After the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, Detroit had difficulty selling really big cars. That held for the market leader, too, as Chevrolet only built about 250,000 full-size models in 1975, two-thirds being the venerable Impala. The seller has a ’75 Sport Coupe, which appears light on trim but also has rear fender skirts, which were hardly in use by then. Located in Renton, Washington, this Chevy is available here on eBay, where the opening bid of $10,000 is awaiting a taker. Or you can fast forward to $17,500 and buy it now. Thanks, Mitchell G., for more vintage tips!

Seeing that the tides had changed, Chevrolet began a “right-sizing” (aka downsizing) campaign in 1977. They started with cars like the Impala, which lost size and weight (but not passenger space) and could get better gas mileage with smaller engines. So, the 1975 Impala would carry its land yacht proportions another year before the big changes came along. The Sport Coupe (like the seller’s car) was more attractive (IMO) due to its traditional roofline compared to the Custom Coupe, which had a large side window cut into the C-pillar.

The seller is light on details about his/her Impala, so its history isn’t presented. The car has 73,800 miles, which is probably legit given the vehicle’s overall condition. The white exterior paint is reminiscent of the 1974 “Spirit of America” Impala. The interior is blue, though we only see the rear seat and dashboard (which has a white dash pad, likely a replacement). Note that the automatic transmission gearshift handle is a round white ball.

We’re guessing the engine is a 350 cubic inch V8, which wears some bling. Whether the motor has been tweaked is unknown, but the 2-barrel 350 in a 4,000-pound car in 1975 wasn’t a mover-and-a-shaker. The side fender skirts make the car look longer than it already is. New for 1975 was an electronic ignition and catalytic converter, which we assume the Chevy has retained. If you’re looking for Chevrolet’s biggest Impala, how does this one work?