When Chevrolet’s car line was redesigned for 1959, the Impala became the premium series. For its 1958 debut, the Impala was the top trim version of the Bel Air and only available as a hardtop or convertible. Fins were all the rage in the late 1950s, and Chevrolet had them in spades. They were flat rather than vertical, somewhat along the lines of “batwings”. The cars were updated for 1960 and the styling was more appealing, at least to me. This 4-door hardtop, technically called a Sport Sedan, has been stored away in an airplane hangar for 17 years. It’s been retrieved, cleaned up, and made to run, at least for limited use. Located in Templeton, Massachusetts, the Impala is available here on eBay where bidding has reached $8,600.
The seller refers to this car as a “bubble-top”, but that term is more applicable to the 2-door hardtops. The Sport Sedans were more like “flat-tops” in their styling with an overhang over the back window. This car was previously owned by the seller’s pilot neighbor who put it into dry storage in 2004. Inside an airplane hangar. We’re treated to photos of the car as a “barn find” and then later after the seller bathed it and got it to turn over for perhaps the first time in ages.
This Impala is numbers-matching as the motor, transmission, and rear-end date back to when the car left the factory. We assume the engine is a 283 cubic inch V8 paired with Chevy’s 2-speed Powerglide automatic. The previous owner expected the car to stay dormant for quite some time, so he removed all the spark plugs and put Marvel Mystery Oil in all the cylinders. This helped keep the motor and pistons lubricated while in the deep sleep. Before driving it past your neighborhood, the car should be given a complete tune-up and all new fluids, brakes, and tires.
After what may be only 66,000 miles, the body of the car looks good although the paint is showing its age. At a minimum, there seems to be more than just surface rust in the rocker panels. The glass, chrome trim, and bumpers don’t seem to have been bothered much by the passage of time. The stuffing is coming out of the upholstery, so the seats will have to be redone. And the headliner is falling down. But the door panels and dashboard are nice and tidy.
Though the seller has rescued the car and brought it back to life, he has other cars and grandchildren that need his attention, so the Impala needs to move on. This looks like the kind of sweet find that doesn’t come along every day. We’re provided with five videos of the car as follows:
If anyone is collecting a gallery of bizarre headliner photos, here is the beauty.
I really think the five videos are a nice touch.
I wish more cars for sale had them.
We’d get a better look at the car that’s for sure.
I started humming a song from 1962..ain’t it funny how the night moves, with autumn closin’ in…
Going to elementary school a lady across the street from school had a twin to this. Car was 8-10 years old then I remember it was always spotless. It always stuck in my head because of that and that cool roof. Clean lines man
My father bought a flat top 4 door when it was only about 3 or 4 years old. White with green interior and a green rocket side stripe. My grandfather talked him into buying it but, alas, he could not afford it and after a few months it went back to the finance company. I’ve always felt bad that he was unable to keep it but, he thought feeding his growing family was more important. We lost him at 83 just over seven years ago. I don’t think not being able to keep the car ever bothered him too much. Sorry Dad….. R.I.P.
Sorry about your loss,but you have the memorys of your dad. That will live with you forever. He was right. He thought more of his family.Then he did of himself. A great and honorable man he was.
Your story says volumes about your dad’s character. How nice you emember.
I have a similar story but will spare you the boredom but I do want to say your Dad had a great heart I hope he had at least one car in his life that he loved. A toast to Dad’s.
Always liked the styling of 59/60 Chevy Impala 2dr.hardtops and convertibles but the 60 Chavy Impala 4dr. flat tops may have been user friendly for a big family it totally ruins the appearance of an otherwise a good looking car.
Never liked a “Flip-Lid,” or is that “Phlip”?
I’m always amazed at how corporate American car companies used up left over parts and then hailed them as “Unique” wonders of engineering marvel. Well, as we know “There is an azz for EVERY seat!” BTW, I never liked 4 doors on sedans.
Always liked these GM flat roof hardtops with that slight overhang in the rear. They have a certain charm to them.
12k for this, and two days to go? Some really wacky people out there I guess to pay that much for a ugly ass flattop Impala
I second the motion for “Ugly-Azz” Lo-Comotion!
Aunt Bea is prolly rollin’ o’er in her grave not kno’in
what some phool is gon b payin.
It sure beats the ugly what you call it –new cars now days and alot better built. It has style-that no car today can come close to. Plus safety built it.It has metal bumpers–not RUBBER.
Hate, hate, hate the flat top roofline!!!
To me it ruins the flow of the car. My father had a ’60 Cadillac , what they called a 4 window Sedan de Ville. Hate the roof.
When men were men and cars had fins….
Great car-and a growing style that people love with the sport sedan roofs.. this car is undoubtedly very rusty underneath and the seller has applied quite a bit of “lube” on the surfaces of the engine compartment.. hopefully the winning bidder isn’t too shocked at what is uncovered as there’s plenty of evidence of body filler already in the headlight eyebrows on the fenders..
Kudo’s to the seller for cleaning this up and the excellent presentation! The only negative comment is his description of the car as a “bubble top”