Toyota sold 295,000 Camrys in 2022, which is impressive. Bear with me here in comparing a Chevy Impala with a Toyota Camry. I only do it because they both seem to be the most popular car of their era. For the record, Chevy sold 770,000 Impalas in 1969. This 1969 Chevrolet Impala Custom Coupe is listed here on eBay in Greenwood, South Carolina, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $15,300. Thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!
Here’s a funny thing, although not ha-ha funny. When a vintage American car is priced at several times more than it sold for when it was new, nobody comments on that, but when an import is priced well above what it sold for new, a lot of people will say, “That’s more than it cost new!” – as if values and prices don’t rise through the decades for both American cars and for some imports. It’s just an observation. Back to this gorgeous Impala. The seller paid $800 to have this original paint buffed to the showroom-like condition that you see it here.
This Impala is reported to be an original, one-family-owned car and it sure looks like it’s the nicest one left. It’s always been in South Carolina and the seller says that it has not one spot of rust on it; that’s amazing. It’s beautiful! I really like the Custom Coupe body style, it has a more vertical leading edge on the C-pillar and it really gives it a nice formal look. Customers that prefer a sportier C-pillar could get a Sport Coupe. There were also two four-door models (hardtop and post), a convertible, and station wagons. This car is more than the Camry ever will be, especially now that SUVs have taken over a good percentage of car sales.
As expected, the interior looks almost new. Naaaaa, it looks new, who am I kidding, I don’t see a flaw anywhere. The big surprise for me is that this car has power windows. I rarely see that even on the high-end Caprice, but an Impala? I love it, this is my kind of family! The seats look perfect both front and rear. The seller’s description makes War and Peace look like a short story. They give an incredible amount of information, all is one big, giant paragraph that’s hard to follow at times, but it’s always appreciated to have so much information. And, they also give a lot of great photos, well done!
The clean engine is Chevrolet’s 327-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have been factory-rated at 235 horsepower and this one has been fully rebuilt, so it isn’t original, but it’s the original engine for this car. The seller paid $5,187 to have this one rebuilt to factory specs and it runs great. Hagerty is at $17,700 for a #2 excellent car, which surely this one is. Is this the nicest Impala Custom Coupe left?
This is a very nice find. A/C and power windows together are great to have.
I’m thinking this color is called Azure Turquoise.
327 cid, in the last year offered, should have *some* scoot, 2bbl and all. Especially with the rebuild. Some questions on why it happened, but it’s already done. Powerglide should have 3.08 gears behind it.
Again, Nice find…
I doubt it, I had a car identical to this with a 396 in it… I put and aluminum dual plane intake, a bigger cam and headers and it was still a pig. It rode and handled like a piece of junk. Good looking boat but I don’t miss mine at all.
327 235hp had a 4 barrel the 2 Barrell 327 was a 210 hp
Sorry al, but no 4 barrel 327 was available in 1969. The Camaro was rated at 210, but the full size Chevy was 235, both in 2 barrel form.
770,000 cars in one year.
Where have they all gone?
More common than a camry, that was a sight to see.
Look at an old Camry, and you’ll see some 69 Impala steel in there, but very ,very thin…..
It’s only been 55 years. Gee, what could’ve happened to them?
She’s a beauty! My mom had a 1969 Impala wagon. I loved that car. Such a smooth ride with the best heater and air conditioner. And it had the very back seat as well, with a power back window. I was only 9, so I don’t know any details. I just remember loving that car.
Same here,ours was Frost green & absolutely loved that far back seat,great memories
My grandad had one almost identical, it was a 4-door though. Extremely smooth ride, from the back seat anyway, and it was like sitting on our big ol’ couch at home! I think you could easily put 10 people in that car… and 4 more in the trunk
These were *everywhere* when I was a kid, just like the Ford F-series is everywhere today.
These, and `73-`77 LTD’s. You couldn’t turn around without seeing at least a couple back then! They were as common as dirt!
The Roadkill Crusher impala is like this one
A car like this (4-door sedan) was what we had for drivers-ed at school. Those production numbers make me think that only 3 out of 5 were green like my dad’s.
In the late 70’s my oldest brothers got one of these for junk, the guy wanted the motor back is all. That car was so clean and straight I couldnt believe the guy was junking the damn thing, we raised it up with the truck to tow it and the frame was rotted clear thru on the drivers side right before the tranny cross member
My 69 caprice…same thing.Rotted completely away and the trans crossmember was hanging down an inch or so.
I had a BEAUTIFUL 69 Caprice with Hide-A-Way headlights, Bucket seats, Console, and a 427 w/Turbo 400! This car was dark green w/lighter green interior rally wheels w/white letter tires and turned heads every where I went. This car would smoke the tires like it was on ice, would pin me in the seat as hard as any muscle car could and whooped everything that I run with it till that fatefully day when the cross member cut loose on it due to frame rot. It was a real shame too and at the time I had no way to repair it so I put the motor/trans in a 70 Monte Carlo. It was faster in the Caprice, but still ran strong enough to be a real sleeper! Since it had no 427 tags on the front fenders I told everyone it was a 350 2 barrel lol.
Is the trunk fit correct?
When we say a car like this costs more than new, consider that adjusted for inflation $4,000 in 1969 is about $32,000 in today’s money. Minimum wage was $1.40 back then and I worked for $.65 an hour in the cotton fields or in restaurants. So much for storing a car as an investment unless perhaps it’s a Ferrari!
This is the perfect example of how a seller should represent a vehicle. This seller is obviously very passionate about this vehicle, but it’s the purported honesty that I can appreciate. After an add like this one, the only thing left to discuss would be the arrangement to make the purchase. Very nice all the way around.
All those options…and a Powerglide? Surprised the owner didn’t opt for the Turbo350! Very interesting combo.
The Powerglide was an option , at least it was on my 70 Nova
Last year for the powerglide and it came with the 327 unless you accepted the standard stick. Anything bigger got the TH350 or 400.
My buddies 70 bel air had a PG and a 350.Another one of my friends had a 72 Chevelle with a PG 307 .
Kinda surprised nobody commented on how bad the trunk lid fits. My ’63 Impala had a 2 barrel and powerslide and was a nice cruiser.
That’s pretty typical of the fit & finish of the era.
a1963 with a 2 barrel was a 283 had one was a stick ,3 on the tree great car
hate to say it about the hp but bob c you are right I was wrong not very good at the newer cars from late 60 s on up last nice car I had was a new 1968 Torino 390 4 speed than after mostly county square Ford wagons I do know that 1963 base 327 250 hp was a 4 barrel had one new than in 1964 base 327. was the 300 hp
Another crazy thing al, the mid 1969 Camaros began using the 307 as the base v8. Maybe the 327 stock was depleted by that point?
Flip the air cleaner lid. Instant Hotrod!
Ha, they even kept the original dealer handout plastic model molded in the same color. That’s impressive. Nicely kept old car, a fine piece of American history. With no reserve, I hope the guy sees over $20K by auction’s end. Somebody really cared for this car for it to be this nice after 54 years and 103K miles.
Hagerty has yet to get an accurate handle on survivor cars. They really don’t belong in the realm of #1-#4 cars as presently defined. By Hagerty’s very definition, a 100 mile original car from 1969 kept all its life in a hermetically sealed bubble would only score #2 because the build quality and paint technology of 1969 would not be comparable to modern processes that produce inaccurately perfect finishes on restored #1 cars. Yet restored #1 cars cannot ever be factory accurate and I can look at Mecum auctioned $250K Chevelle SS 454s all day long and wince the second one of these repro interior abominations sears my eyeballs and marvel at all these bogus stickers stuck all over the place that weren’t on the originals (or certainly never were as prominent). #1 is a reward for fakery which is fine when comparing beautiful restorations to mediocre ones. But it’s way past time for Hagerty to revise their rating system with a #0 for Elite Survivors which are the incomparable ones that people who know what they’re looking at can instantly identify as being among the truly rarefied air of “real deal” vs the inaccurate over-restored show ponies getting all the glory on auction weekend from novice rich guys who’ve grown so bored with their Lamborghinis and new Ford GT toys that they’ve decided to branch out into other realms to expand their portfolio…
I couldn’t have said that better if I was reading a script from a movie!!! Crate engines and equal horsepower “LS abominations” that either have the same cubic inch or power seem to be what most of them have that hit auction blocks and praised as if they are the second coming of Christ make me sick! If I wanted 4 wheel disc brakes, a supercharged 6.2 LS, 22″ retro wheels, and all the other bells & whistles on it I’d buy a new Escalade or Navigator! 95% of the fun of driving an old car was the memories of the way they handled, rode, and sounded. You had to know how to drive back then because there was no “Firm/Soft” suspension button you could push before the light turned green and you unleashed 500 ft lbs of torque through a 3 or 4 speed trans (not an 8 or 9 speed computer controlled) because the newer LS engine’s lack torque won’t move the weight lol. They absolutely need to have a #0 for the bone stock mint condition survivors like this one to honor 54 years of care and pampering that’s much harder to do than restore one to original like condition.
a1963 with a 2 barrel was a 283 had one was a stick ,3 on the tree great car
If you look at the engine picture, you can still see the cable and bracket on the left that was devised to restrict the engine movement as a result of the defective motor mount recall in 1971. This affected almost 7 million vehicles going back to the mid-60’s and was the most expensive recall in history up to that point.
My dad had the very same vehicle but in a different color and had this installed. The GM engineers came up with this device instead of replacing the actual motor mounts. This device cost GM about $1.00 per vehicle instead of the $50 to replace the mounts.
My big block has one on the driver’s side. Don’t see too many of these, esp not on restored cars. Good eye, kind of a neat piece of GM history and glad you shared. As Paul Harvey would’ve ended it: Now You Know the Rest of the Story…
My 68 Nova was a 327 4bbl with a 4 speed floor shift sneaking up over the bench seat. Dog dish hubcaps, quite a little sleeper, and a ton of fun!
Auction update: this beauty sold for a whopping $25,100!
Gone at $25,100. The deal of the year. Try buying anything this good for that money. A new Kia POS is $35,000 and nothing but problems.
Nice car but the 71 and up b bodys handled so much better than those old strut rod front ends. Had to adjust caster with those and camber was with cams with the one large lower control arm bolt you accessed through a large hole in the frame under the car.Pain in the butt to align.Strut rod bushings would wear out and start ovaling the frames in the front.Had a 65 where the strut rod went right thru the front of the frame it was so rusted and battered.
When I was in the 3rd or 4th Grade my dad 👴🏿 brought a 1969 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Beach 🏝️🏖️ Wagon Station 🚉 Wagon with Factory Roof Rack it was a Hershey Chocolate Candy Bar Brown with the imitation decal contact siding and the Full Body Side Trim as well as on the Tailgate. It had all 4 Custom Deluxe Wheel 🛞 Cover Hubcaps.
The Interior was Champagne 🥂 Color the Power Plant was a Big Block 350 2BBL. The next 3 and a half years later someone ran into it and it was Totaled. Some how he got lucky 🍀 and luckily for him he saw the same Year 1969 Chevrolet Caprice Estate but it was the Top of the Line.
It was The Chevrolet Caprice Estate Kingswood Beach 🏝️🏖️ Wagon Station 🚉 Wagon. But this one, this one came Fully Loaded inside Power Locks 🔒, Power Windows, Power Bench Seat💺 with Armrest AM/FM Stereo Radio 📻 but a few incidentals. He didn’t get a chance to take off the Factory 🏭 Roof Rack and Ribs off the Wagon that was totaled and finished cleaning 🧹 out what ever he had left and wanted out of the wreck, but before that the much better one the engine and transmission was not so great it was on its last go around, so what he did was, do a Power Plant and Transmission Swap.
Take the Good Power Plant and Transmission from the one that was totaled and Install it in the the much better Car. Like 👍🏾 I said we didn’t get a chance to finish taking out what ever my dad 👴🏿 had left in the wreck, a nosey behind female neighbor who wanted my dad’s attention but wouldn’t give her a time a day. She got highly angry, frustrated, mad 😡 and upset 😭 she call ☎️ for a tow truck 🛻 to come and pick up and tow the Wagon away. After my dad 👴🏿 called the police 👮♂️explaining of what happened the woman tried to play it off like she didn’t even have a thing to do with it. After that I didn’t even get a chance to talk or get the name of the tow truck 🛻 driver and company information. The original owner had to have the truck 🛻 driver and company’s name written down.
But the officer 👮♂️ did put out an alert 🔔 for both vehicles. What my dad 👴🏿 did was he had a couple of friends that were Top Auto Mechanics 🧰 and Automotive Engineer Restoration Technicians.
When they were finished ✅ with that Wagon my dad 👴🏿 and me 👦🏾 off 3 boys 👦🏾👦🏾👦🏾 and 3 older sisters 👧🏾👧🏾👧🏾 , the oldest he was out of the house 🏡 doing his own thing. You know what I mean.
He went out with a Chick from every nationality you can think 🧐 💭 🤔 of. That Wagon in our eyes 👀 as far we were concerned 😧 👀 ed Better than Brand New. As the expression. Brand New Money. As a matter of Fact it already came and had the Factory 🏭 GM Rear Wind 🌬️ Deflector for the Tailgate Electric ⚡️ Powered Glass Window and Electric ⚡️ Rear Window Defogger/Defroster. He Bought a brand new aftermarket AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Deck Player and Audio System.
A year and a half later the engine went on him he explained and told his friend that was a Great 👍🏾 Master Auto Mechanic 👨🔧👨🏽🔧had a 75 Caprice Classic 4 Door that both body and frame were kaput.
But it had a Big Block I think 🧐 💭 🤔 the Power Plant was 350 4BBL, 400 4BBL or 454 4BBL Rocket 🚀 with A. C. Air Conditioning and Dual Exhaust System for the Muffler and Tailpipe Systems.
My dad 👨🏾👴🏾 The Factory 🏭 GM Chrome Highly Buffed and Polished Spoked Locking Mag Hubs. Ordered a Factory 🏭 GM Roof Rack and Ribbed kit for the Roof. Oh by the way the wagon had Tilt Steering and Cruise 🚢 Control. At that time my dad 👨🏾 had one fast 💨 Car for a Beach 🏝️🏖️ Wagon Station 🚉 Wagon. It was a Big Yellow Banana 🍌 on Four Wheels. Now he had another friend that had the exact same Wagon but he to the Top Of The Line. A Chevrolet Caprice Estate Kingswood Beach 🏖️🏝️ Wagon Station 🚉 Wagon, this C. C. E. K A Big Block 4BBL Power Plant Under The Hood as Well.
It was Fully Equipped, Fully Loaded and Fully Powered with Every Single Option Possible You Can Think 🧐 💭 🤔 Of. It had the Factory 🏭 Installed Hidden Headlights and The Factory 🏭 Installed Fender Directionals for it also had the Blue Light 💡sensor indicator light💡to let you know when the High Beam Headlights are on and Amber Indicator Sensor Light 💡 to let you know when One of your Headlights are Out and there was another sensor Light 💡 For your Hazard Warning Lights to let you know you need to have emergency 🚨 Road Assistance. It’s a Shame that They don’t Build, Make and Manufacture Rides That Are or Come Equipped Like That The Way They Use To Build Them Anymore.
These new designers don’t even have a single clue of what they do anymore. Sincerely Yours Truly.
So what you are saying is you have no clue what engine was in it.
A friend I know who is a Chevrolet mechanic owns a 1969 Chevrolet Impala Custom coupe. White with blue interior, has the optional bucket seats, AM/FM Stereo radio, air conditioning, power locks, power windows, electric rear window defroster, tinted glass. Built in Oshawa, Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 with pride.
Nice 69 impala..and a 327 car too..I like the color.700k of them made!..we had a 68 impala station wagon.new..with a 396..it got 8mpg..hard to see these anymore..great old cars ..r
the only thing its missing a a big block with a supercharger and a roadkill sticker on the side