Chevrolet introduced the Impala Custom Coupe in 1968. It was the formal hardtop Caprice but in Impala trim (not a fastback). This 1969 edition looks like a brand-new car, a testament to the loving care given to it over 57 years by its two owners. The odometer says 52,000 miles, and there’s no reason to doubt it by what we see. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this Glacier Blue beauty is available through a dealer here on eBay. No takers so far on the $15,000 starting bid, which is below the reserve and the Buy It Now price of $29,900 (which gets you free shipping).
The 1969 Impala was in its fifth year of the successful generation that began in 1965. That’s when the Impala was the most popular car in America at sales of one million copies! Front and rear treatments were completely different in ’69, with the wraparound grille perhaps being its most outstanding feature. Buyers still flocked to Chevy dealers, though sales didn’t compare to those red-hot ‘65s! The seller’s beauty was bought new in Washington State and eventually found its way to Arizona.
From all the photos the selling dealer provided, this Chevy looks as good as it did when it was first sold just before Christmas in 1968. The blue paint is awesome, though it’s a redo. The matching vinyl top and interior are no doubt original and seem to be flawless. Given that the machine is now nearly six decades old, it’s only averaged 900 miles a year, the definition of a garage queen. It’s powered by a 350 V8, but the original owner sprung for a 4-barrel carburetor that would squeeze out 300 horses! We’re guessing the automatic transmission is a TH-350.
Part of its recent service includes a new set of dual pipes and tires, so this car should be ready for another 52,000 miles. The order form lists a lot of options, with factory A/C being excluded, given the usual weather in the Pacific Northwest. If you’re good with the Buy It Now price, the seller will ship it to you at no additional charge. If I were in the market for one of these Chevies, I would have already clicked the BIN button.
What a glorious looking Impala!
Wonder where the skirts went (they’re on the invoice at least). Were headlight doors available on this car?
They’re in the trunk.
Where they would stay. IMHO they lessen the clean lines of the car. Different strokes for different folks.
To E pacificar,
I actually like skirts. I had them added to my ’70 Caprice coupe. Took awhile to get the brackets.
I think they made the car look more sleek. Kind of a pita when I washed the car because I always took them off to clean the tires with good ol’ Westleys whitewall cleaner. I also had color keyed wheel covers.
Concealed headlights were on the Caprice trim level models in 69.
I’m assuming the shirts were optional because it’s showing 1/4 panel wheel trim any the hideaway headlight were available but as an option, either way this is one cool ride, my brother had one but he has the 396 under the hood
Hidden headlights were a Caprice-only option.
Yep, and the 69 Caprice looks awesome with them. If I find a 69 Caprice with bucket seats, a big block V8 and hideaway headlights, I might just have to buy it.
You could get headlight washers with that option, too.
She’s a beauty Russ, nice writeup! I had a gold 69 identical to this one except it had a factory 327, which was the final year for the engine. Always loved the concave rear windows on the customs. Mine had a big set of Western Slotted rims all around. I hope this finds a home as good or better than it has had for the last 57 years!
She’s a bueat!!!
This auction highlights the stunning lack of interest, there were only 2 bids, even though 1 was for the BIN price, which bought the car and ended the listing. It should have sold faster.
Steve R
While it is a beautiful car, its a vinyl bench, no a/c, stripper and expensive. Narrow audience for that.
I was being sarcastic. Lots of people like to bring up lack of views and bids as evidence the market is collapsing, this car sold within 24 hours without much attention or many bids because the buyer recognized its value.
Steve R
My uncle bought a coupe new with the std. 327 ci, 235 hp. Dark brown with the dark brown vinyl roof and those unique dual stripe white wall tires. If you remember them, the stripe was wider than the dual stripes in the 1970 Chevs. & probably others.
My first car was a 1970 Caprice coupe, same back window, bought because of the inspiration of my uncle’s. This is a beauty & the proof is in the fact it was gone this am.
My dad bought a new one in Azure Turquoise with a white vinyl roof and white interior with buckets and a console. It was a nice looking car. I always liked the curved rear window on these.
Unfortunately, rust got to the lower front fenders in two years time.
That’s those advertised “flush and dry” rocker panels for you.
I’d stop in my tracks at the sight of this car. Classic colors. Roll the windows down and drive.
This is almost the same car as my grandparent’s last ride when I was a teen. Except with the 327 and in some light metallic green color. Grandmother passed, grandfather wound up in assisted living (they just called them “old people’s homes” then) and the car wound up with us. My dad would tell me to take it out and drive it once in awhile so it wouldn’t just sit… well, 16 with a fresh license?… Ummm, sure. Now the other cars in the family at the time were a Renault, VW and AMCs… so this Chevy felt huge and ponderous… Like driving the Queen Mary. I remember it being very softly sprung with bias ply tires I believe… taught me the meaning of “terminal understeer” on several occasions. Dad sold it off after about 6 months… and there went my ride. GLWS.
Beautiful car. 1969 is my favourite year for the Impala since the 1964 model year.
nice looking imp and listing already gone
Beautiful Impala. ’69-’70 are my favorites, and this one is damn near perfect. Agree with Russ that the BIN would have been hit already if I were in the market for one.
Are there any pictures of the undercarriage?