This eBay listing for a classic B-body 1979 Chevrolet Impala wagon ends soon, and we felt it was worthy of a look. One of the more intriguing aspects of older cars and trucks is decoding their options, not only for the sake of assessing how rare it may be but also for understanding a little more about the first owner. In the case of this long roof Impala, it seems the first caretaker didn’t want to give up his or her hot rodding past, and did what they could to make the station wagon more sporting. It features the optional 350 under the hood and a few other add-ons. Find it here on eBay for $6,500 or best offer.
GM, like all domestic automakers, was actively in a downsizing mode when the this generation of the Impala was introduced. The good news is it hadn’t completely abandoned what made the Impala a classic at this point in time, so the proportions were still meaty enough to feel muscular. The seller notes that this wagon comes equipped with the “Sport” wheels, which I can only assume is another name for factory Rallye wheels. The “dish” on this wheel design can transform the appearance of even a sedate family vehicle like a station wagon, and they sit nicely against the slab-sided body. This Impala also comes with the wind-cheating dual sport mirrors.
Is it a Ferrari? Absolutely not. But choosing the larger engine, the Rallye wheels, the sport mirrors – well, it gives us a glimpse into who was buying this wagon. At the time, an Impala wagon was hardly considered cool as it was the Dodge Caravan of its day. They were seen as vehicles reserved for people who needed to cart their family around, not hit the strip on a Friday night. The optional rear seat increased seating capacity for those buyers who had a bigger brood; this one appears to be a standard 6-seater with the two benches. Interior photos are poor, but the seats and door panels look decent. The seller states it has “…upgraded air conditioning” which we assume means an R134 conversion has been performed.
The 350 V8 under the hood made around 150 horsepower. This was respectable for the day, and the seller highlights the presence of a factory dual exhaust. All in all, this Impala wagon seems like the enthusiast’s choice if you needed an estate body in 1979. Speaking of the bodywork, it’s said to be rust-free and it certainly looks clean in the photos. The description features an odd choice of words, as it notes that it runs strong with no smoke or leaks, but also states that it was running when parked. Regardless, you’ll get a host of new suspension and steering components already installed, including new calipers, upper control arms and ball joints, lower ball joints, new shocks, and more. The seller is asking $6,500 or best offer.
Seems like a good deal here. Dual exhaust-wonder it it have cat convertors on it with the angled trans cross member. It says ran when parked in the add. Would like to see more pictures.