Chevrolet redesigned its full-size cars in 1959, going from a big, rounded look to a thinner approach with “batwings” in the rear. The 1959-60 Impala Sport Coupes (aka 2-door hardtops) had an extensive use of glass with the roof and slight pillars, nicknamed “bubbletops” by enthusiasts. Located in a field west of Denver, Colorado, this non-running Chevy has collected loads of patina and has a 348 cubic inch V8. This mostly rust-free project is available here on craigslist for $18,000 OBO. “Zappenduster” scores another cool tip.
These so-called “bubbletops” featured thin pillars, a wraparound windshield, and a huge piece of curved rear glass that protruded into the roof over the rear passengers. This was used on Sport Coupes (Impala and, I also believe, the Bel Air) in 1959-61 and on just the Bel Air in 1962. In ‘62, the Impala Sport Coupe had a formal roof with less glass than its predecessors. The styling of the 1959 and 1960 Chevies used the basic same theme, and I’ve always thought the second year was the most attractive of the two (not a fan of the “cat’s-eye” taillights of 1959).
The 283 cubic inch V8 was the starting point if you wanted your 1960 Chevrolet with eight cylinders. An upgrade to the 348 “big-block” afforded a nice jump in horsepower and torque, and a 1960 Impala with this engine is probably the most collectible. This Colorado-based Chevy has been dormant for a long time, perhaps many years, and does not run. The odometer read 47,700 miles when the vehicle was parked, so perhaps it’s on the second time around.
We’re told that rust is at a minimum and the car has solid floors in the passenger compartment and trunk. One small piece of glass is missing, and the car’s white paint has been baked off on many exterior surfaces. The interior is a mess, especially the upholstery which has succumbed to exposure to Mother Nature. The Chevy needs a full restoration, but is the asking price a hindrance to moving forward?
Lots of money for a basket case that needs everything. It’s asking price rivals that of desirable cars such as Chevelle SS’s, first and early second generation Camaros and many Mopar muscle cars. Not sure how deep the pool of potential buyers is at this price.
Steve R
Sellers in this market seem to think that this is all a zero sum game. That is, the hobby is huge and there’s a buyer pool actively bidding for every rusted hulk.
Maybe at one time, this was sort of what was happening. In 2026, the project-enabled class of buyers is vanishing. The guys with the skills, tools, facilities, budget and will to do it are hanging it up. Every day, add more names to that list.
You can”t really do this in a subdivision garage, with no knowledge of how.
So most of these project car listings are nothing but junk porn. There really are no buyers for much of it.
The Richardson junk Chevy collection of hundreds of post war full size Chevies is on for Oct 3.
It’ll be interesting to see what gets bids and for how much.
$18,000 is a lot of money unless you plan to flip this car, for $60,000, someday. It looks like this car is going to take some CASH just to get it running and driving down the street.
No way would i give 8 thousand never mind 18 thousand! People are out of their minds!
Raccoon tested, raccoon approved. Ridiculous mess.
I almost didn’t open this one. At first I thought it was just another old broken down Chevrolet in need of a restoration. But I’m glad I did. When I scrolled down the pictures and saw the 348 I decided to read it. My Grandpa ( the one who’s ’66 Impala Super Sport I’ve posted the picture of before) had a ’60 Impala 4 door hardtop. It was a really nice car white, blue interior. But it was optioned a little uniquely, he had a 348 in his, an automatic and manual steering!!! He told me that anyone who ever drove it hated it because of that, he said he didn’t mind. He drove my parents in their wedding, which was also in 1960 in that car. Anyways, thank you Russ for jogging my memories. As for this one, It would be great to see it restored, but thats just an eye watering price. If it was solid, running, complete and had a decent paint job and interior, sure, but in this condition? Bodywork isn’t easy or cheap, and an entire retrim for the interior too. Plus getting it running and driving again. This is a big project. But restored, it would be gorgeous. I agree with Russ, I like the ’60 tailfins better than the ’59 models also.
18 large for a pile of junk??? Is it made out of diesel???
ya, ‘TRUTH’ like other false claims of ‘smart water’ and US flag stickers on Toyotas ;)
the TRUTH is theres too many peanuts in this gallery.
the TRUTH is is this is a 1960 Impala two door hard top with red interior, solid and straight body and bumpers.
The TRUTH is its worth money, good money, its a rare find, a diamond in the rough and worth restoring or rat rodding.
The TRUTH is most of the peanuts, key board warriors who jump daily to devalue, insult, and critique arent TRUE enthusiasts NOR buyers.
How about you reckon with this site is called BARN FINDS and not entertainment for wanna be, Kia drivers.
This car is easily worth 10k and the seller clearly said OBO.
So either know what your talking about or find a different site to troll !
Care to compare Hagerty policies bud ?
??? Okay, you tried to make some kind of point. I get that. Seems the entire community here agrees with me that the asking price is ridiculous. So ALL of us are wrong??
Not a true bubbletop. The real bubbletops are’61s and a few ’62s. Much prettier than the halfway ’60s.
Another seller that’s out of touch with reality.
$18.000 ???!!! Unbelievable.
Cool find and writeup Zapp & Russ, which struck a memory for me. A few days ago, I was going through some old family pics and found a picture of my mother, sister and me taken in 1965. We were in front our 1959 Impala with a 283 paired to a 3 on the tree. It was not uncommon back then to see a female driving a “straight shift” as they used to call them!
That is a great photo and memory too Wayne!!! I like seeing older photos of people and families with their cars. I only have a few, but cherish them.
-Dave
Great picture, Wayne. Car and driver = Both high up on the coolness (and dress code) scale!
Minor point, but that white ’59 Chevy old photo is a Bel Air not an Impala
You are mistaken, the three tail lights on each side confirm that it is an Impala. A Belair would have had two on each side.
How do you see its taillights?
No ‘59 Chevy had three tail lights. They all had the “Cat Eye” tail lights and there was no two door Impala sedan in ‘59.
zak is correct.
That b&w photo of the ’59 is a BelAire.
And besides, the ’59 Chevies, with their ghastly “Catseye” taillights, didn’t foster distinguishing between the Impala and BelAire/Biscayne models.
This lack of a distinctive, Impala-taillight-design makes, I believe, the ’59 models unique between 1958 and at least 1972…
Crazy that there are sellers are out there asking restored or at least driver, survivor condition prices for a classic car that’s needing everything.
A while back I commented on a convertible 60 Impala! The guy was asking 40k for a basket case! I thought it to be way over priced! The guy explained it this way, buy it for 40k put 100k into it sell it for 200k make 60k! I don’t know who is going to have pockets that deep, but I couldn’t comprehend that equation!
I rarely make comments respecting price ,but I totally disrespect this one .This car,at this price, does not deserve to be featured .
sitting that long, block could be cracked, I wouldn’t buy for more than $10k.
This is a NOT a Bubbletop. The Bubbletop roof style made its debut in 61 and it lasted just two years. Do a side by side comparison of the C pillar of a 61 or 62 GM “Bubble Top” and the C pillar of any pre 61 or post 62 GM Sport Coupe and you’ll see they are a completely different style.
I had a rust free white 1960 Impala 2 door coupe with a turquoise houndstooth interior, 283/powerglide in 1980 or so and was nice with 80,000 miles and I got it for $600! This one is priced way to much for the old people that want one now.
Man, how times have changed. I bought a 60 Impala ragtop with a 348 when the car was 10 years old, and paid $125 for it. All I had to do was buff out the original paint (red) and put the correct wheelcovers on it. It ran flawlessly with LOTS of pickup, and I still hold fond memories of it. As Archie and
Edith sang, “those were the days”
Contrary to the opinion of the uninformed, rust buckets that need 40K worth of work ARE NOT WORTH 18K. Maybe 2.5k.
They are high dollar cars and very much desired. I love them, but you could buy one already done in my opinion cheaper than you could buy this one and restore it even doing it yourself.
shame it was left like this.at the ask price to buy and restore would have to be love anything else you will be underwater.
So many of these cars are simply to far gone.
Too many zeros on the price tag. There are a lot nicer cars that need little or nothing for this kind of money. Here we go with that five letter word with what’s wrong with a lot of people GREED.
I bought a 64 Impala SS a few yrs ago in better shape than this one for $6k, after rebuilding engine, new paint,tires interior and tires and rims sold it for $28k. This asking price, in this condition, is not in line with reality. And that was an SS not a base Impala like this one.
I have been doing this for a long time. The car is worth 7500,00, at the most if is delivered. $ 5000.00 if picked up. To restore the unit would cost about 50000.00 and a boat load of time. The 348 is a nice bit, but would have to be punched out restored and redone to make it any where near a 400 HP runner. Grim Reaper 7
Buy it for 18 , put 25 in it to make it nice and sell it for 25 ? No sense
Those were the days. Neighbor Bob Zezula had a 62 impala ss 409. Took it out to us 30 dragstrip mid n late 1960s. I bought a 63 ss 409 in 1975 from Red Williams out of South Bend In. Paid 350.00. Ran like a dream. Also knew John Toth, had a 62 409-409 hp. Yah. Those were the Days!
Bubble tops started in 1959 PERIOD. THEY CHANGED A LITTLE IN 61! Then went to 1962 when the Belair hardtop finished off the era. Punk.
Settle down Beavis. Your mouth is getting ahead of your brain.
I can understand RWDrifter’s take on the ‘Bubbletops’; on the one hand, the ’61’s were similar to the earlier ones….evolutionary I would call them.
But, since they obviously involved different roof-panel stampings as well as clearly different glass, I think there’s enough differentiation to consider them separate styles.
Did the ‘Bubbletop’-Look start in ’59?…yes, arguably it did.
But the “new & improved” ’61 design was significantly different…and sufficiently-so imho to be the definitive ‘Bubbletop’.
Hello Kevin, chevy didn’t start the curved look you mentioned, it started with the 2 door hardtop 1957 plymouths, dodges & chryslers, they have a larger curved rear glass & rear roof area similar to the 59 chevy. I’m not saying they’re bubbletops, the 61 Impala 2 door hardtop glass looks like a 60 glass bubbled out at the top.
This Chevy is too far gone for $18000. For that amount of cash, you can get something far better without the need for floor pans. I wouldn’t even pay that much for a ’57 in the same condition. $1800 is reasonable.
…the comment from “me” proposing that Chrysler Corp started the ‘Bubbletop-trend’ even earlier (in 1957) is plausible.
Ford didn’t get onto the bandwagon ’til the 1960 models, the Galaxie500 Starliner.