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Estate Sale Barn Find: 1964 Chevrolet Impala

The Impala dominated sales at Chevrolet in 1964. That was especially true as a 2-door hardtop, where production would top 536,000 units, with a third of them being Super Sports. This ’64 Impala is a non-SS car, one that was said to be functioning when it was relegated to a barn a couple of years ago. While it looks nice overall, we must wonder if being buried up to the frame in leaves has created any problems we can’t see. The car is part of an estate sale in Camden, Ohio and the family wants the car to be gone, so they started a no reserve auction here on eBay that has reached $12,100.

The big news in the Chevy camp in 1964 was the addition of the mid-size Chevelle, but that just helped Chevy grab market share as the full-size models were still hot. It’s hard to fathom what an endless assembly line progression of cars must have looked like for the Impala, because they built nearly 890,000 of them across all body styles. If you put them all end to end, that would equal nearly 3,000 miles of cars! Tip of the fedora to Hagerty for a brief Impala tutorial.

This seller’s Impala looks like a decent, non-running survivor. Even though it’s not a Super Sport, it was a neat 2-door hardtop in its day. As the story goes, the big Chevy was tucked away in a barn a couple of years ago and left there. Perhaps Grandpa or Grandma were getting too old to drive and they needed to get the car out of sight and hide the keys. At any rate, supposedly the car ran then, but it does not now. It has a 327 V-8 under the hood, which would likely be a 4-barrel version at 250 hp as a 2-barrel wasn’t offered in the Impala (if you wanted to save gas, you bought one with a 283). Grandpa or Grandma apparently have passed on and the family is looking to free up space in the barn.

The body looks straight and the blue paint good with surface present on the white top. From the photos suppled, the flat tires and the bed of leaves the car sits on must make you wonder about structural integrity. If it stayed mostly dry in the barn, the car may be okay, but it is Ohio and they do get snow. Other than being dirty and the carpet getting old, the interior looks good and the Sears under dash air conditioner is a blast from the past. I had one of these in a Chevy Nova and was constantly cracking my knees on it. The mileage is said to be 15,386, which might just be accurate.

Hagerty give the ’64 Impala a range of $12,000 in fair condition to $35,000 in Concours, but those values tend to go toward Super Sports. If you knock 10-20% off and consider this car in fair to good condition, $15,000 might be where is should top out. If getting it running just involves fuel system delivery repairs, this could be a nice Impala to start a vintage Chevy collection with.

 

Comments

  1. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    I wonder how so many leaves got into that barn. The car surely looks well sunk in for only having been in there 2 years.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Steve R

      A couple of years can mean anything. I have several friends that will say, when pushed, they haven’t worked on driven their cars in a couple of years, when in reality, for some, it’s as long as 20 years.

      This ad is so devoid of details you have to wonder if it’s intentional. Sitting on what appears to be a dirt floor sunken close to its frame rails in Ohio, it’s borderline insane that someone would actually bid $12,000+ dollars. Hopefully they have performed a thorough inspection.

      Steve R

      Like 13
    • Avatar Stokes

      Photo shows open front of the “so called barn”. More like a shed

      Like 1
  2. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    Ooops, I see it’s a pole barn with no door, so that’s how the leaves got in. Now about the sinking….I’d have to see the underside before I’d tender a bid.

    Like 6
  3. Avatar Moparman Member

    WOW! It’s still got the triangular bottle of windshield washer fluid on the fender well! I wonder if there has been an infestation of mice, as there appears to be debris on the intake manifold. Like Rex, based on the amount of leaves around it, I’d want to see pictures of the undercarriage. GLWTA!! :-)

    Like 5
    • Avatar Little_Cars

      Whereas usually the back seat of a 15k mile survivor would be immaculate, this one appears to have some unexplained stains toward the bottom. Could be the evil rodents or an errant bottle of Coke spilled between the seatbelt. Hopefully no smells have permeated the interior of this barn car. I kinda dig the dog dish hubcaps.

      Like 3
  4. Avatar Mike

    Those are 283 badges on the front fender. Are we sure that’s a 327?

    Like 6
  5. Avatar local_sheriff

    Good observation on the 283 badges, and its valve covers were also usually found on the 283. 327 would usually have the covers with sticker cui designation.

    http://www.2040-parts.com/1963-64-65-66-67-chevrolet-impala-corvette-original-restored-327-valve-covers-i1586461/

    The body itself looks shockingly unmolested considering its surroundings, even the rear wheel well to trunk area looks good. Always been a big fan of the psychedelic non-SS cloth pattern

    Like 4
  6. Avatar JAMES KAUFFMAN

    Kind of unusual to see an Impala with the standard hub caps rather than the optional full wheel covers. Saw lots of Biscaynes and Bel Airs with the hub caps though. I remember next door neighbors having a ’64 Impala 4 door hardtop in this same shade of blue. Hopefully someone will have this one back on the road again soon.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar JW454

    WOW! Camden is less than seven miles from me. I believe this is the closest car to me so far in about 8~9 years of looking at BF.
    These were my car of choice 45 years ago. I had a two door Impala for every year from 1958 to 1967. Some years I had more than one.
    I wish I had some of them back like my 1958, 1960 or the ’64 SS. In the early 70s the nicest one you could find would only set you back five to seven hundres dollars in this area.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Gibson

      Go look and get back with us please!

      Like 2
  8. Avatar Tim Q

    LOL,,love to see what the underneath and frame look like,,as well as the mouse urine and damages from chewing. It’s always very romantic to find these cars, but many times there parts cars at best. Kinda sad, but glad it’s at least escaped the crusher, at this point.

    Like 4
    • Avatar local_sheriff

      Don’t be so sure that’s a parts car only – if you know what even resto object 2dht ‘palas sell for you’d understand why it has attracted so many bidders.
      Whether it’s worth current bid might be questionable – as you say this ‘pala will require new interior, wiring + 100s more pieces. However if body and frame are sound just about every piece is available and don’t cost a fortune

      Like 1
  9. HoA Howard A Member

    Looks like a “Lambrecht” car that they bought, got it home, it sat in their barn, and now trying to unload.

    Like 4
  10. Avatar HC Member

    I started restoring an SS version of this 1964 Impala 5 yrs ago was in a little bit rougher shape than this one. It didnt take more than a new carb and plugs to get her running, but later rebuilt Its 327. Lots of work but also great fun. Learned more than a 2yr college course in the process.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar Ron

    First check would be the body mounts.

    Like 2
  12. Avatar stillrunners

    Crazy man crazy……..

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Thomas Dubnicki

    I would greatly concerned about the frame sitting on the ground and also the “water stained” back seat. Moisture has gotten in obviously.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar David Montanbeau

    Do a 409 conversion.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Gary

    Looking closely at the engine pictures, it is obvious that at some point the intake & valve covers were spray-bombed in a lame attempt to “clean” it up. I see a spot of over-spray on the air conditioner belt & orange carburetor return springs. I never understood why someone would do that, but it seems to be the first thing someone with half-a-brain does. Just leave it alone; this just adds to the “I wonder what else,,,,” The door panels & trunk floor look to be in exceptionally good shape which makes this possibly a real 15k mile survivor.

    Like 2
  16. Avatar Butchb

    These X-frame cars are very susceptible to frame rust, and this car has been sitting frame on dirt. Buyer beware. Inspect Inspect Inspect.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    You don’t get what you EX-pect, you get what you IN-spect.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Butchb

      I’m borrowing that one Rex!

      Like 0

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