Rare cars sitting in the mud: I think we can all agree that gets our collective blood pumping. The Impala SS is one of the most iconic American muscle cars ever built, and even decades after its introduction, those small badges on the rear quarters denoting it as one of Chevy’s most sought-after machines mean more than ever. This barn find is actually from the barn find property in North Georgia that I help to sell cars out of, and my colleague Bill recently spent some time documenting the real-deal ’62 Chevrolet Impala SS that’s on the property. Check out the full story here on the Flat Broke Garage YouTube channel.
When I found this car years ago, I merely noted it for the paint job. In a yard where most of the cars and trucks were missing paint or had lost their original color years earlier, the Impala stood out for appearing to be original. As I began researching whether the color was somehow unique or special, I learned about the Golden Anniversary model. The total production of Golden Anniversary models has never been definitively confirmed, but most reliable sources peg it at between 300 and 350 cars. Chevy left it up to the dealers to decide if they wanted one, and the unique 927 paint code is typically the tell-tale sign since it wasn’t publicly listed in any brochures or external marketing collateral. In addition, they could be ordered in any configuration, so a genuine SS car with the Golden Anniversary trim is likely quite rare.
There’s no getting around it: this Impala has been sitting for some time. The rear end also took a hit, which is likely what put it here. The trunk floor is gone, and the front floors will need replacement. There is a parts car Impala SS on this came property that was totaled out due to a tree falling and it has good rear quarters, a straight trunk lid, and an undamaged taillight panel, along with a complete drivetrain for use in rebuilding this rare SS. The interior will need to be redone but at least the tattered upholstery can serve as a template. The Impala even retains its original Chevrolet radio. The glass is missing in most cases as is the engine, but again, the parts car on the property can likely help with that issue.
I am grateful to my friend Bill for helping to document this rare bird, as I’ve always wanted to see it com back to life. While not all special editions are truly “special,” it seems in this case that the limited production numbers definitely make this a rare bird of an Impala. The Impala SS has been a collector’s item for some time now and I don’t see that changing any time soon. Hopefully, this battered Golden Anniversary car can be rescued from the north Georgia woods and take its place at any car show around the country that celebrates historic Chevrolets.
Nice bumper.
That is about all I see.
Would’ave been one hell of a looker in its day.
If that is a yard then the lawn mower broke 50 years ago.
“[indicating a junk car by a rural gas station] That’s my ’51 Dodge. No, that’s my car! That’s my car! Whooee! All my youth and passion… spent in that back seat. It’s all gone, you see? It’s all gone—rust and dust.”
— Bobby Trippe, Deliverance
Wow, I thought one my old cars that sat for awhile outside, became a wreck.
But compared to bomb it was almost pristine. lol
These cars were replaceable in the days made. They just had not met a metal bailer to finish the job.
Yes in today’s retrospective it would have bern nice to have saved but again considered just an old clunker probably five to ten years used.
Good luck on pipe dream of restoration. Its possible if money is not an object.
Who knows the prior owner might have swapped for a 1968 Shelby GT 500 or a 1969 COPO Camaro in 1969.
Its all in perspective.. we’ve all have old stories of the ones that got away or sold to soon but that is called living a life.
Like a book i have at home, and titled Diamonds in the Rust.
This is one of them.
Thanks for sharing
Robert
Maybe that $3200 pile from the other day, combined with this one, could make one good one. Not.
I don’t know about y’all, but this doesn’t get my blood pumping…… It gets my blood BOILING!!😠 And these cars are never for sale, they just get to rust into the ground. While the folks who actually would pour their blood sweat and tears Into it to make it whole again will never get the opportunity. 🥺😔
Sometimes their time has passed and it is best just to let them go
Sort of like GF’s. Nicely put !
I admire your optimism, Jeff, but I don’t share it. The rare color adds some interest, but I don’t believe it adds much value. Perhaps this one is better suited to resurrecting the parts car, rather than the other way around.
I’m sick yo my stomach looking at this!
this car is beyond hope,I do not care how rare the paint was scrap it
If you find a human body in the woods that’s been laying there for 40 years it’s usually not worth rebuilding I think the same could be said for this car
Date code on the tires?
Owning a 62 (SS clone ) I would consider driving that far ,if it had a one piece front bumper .Don,t recall or hearing if they made the one piece for the rear bumper you could weld in the seams an have it rechromed.
I’d have to think that nothing is left of the floor and the chassis is questionable. One of my favorite cars…with a dual quad 409. With enough time and money and a good donor it could be awesome…
pwtiger, I don’t disagree but I guess with enough time and money just about anything could be awesome.
I had a 4 door SS with the 927 Paint code. It didn’t have window frames so technically it was a Sports Sedan as opposed to a Super Sport. Sold it running and driving for 8500 two years ago. I paid 5500 for it and drove it home. This car as cool as it could be would pretty much need 98% of everything.
One of the nicest muscle cars I ever owned was a puke green 72 Gt GranTorino with 351 Cleveland Engine. When I first went to my first duty station in Lemoore, California. A friend of mine new I was looking for a car. Showed me this car for $800. What a buy, nothing but power,never lost a race.
Well it is, special paint code 927 designated “Anniversary Gold.” This code could be selected by the customer, so it was more than a few that had it. I think this one is for the history books.
The 300-350 cars referred to was NOT the total production of 927 cars. That was a special run of cars when the color was introduced mid-model year. That’s why the color doesn’t show in the Chevy books. 927 could’ve been had on SS or non-SS cars, 2 dr ht, 4 dr ht and convert. Never saw a 927 4 dr sedan or wagon. I owned a 927 Sport Sedan/4 dr ht for several years and knew of another similar 4dr locally as well.
please please. put this car out of its misery!!!
You gotta know when to hold’em fold’em know when to walk away know when to run. RUN FOREST RUN!!
Does any one have pictures of this car when it was brand new
I don’t know, the original owner maybe? Lol
See ya! Beyond any reason.
By the flags on the front fender looks to have had a 327
Growing up as a kid in the late 60’s and early 70’s my Mother had a 1963 Chevy Impala SS Convertible, was dark red with black interior and rag top. Awesome car, remember we were pulling out of a store and a guy in a 66 Impala hit the left front fender, jolted me badly, but the other car hit the fender, rolled backwards and died on the spot. We gave him a lift to gas station. Mom traded that car in for a new baby blue 72 Pinto hatchback! Ugh!
Sadly, this car has had it . No one is going to restore it as its just too far gone, rare color or not . It was junked because it was wrecked, and sitting in the woods since Nixon was president hasn’t helped it out especially with no glass in it – though it does look like it donated many parts to other Impalas at one time.
I love walking around these old yards , but to be honest, most cars in yards like this have had their good bits removed decades ago , so what’s usually left is either bent , broken or rusted . The future for picked over cars is almost always the crusher
In the late 60’s to early 70’s, I car guy around the corner had a convertible version with gold paint. I’ve never realized total production was so low!
Imagine or remember what you would look like left in the north Georgia climate for probably 40 plus years I think being 60 years old shes beautiful and would be proud to sport her around I’m only 45 yo but the 62 Impala has been my favorite since I could remember. Growing up in Detroit with most my family working for ford hated I was a Chevy man thanks for sharing that beauty