Everything in moderation right? Sometimes you wonder if car designers follow that mantra, or perhaps consider it after the fact. Take the 1959 Chevrolet for example – that was an “out there” design. And it was a huge change following on the heels of the ’58, which was over the top compared to the eternally favorite ’57. OK, enter the 1960 Impala like today’s example. It’s ’59-like but with more moderate styling, and perhaps it was more acceptable to the buying public, hmmm…let’s consider that. This ’60 Chevrolet Impala two-door hardtop is located in Elyria, Ohio and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $14,100 with twenty-seven bids tendered as of this writing.

According to www.348-409.com, Chevrolet produced 1,391,485 full-size (B-body) cars, all body styles, in ’60. While a pretty good year, it was 3% below 1959’s 1,436,914 output figure. So, the reduction in “styling effect” for ’60 doesn’t seem to have enhanced sales and the earliest part of the ’59 model year (late ’58) was still recession afflicted so that doesn’t explain the drop in production for ’60 either. Let’s face it, styling is always subjective so none of this appearance analysis probably matters.

This ’60 Impala reminds me of a bunch of guys that I casually knew in the late ’60s, they were considered the “bad boys” (though they really weren’t at all) and they cruised around in a clapped out, primered ’60 Impala that was affixed with a glued-on, backward no less, Ford Thunderbolt tear-drop bubble-hood. It had diamond-tufted upholstery, missing high beams, cheap mag wheels of some type up front, and steelies in the rear. You could see it coming on summertime evenings as its headlights, the two remaining ones, illuminated the tree boughs along the way thanks to its butt-dragging posture – it was a sight! This example is a little nicer but the upholstery, Cragar-like wheels with white stripe tires, and the cheap window tint immediately conjure a memory from many moons ago. This car appears to be a repaint with the original white finish showing through in places thanks to nicks and a dented driver-side fender. The chrome and trim, the parts that aren’t missing, look fair. Best of all, rust, the nemesis to these old GM B-bodies looks to be non-existent. Of course, it’s a California car and has only resided in the rust belt for the last two years –  that may have served as its salvation. It’s going to need some door-glass but that’s either readily available or can be easily cut as it’s flat. Oh, and the seller does mention that he may have the missing trim.

The running engine is a tricky one to decipher. The only two-barrel carburetor equipped V8 in ’60 was a 170 gross HP, 283 CI V8. And that may be what’s here, there is no disclosure. Where it gets hinky is that the alternator is wrong,  a generator was still in vogue in ’60. And the PCV valve and the driver’s side valve cover are both wrong for ’60, the valve cover would have had no PCV port because the engine had no PCV, it used a road draft tube. Perhaps this is a later modification and a nod to California’s environmental awareness. Or maybe it’s just a NOM. It starts, and the seller states, “I did have it taken to a shop where they were able to get it started but she still not drivable on the streets. This vehicle is a project car and needs work to get running“. The transmission appears to be a Powerglide two-speed automatic.

The interior clearly needs help. The diamond tufted upholstery has become untufted, front and back, the driver’s side door card looks homemade, and the steel dash is topped with surface rust. The carpet is missing but that’s a good thing in this case as it reveals sound floors. The cavernous ashtray (remember, this was 1960) and glove box are missing but the old Delco radio is still in place.

Final call? The current bid seems really outsized for what this Impala is. It’s a fairly sound example but it has its unknowns, and recall that the seller did admit, “This vehicle is a project car and needs work to get running“. My recommendation would be to keep looking, there are better 1960 Impala examples available for less; what’s your call?