We’re told the seller’s Impala has seen just 60,000 miles because it was in storage for 50 years beginning in 1969.
When the seller acquired the car, he started working on rust issues. He replaced the floors under the front and rear seats along with the rocker panels. At a minimum, rust continues to be present at least in the rear quarters. Since spare used fenders are coming with the deal, it’s safe to assume those could be a problem area, too. The interior looks nice, and the carpeting is brand new, replaced when the floorboards were.
Though the 283 cubic inch V8 paired with a Powerglide automatic is said to run well, some other mechanical areas required attention. The brakes, exhaust, and fuel system have all been refurbished along with some of the suspension pieces. The battery is new as are the tires and aftermarket rims, although the stock wheel covers were retained.
The seller has documentation to accompany the car along with an appraisal from mid-2021 that says the Chevy is worth about $14,000. The bidding has already gone past that. This looks like a sold Impala that would look great with new white over Fawn Beige paint once the remaining rust gremlins are dealt with.
This is one really nice looking Chevrolet!
I have to agree it does look nice especially for it’s age.
My favorites are the 59-60’s, but this is a very desirable car as well. It’s so nice to see an engine not encumbered by vacuum lines, and all the rest that was to come. Simpler times if you had no gas or no spark, and that’s why you could still work on your own car. I know things have change, but I don’t have to like it. This color combination fits this car.
“The platform designed for the 1961 full-size Chevies would serve the cars through 1965…”
That should be through 1964, not 1965. The ’65 was new and had a new frame. And if you look at how similar the ’66 is to the ’65 it’s obvious they are on the same platform so how could the the ’61 platform end with the ’65 models?
Absolutely correct tiger66. The 1965 platform got rid of the x frame and ran through 1970.
I drove a ’61 Impala convert through college and as our wedding car. Loved it. Another one rusted away. Great car.
61 last year with inadequate inner front fenders. Here in Northeast tops of fenders rusted out and headlights too…fell out. I owned 2 62s and problem was addressed by GM.
This is a problem that could easily be solved by taking off the front fenders and using them for molds to make new fenders from fiberglass or graphic epoxy to eliminate the rust problem. As good as modern paints are the will still fail over time and I suspect that there is enough of a market to make this profitable.
With most designs there is a sweet spot where the makers get it totally right and then they change it as part of a marketing scheme. This is one of the cars that Chevy got just right. Not too big, not too small, totally useful giving the technology of the day.
Nice looking 61 Impala bubble top. Didn’t Chevy introduce the Impala SS in 1961 as well with the 409 option? And was that year SS also considered a bubble top? I’m trying to determine if bubble tops were one or two yr only. 61 and 62. This 61Impala looks so different than the 59-60 and especially the 1964 design. I know they changed the frame or platform in 1965. Anyway Great find.
For your answer just Google search bubble top Bel Air/ images. At least on other GM division used the same roofline for their full sized cars.
Steve R
Bubble was 1961 ,plus a few 62’s (probably using left over 61 parts ).They are all beautiful ,but I prefer the 62 front end.
You are right 61 Impala’s and 62 Bel Aires used this top the 62’s were done because there were a lot of left over 61 tops so rather than scrapping them Chevy installed them on the 62 Bell Aire which was also the preferred body style for Super Stock racing I had a 61 Impala 348 4sp of all the cars I’ve owned over the years i regret selling that one the most
I did some Google research and looks like 61 and 62 were only yrs considered bubble tops. In 1961 Chevy first introduced the SS package for Impalas. If I’m wrong I’m sure someone will correct me
Yup, ’61(+’62 BelAir) roof is the only true ‘bubble top’ though some will claim the ’59-’60 too – there’s no mentioning of any ‘bubble top’ in any of GM’s own sales literature though.
Same greenhouse was used on all 2dht GM fullsize cars for ’61 except Cadillac. Chev in Canada offered a BelAir 2dht already in ’59; in the US this body style was available ’60-’62 in BelAir guise and as you’ve found this (in ’62 ‘obsolete’) roof design was only found on BelAirs as the Impala received the new ‘convertible roof’ shared with the other GM B-body cars ’62-’64.
The Impala SS was introduced ’61 and was rare already when new – some claim 413 others 456 but it doesn’t really matter ’cause you’ll likely never see one IRL! A legit 409 ’61 Impala SS is probably the closest thing to holy grail material in the fullsize Chev crowd
I’m not aware of Chevrolet ever using the term “bubble back”.
There I said it… carry on.
Someone made a comment about making molds for a 61 Impala out of fiberglass. That’s a little much for someone to do in a home shop. Appreciate the ambition though.
I wonder what the rust looks like on the passenger side as the seller doesn’t give us a very good view of it.
Gott in Himmel its up to 25 grand!
From the general rusting of the engine, the floors replaced, the rockers and the seams in the trunk , this car must have been sitting in water for a while.or heavy, heavy humidity.
But what a beautiful design. That year, my Dad being the cheapest of the cheap, took me down to the dealer to turn in the family ’57 Plymouth wagon. We came home with a r door 61 Chevy stripper………in black no less. I was one unhappy seven years old after wandering the showroom floor.
He was a very practical guy :)
The ad says he’s done the floorpans to some degree as well as the rocker panels so hopefully he did a decent job of the work. It would however having to replace both rear qtrs that are included in the sale on top of what you’re going to be paying for the car. Maybe upwards $16-18 thousand. Surgery and body work replacing rear qtrs on top of that isn’t cheap
A bubbletop is used to describe all GM cars with the same rear window, from 1959. I have a 61 Pontiac Ventura ‘bubbletop’, Olds and Buick also made them. Check out that tinted glass, also has aftermarket AC.
Great and uncommon car, Chuck. Are you doing a restoration?
My first car was a 61 Impala 4 door, 283, 3 on the tree. White on red. Loved it. But it was pretty far gone when I got for $60.
Didn’t Dan Gurney make a successful race car out of one of these with a 409 and a 4 speed with suspension and handling mods it would really go!