Original Super Sport: 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS

This 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS coupe is said to be a highly original example that doesn’t run but comes with its numbers-matching 327 and original color combination. This has to be one of the prettier shades of blue I’ve seen on a GM product and combined with the white-wall tires and pillar-less doors, it reminds you how stunning some of these original designs were. The seller reports that there is some very minor rust to address but it sounds insignificant overall; it seems like the kind of car that is an excellent basis for restoration or simply restoring the mechanicals and preserving the patina. Find it here on craigslist for $22,500.

One of my favorite design elements of the Impala of this era was the taillights – seriously, have we ever seen such a distinctive look since the 60s-era Impala? Of course, you want to make sure you don’t inadvertently smash or chip one of those precious lenses, which is certainly easy enough to do given how pronounced they are. The Impala was as much a luxury car as it was a performance car, as you could load these big-body coupes up with options. It would be interesting to see a build sheet to see how this one was equipped, as you could check the box features ranging from positraction to a vacuum-operated trunk release. Is that a California black plate I see hanging off the bumper?

The interior has obviously seen better days, but it’s still quite handsome even in its ragged state. And truthfully, it may be the case that it’s just the seats that need some work and the carpets that need steam-cleaning, with the rest of the cockpit being in generally good order. Now, it obviously doesn’t have the wood-rimmed steering wheel or power windows, but there’s so much else you could have spec’d an Impala with, ranging from power locks and seats to a tilt steering wheel, or even an AM/FM stereo with Multiplex! When you think about how much GM was throwing into its iconic models, it really makes you appreciate how high-end these cars were.

Of course, it would have been awesome to find a 409 under the hood with confirmation of a positraction rear end, but a 327 isn’t hateful, either. With 350 horsepower on tap, it more than got out of its own way, and what a hoot it will be to hear this street bruiser rumble to life again. While I would preserve as much of it as I could in OEM condition, I’d be hard-pressed to resist the urge to add a free-flowing exhaust to hear that 327 burbling at idle. The asking price seems reasonable to me for a very restorable Impala SS, but if it were me, I’d love to see a build sheet before plunking down the cash.