This 1968 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe is an attractive looking car that has spent an extended period sitting idle in a private collection. It now runs and drives, but it may need some work if it is to be returned to a roadworthy state. It has the potential to be a stunning car, and it is going to require the right person with some dedication to get the best out of this project car. If you believe that you are that person, then you will find the Impala located in Dade City, Florida, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $9,100 in what is a No Reserve auction.

The Impala is an attractive looking vehicle finished in Maroon, but this isn’t the vehicle’s original color. It rolled off the line wearing Island Teal but has very obviously undergone a color change at some point. Judging by the lack of chips and marks in the paint, it would appear that the vehicle hasn’t accumulated many miles since this process was undertaken. However, that new paint is something of a sticking point with me. The quality of the workmanship is very inconsistent because while the majority of it does look good, there are a few issues to consider. The first is the fact that whoever performed this work has made no attempt to either mask or remove some of the weatherstrips and has painted over them. This issue is most apparent on the doors, although the masking around the rear window has also been found wanting. The weatherstrips might not be an issue, because the majority of these are dry and cracked, and will require replacement anyway. My more profound concern revolves around the potential quality of the preparation work that was performed before the paint was applied, and this is something that I would probably want to investigate further. The issues that I’ve just identified does raise some questions in that department. It’s also worth noting that some rust issues will need to be addressed at some point. These are most obvious under the battery tray and around the trunk close, although there are some further small bubbles visible around the car. The floors pose an interesting problem because it appears there may have been some rust in the floor on the passenger side. This has been tackled by bolting a plate in this area, and it is what could be best described as a pretty ugly looking job. No attempt has been made to have the plate conform with the contours of the floor, and the bolts hang down underneath the car because they are substantially longer than would have been necessary. My gut instinct says that the next owner could potentially be facing some work if the Impala is to be genuinely rust-free. Having said that, the rest of the floors and the frame rails look pretty good, while areas like the rockers appear to be quite clean. The windshield is cracked and will require replacement. There is also damage to the front bumper, and it is hard to determine whether this could be repaired. The remaining glass and trim seem to be in decent order, so there is some positive news on that front.

Those of you who are old enough might remember a 1989 Tom Hanks movie called Turner & Hooch. Hanks plays the role of Turner, while Hooch is actually a French Mastiff dog. In one memorable scene, Hooch slowly begins to eat the upholstery inside Turner’s car. It would appear that Hooch might also have spent some time inside this Impala because the seat upholstery is looking extremely dilapidated. Interestingly, the interior wasn’t originally Black, with the interior trim identified as code 821, which was Blue. Once again, we can see that someone has “made merry” with the paint and the dye because they have even managed to paint the exposed seat foam in a few locations. Exactly how the next owner chooses to proceed with this will depend entirely on whether they intend to undertake a faithful restoration, or whether they intend to refurbish the vehicle in its current color combination. Regardless of which route they follow, the interior will require new seat covers, carpets, and a headliner. The door trims are dyed, and a personal inspection will determine whether this work has been performed competently, or whether these will also require replacement. The dash pad is cracked, although this might be repairable. Apart from some aftermarket gauges mounted below the dash, the rest of the interior would appear to be standard and unmodified. One bonus is the fact that the Impala does come equipped with air conditioning.

Lifting the hood on the Chevy reveals the original 307ci V8, which is backed by a Powerglide transmission. The inclusion of power steering and power brakes should make the car a pretty relaxed cruiser. This classic does run and drive, although the owner does suggest that because it has been sitting idle for an extended period, a full mechanical check would be well worthwhile. I have included a video clip at the bottom of this article, and this allows you to hear the 307 running. The engine sounds pretty solid, and it would appear that it has been fitted with a new dual exhaust. The power steering is intermittently noisy, and this could indicate anything from a slipping belt, through to the pump requiring a rebuild. Once again, this can be determined via a personal inspection. Another plus is the fact that it would appear that the tires that are fitted to the Chevy are relatively new.

So, if you bought this 1968 Impala, what would you do? Would you undertake a full restoration, returning it to its original paint and trim combination? Given how attractive it looks now, it might also be tempting to perform a refurbishment to retain this combination, because it certainly is eye-catching. The third alternative would be to return it to a mechanically roadworthy state and to drive it basically unchanged. Personally, I would probably choose the second option, but would you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=92&v=1hczmj0fTAk&feature=emb_title