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California Gold! 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS

Open the door of a dusty garage in La Puente, California, pull aside some laundry, and you may uncover hidden California gold. Chevy’s sporty Super Sport or “SS” package brought style and performance to full-sized sedans like this 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS. Offered here on eBay, it seeks an owner to put it back on the highways before another 22 years elapse. The $31,000 Buy It Now price would no-doubt create reason to celebrate in La Puente. Click Make Offer if you have another number in mind.

If you want to see what a 1963 Impala SS actually looks like, you’ll need to search elsewhere. I hesitate to criticize a photographer who may be limited by age or infirmary, so we’ll simply leave it to wonder. Nevertheless, the “SS” badge with the leaping Impala is pure art!

The Impala dash design bridges the curves of the ’50s with the rectangular elements of many ’60s cars. After 1961 the SS package could compliment various engines, and this hardtop features the legendary 327 cid (5.4L) V8. The rather manual-looking shifter actually controls the two-speed Powerglide automatic. The gold theme continues within. Thanks to wikipedia.org for some details.

The handsome two-tone upholstery seems well-kept. The seller graciously includes pictures of some rusty spots and claims this California coupe is structurally solid and wears its original paint. What’s your top bid on this golden nugget?

Comments

  1. Avatar mike b

    Salute to Huell Howser.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Will Fox

    That shade of gold is NOT factory for `63; sorry. The interior appears the original buckskin color, but that ‘jackpot gold’ is definitely from a later period. Too bad we can’t see more of the car, but what we see appears fairly solid. Here’s another car that benefits from MANY, MANY reproduction parts now available; go to Year One to see what you can get.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Scot Greeno

      That is definitely Anniversary Gold, which my 63 SS was also originally painted It was black and primer when I bought it, and now it’s Riverside Red. I almost put it back to original during the resto, but my 70 Chenille is gold-on-gold, which unless you’re King Midas is more than enough gold.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Correction

        70 Chevelle. Not Chenille. Stoopid spelle Czech.

        Like 3
      • Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

        Spelle Czech-that’s funny, I don’t care who you are!!!
        (At least it didn’t try to spell it “Chanel” as in #5).

        Like 1
      • Avatar gbvette62

        I agree, paint code 927, Anniversary Gold.

        Anniversary Gold was first offered on 62 Impalas, to celebrate Chevrolet’s 50th anniversary. In 63, it was offered on a limited run of Impalas, this time to celebrate the manufacture of GM’s 50 millionth car, an Anniversary Gold 409 Impala SS. I think somewhere around 350 63’s were built. A friend of mine has a 63 Anniversary Gold Impala SS, and has done quite a bit of research into the 62 and 63 Anniversary Gold cars.

        I’ve heard some stories that a couple 62 Corvettes were also painted Anniversary Gold, but I’ve never seen one, or anything to back this up.

        Like 1
    • Avatar Jeff

      They did have Anniversary Gold on the 1962 Impala SS and convertible.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar ClassicCarFan

    Title says “1963 Impala SS 4-Speed” but description text says it’s a 2-speed Powerglide trans? can’t be both…presumably its the Powerglide?

    Like 0
    • Avatar Josh Mortensen Staff

      Sorry for the typo, it’s been corrected.

      Like 1
    • Avatar Tom Member

      I don’t see a clutch pedal. Shifter looks like a manual, but not.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Arthell64

    I would call this one overpriced for the condition. Maybe if it had a 409 4 speed but with a 327 powerglide I don’t see it. Priced at least double for what’s it worth.

    Like 1
    • Avatar PatrickM

      I agree. Plus, once again, we have a seller that did not do four things that would benefit selling: (1) take it out into the sun, (2) clean it, (3) take underside pics and (4)engine bay pics. That always helps. I really like this car. But, since it is already out of reach, I’ll have to pass. Thanks folks for the write up. BF, keep ’em comin’!

      Like 2
    • Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

      Actually knew a guy back in the late 60’s with a SS 409 4 speed. Now that was a car. It had plugs on the exhaust and when they were opened it bellowed like there was no tomorrow. Tires weren’t that great in the era and this one could tear up a new set in a single day if desired.
      To my thinking, $31K is way too much for a 327 powerglide in this condition

      Like 2
  5. Avatar TimM

    Yes indeed just a little confusing when it says 4 speed in the title page and after further reading it says it’s the power glide!! Nothing against the power glide it was a great transmission and still is but if it’s a four speed car I want a 4 speed. This price is truly to high for a not 4 speed power glide small block!! It’s a $20,000 car at best imho!! A duck is a duck!!

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Paul Z

    I only see 2 pedals has to be a slip and slide

    Like 1
  7. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Judging by the few (but telling) photos, at $31,000 this is Fools Gold IMO. “More Photos Later” according to the seller and that’s good, but it’s still in desperate need of visual information like VIN, etc. Oxidation, dinged parts and rust are caution signs to my limited knowledge; hopefully it’s not coastal or Midwest to northern rust. Am I being too critical?

    Like 0
  8. Avatar TJohnson

    Todd, just an FYI, the 61 SS also had multiple engines. There were 142 409’s and 253 were 348’s produced.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar jw454

    The interior is only two toned due to fading. It’s not supposed to look like that. As you all probably know, the rust you see is only the tip of the iceberg. I’d say about a 10K car.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Chebby Member

    What is the point of eBay if sellers can assign a higher BIN price than they’d ever get at auction.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    I’d be a bit leery of what looks like a dirt floor garage. says its solid but has rust at the bottom of the fenders.take the friggin blanket off it. Clean it up. No good pics of the body and no pics of the mill.For 31 large?? NFW. Buyer beware.
    Good luck to the new owner.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Maverick

    Manual transmission . Look.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    I think it’s “well-kempt”.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Robert White

    It’s worth $18k at best, on a good day. Nice car worthy of complete resto back to factory spec. It will never be a 409 six-pack given original config 327-glide &
    numbers match for factory issue & car. Perhaps someone will drive it but that’s doubtful given the market for real numbers matching 63 SS Impalas. Only the serious collectors will bid this as the resto will add up quick and then it will be a trailer queen for sale.

    An excellent full resto candidate if the price was remotely reasonable.

    Bob

    Like 0
    • Avatar Camaro guy

      What the hell is a 409 6 pack ? 🤔 Must be another spell check snafu 🤓

      Like 0
      • Avatar TimM

        A 409 was a big block Chevrolet motor it only was produced for a very short time!! I believe 60-63. I had a 62 GMC. It was a C-60 with a 409 it was a beast. Should have kept the motor!! A 6 pack is 3-2 barrel carburetors!! No snafu!!!

        Like 0
    • Avatar Raymond Hurst Member

      It is a snafu if insinuating original 6 pack. No 409’s came with a 6 pack. Only single or dual 4 barrel on 409 cars. Correct me if I’m wrong.

      Like 0
      • Avatar TimM

        I stand corrected!! There was no stock 6 pack on 63 Impalas!!

        Like 0
      • Avatar John S

        6 pack is a Mopar term… Tri Power is G.M.

        Like 0
    • Avatar 70kingswood

      348 with 3-2s yes 409 with 3-2 no, 2-4 barrels yes in 409- 425 hp guise only! to think back in the day I bought a 340 hp/409 4 speed impala SS for $100. It was numbers matching but had a Muncie not a T-10 and was red with black interior and lots of rust. seller kinda optimistic in spite of color.

      Like 0
  15. Avatar Miguel

    I think he is asking the reconditioned returned to driving and clean condition price.

    The Chevy LUV hubcaps are an interesting choice.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar SquareLeft

    I owned one of these cars and have worked on quite a few others. The rust you see at the bottom of the front fender, just ahead of the door is ‘inside-out’ corrosion. Water collecting at the back of the engine compartment is supposed to drain down a channel and out the bottom. Over time, leaves and other debris can clog the drain hole and hold moisture. Acid from the rotting bits attacks the sheet metal, so any GMs of that body style that have been driven often in rain or snow or left parked outside usually have rust in those spots.
    Door bottoms, especially on hardtops, have the same problem because the door-to-glass insulation deteriorates over time, letting water, dirt and small bits of vegetation collect between the two pieces of sheet-metal at the pinch weld.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Del

      Price to high. Write up and pics bad. Definitely not the Gold mine he thinks it is

      Like 1
  17. Avatar triumph1954

    Nice car. A little high on price. Worth $20-25k in this condition Nice that there is still cars like this tucked away.

    Like 1
  18. Avatar JimZ Member

    Interesting photo angles, not too many clear & bright.
    I’m sure readers will be woo’d into imagining the car is better condition than actual.
    Another case of seller asking top dollar, but too lazy to put any real effort into clean up, pics, etc.
    Oh wait…seller’s ID is “Lazy 1″….that explains things!

    Like 2
  19. Avatar Mike

    I agree with some of you guys. This car would have a hard time coming to my home at $7,500 to.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Henry A Houle

    I have 2 1963 impala ss for sale, one is original convertible 283 auto on floor and the other is hardtop. both need restoration and have every part needed to restore both cars. looking for $30,000

    Like 0

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