With so many Impala SS cars preserved for future collectability, it’s a bit startling to see such a tired example. Still, not every car gets preserved, and this one is a cheap project that makes more sense as a rat rod or daily beater than a restoration candidate. With a few mechanical issues and rust spots to address, the $2,500 asking price seen here on eBay seems more than fair for a tire-smoking project that won’t break the bank.
It won’t break the bank, but you will have to spend some money up front. The ignition is busted and the interior is pretty trashed. The incorrect radiator is installed, and the odometer doesn’t work. Some modifications are noted, including a lowered suspension, aftermarket exhaust, performance chip and 3.73 gears. The seller notes it accelerates quite well for a big car and is still a hoot to drive.
The rust issues, however, are intimidating. There’s lots of rust in places that seem to indicate the problem is bigger than it may appear, such as in the engine bay. The seller also notes, “Rust down low , a 3″ or 4″ spot behind right rear tire, and an 8×8 or so patch has been riveted over original floor pan at drivers feet. Clean repair for a riveted panel.” When I see the Impala is located in nearby Holden, Massachusetts, I’m not surprised at all to learn of the rust issues.
Still, for a big, comfortable cruiser that makes nice sounds and accelerates well, you could do far worse. The Impala will never be a perfect car, but with some attention to the basic mechanical issues and perhaps just *monitoring* the rust, you could have a fun cruiser with strong pedigree as a collector car – even if this one will never be a museum piece. Would you fix the body or just drive the doors off of it?
A good thrasher for a little bit maybe. I wouldn’t do a thing to it. If the radiator works leave it. Hoon it till it breaks. But $2500? Maybe 18-ish.
If I find a nice one of these I will buy it.
Miguel, how serious are you? I have a mint black 96 Impala with the Callaway Engine (420 hp) and about 20k original miles. In Detroit, MI.
For what the
heck money you could drive for awhile, then move that engine into your project car. Seems worth it.
Sweet looking car. I remember when this gen Chevy Caprice and Impala SS was on the market. I find them more attractive than the current generation Caprice you see.
Yes she’s been rode hard and put up wet w\ road salt. My ’95 was the cop car version in Texas with cop package 90000 on 350 LT1 w\ new trany I got @ auction and very clean w\ highways miles only, full maintenance records. I added K&N, Headman headers, Flowmasters w’ 2 1\2″ pipes. Lowered 2″, split rear cop rims to 8″ w\ 275\60s and 255\60s on front. She looked perfect. Car was very Fast and handled. Ran her from ’99 to 2009 with no tickets. DPS troopers thought it was an undercover car for years w\ the existing black push bar and spot light and factory tan paint. Great car…..
@KIRK – Great story! Reminiscent of Gumball Rally… Thumbs up!
It appears they are keeping the nicer Green one and selling off the beater.
Kurt Johnson was one of my best friends. He and I sat downstairs at the Student Union and plotted our senior year for graduation. We compared schedules to get as many classes together as possible. Ours was that kind of relationship.
His father was a big wig banker, whose major client was Ford, so Kurt got a new Mustang GT Convertible at cost (he still had to pay for it) for graduation. It was a great step up from his silver Chevette.
After graduation, he and I stayed in close touch over the years, doing projects together here and there. But he was a big organization type and I preferred guerrilla economics. Even so, I could not refuse, when, some 10 years later, he asked me to come to the university and help him get his computing services division under control.
After about another year had passed, he called me and said that he was tired of his Mustang, it was getting old, and was going to go buy a Lexus LS300. I panicked! Immediately, in my most authoritative voice, I said “You are NOT getting a glorified Toyota! You are going with me down to the Chevrolet dealer and ordering a 1996 Impala SS”.
He was sly. He knew that I would know what was good and what wasn’t, so his management style was to let the associate think they were in charge, while he was getting the information he wanted to make his own decision. When he “told” me that he was buying Japanese, he knew I would either agree, reinforcing his predilection, or would offer a better alternative from my knowledge and background. That is excellent management technique!
Anyway, we went test driving and explored prices and options, then after a couple of weeks, he told me, “I’m going to go down and pick up the SS”.
It was dark rose with a light grey leather interior. This was the only year of the three (’94, & ’95 were the other two for the temporary return to sanity Chevrolet experienced) that the automatic shifter was offered on a floor console.
It was a stunningly handsome and purposeful-looking automobile!
Nearly everyone in our circle at the university admired it, and asked him a lot of questions over the next several years. He told me that this was a great car (that was huge for him to admit), and that he enjoyed driving it immensely.
Chevrolet’s return to sanity only lasted 3 years. Pity.
Wonderful car.
For that type of money, I think I would go with this one with 398,354 miles for $2000. Might be cheaper in the long run.
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1995/chevrolet/impala/100982750#
You could get that one but you wouldn’t have an SS if you did.
Weird, that ad says Impala SS in the headline but it’s clearly a Caprice in the photos. How do they get away with that? Scratching my head…
I always loved these Impala SS models of this era but the rust issues of this one scare me away.
its an SS! black caprice headlights did not have the black on the top.
In 1995 I ordered a crown vic with the meager amount of “performance options” ford offered. To this day I regret not having bought the impala ss.
I had a 92 caprice wagon good car, lotsa room.
I could tolerate the look of the wagon but always thought this body style was ugly JMHO
These are the last of Real rwd Big Impalas they are Special but for sure Not in this condition !!
Always wanted one, but could never afford it. If this car were closer, I’d
really consider buying it. Oh sure,
we have these here in Central Florida,
but they are very pricey and often sell
for the same price as a tri-5 Chevy.
Yhe last one I saw on a used car lot
in Auburndale, Florida sold for nearly
$40K! Glad I had my nitro pills with
me when he gave me the price on it.
The only big expense with the car
shown here would be replacing or
repairing the steering column which
could run upwards of $5K here in
Florida as most all the auto repair
shops set their prices high to rip
off unsuspecting tourists. Whether
it’s me or someone else, this car will
sell at this price. After all, where else
can you get a project grade Impala SS
for under $20K? BTW, that red caprice
that one of you posted here is really
nice. Looks like a 9C1 police special.
Probably an old detective’s car. Good
bones for an SS clone though.
Stolen and recovered, no ignition tumbler says STOLEN AND BEAT THE LIVIN HELL OUT OF!
Geez Louise, some of youse guys are really cheeeeep. This is an Impala SS for almost literally pocket change. Stick the right radiator in it, do a thorough cleanup and detail, and you’ve got a truly great beater to hoon around in. Have a blast with it for a couple years and sell it for what you paid, or (probably) more.
Forget the steering column. Put in a hidden kill switch and run it the way it is. Rust? Bah – it’s minimal and the car’s black – a can of Rust-Oleum and you’re good to go.
Imagination, people. Repeat after me: Beater. Fun car. Cheap wheels. Hoon-mobile.
230hp, 360 tq bent8 w/RWD.
Nor sure but sounds good 2 me.
260 HP 330 lbs/ft torque ☺
That’s what I call a performance car engine. It may not be Ferrari, but then Ferrari engines rarely ever have more torque than horsepower.
When this generation Caprice first came out in 1991, I wasn’t a big fan. I always did have a soft spot for the Impala SS.
If I hadn’t bought my 2015 Dodge Dart, I would’ve gladly bought a 1994 Chevrolet Caprice, provided it has less than 50,000 miles.
A few years ago I came up to a Caprice taxi at a stoplight and it had Impala SS emblems.
I’d buy an Impala SS if I could use it as a taxicab.
My best friends son wrapped his around a concrete light pole (funny we don’t call them telephone poles anymore)……hit so hard it knocked the rear end out of it. I miss my buddie, he has been gone 6 years now.
I had a 96. More desirable since as I recall it had huge plush bucket seats and a console shifter. When I sold it it was in pristine condition with a couple of minor mods. This one, not so pristine. Why not search for a good one , a 96, pay a little more and not have to put any work in it?
Had fun with this car. Towed my jet skis no problem. ROOMY.
Just my two cents.
@Greg Doherty – You clearly don’t know this audience. Most of these people LIVE to tinker with and work on, cars. One time, my brother came over. He headed straight for my ’68 Corvette, and popped the hood!
I looked at him incredulously and asked what he thought he was doing. After a moment, he said, “Nothin’ just checkin’ stuff”. I said (for the millionth time) “It’s running fine. I have a rule: if nothing seems to be wrong, don’t buy trouble”. I may as well have been whispering into the wind.
But that’s just my (and obviously your) motto… not most of these guys’.
Gave you a ‘thumbs up’ for the nice experience.
Didn’t see that rule anywhere in the blog guidelines. 🤐