Four Doors Just Enough? 1964 Chevy Impala

What’s the price difference between a 1960s two-door coupe and the four-door version of that same car? The 1964 Chevrolet Impala seen here on eBay and available in Arab, Alabama, is a good test case for the question. In the old days, it would have been a third the price of the coupe. So if the latter were $20K, the four-door would be about $7500. Going the other way, we should triple the four-door price to get to the two-door number. The question is, thus, whether this car is worth the $15,000 ask, when that multiplies to a similar coupe’s being worth $45K? Or is it the case that the seller will end up taking less, even much less? The tale will be told within the month. And note that the seller does challenge prospective parties to come drive the car and “make me an offer. You will want it; that much I can assure you.” Let’s think that through.

On the positive side, this appears to be the pristine original that the ad claims it to be. Is the paint factory-applied? I don’t see any claim that this is the case, but the word “survivor” would suggest that it’s wearing its original top coat. The images look like it’s simply a faded version of its original self. Could the color be brought back to life? Possibly. I’d be more likely to leave it as it is. Ah, patina. As for the rest of the condition, the seller has a lot of positive things to say, including that the 49,000 mileage number which appears on the odometer is the actual mileage. He also tempts lookers to come by and have a drive, claiming that they’ll be hooked, as was said above. So the question becomes, at the right price, could you love a four-door?

Maybe this is a generational question. What say you, Gen-Yers and Gen-Zers? Never having seen these cars when they were new, is the addition of two doors a liability? Or do you see it on the positive side—this is a car that people don’t have to strain to get into the back of. There’s lots of space for a crew, sitting up high on those awesome bench seats. In the good old days, you’d pass on a car like this in favor if the coupe, but those are fewer and farther between than they used to be.

Is it a muscle car? Heck no. It’s got a V8, for sure, but displacing only 283 cubic inches. Thus it will get up and go, but this is no tire-fryer. Still, I’ll bet it has a tantalizing old-car smell and a personality that would be easy to fall in love with. Add that to a stack of original paperwork, and you’ve got a classic on your hands for sure. The only downside in an “everything works” car is some slightly worn in upholstery, the paint as mentioned, and some holes in the rear footwells. That’s odd and unexplained in a car that’s supposedly always been inside, is not a convertible, and doesn’t have t-tops. But the rest is undisturbed sheetmetal, and there’s a huge horde of photos to back it up. So what if it’s “over-doored”? I’ll bet you’d do just what the seller suggests and fall into this Impala’s spell. I know I have. I mean would!