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Owned For 50 Years: 1964 Chevrolet Impala

The longest that I’ve ever owned a car is 10-years, so I can’t imagine the sort of emotional wrench that must come with choosing to part with a classic that you have owned for more than five decades. That is the situation with this 1964 Chevrolet Impala, which is set to go to a new home. It is a solid and roadworthy classic, and while it does have a few relatively minor needs, it is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately. The Impala is located in Glasco, Kansas, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. While bidding has now reached $11,500, the reserve hasn’t been met.

Some colors work better than others on classic cars, but I personally think that Palomar Red is one of the nicest to ever grace the panels of a ’64 Impala. It is a deep and rich color, and when it is in good condition, it adds a real touch of class to a vehicle. The paint on this car isn’t perfect, so I suspect that it will probably be treated to a repaint at some point by its next owner. The panels appear to be nice and straight, with no major dings or dents. The chrome and trim all look to be in fairly reasonable order, as does the glass. There is some rust present in the Chevy, but it isn’t particularly bad. The only spot of “hidden” rust is a small spot in the trunk, but there is little doubt that this could be addressed with a simple patch. Externally, there is rust appearing in the bottoms of the fenders, along with a small amount beginning to become visible around the rear wheel arches. Once again, it is the sort of rust that could easily be fixed with patches, so the next owner is not facing the daunting prospect of wholesale metal replacement with this car.

Taking a peek inside the engine bay of the Impala reveals a 283ci V8, a 2-speed Powerglide transmission, power brakes, and I think that the vehicle might also feature power steering. The 283 should be pumping out somewhere in the vicinity of 195hp, and while that won’t make this the most potent car on the block, performance should still be pretty reasonable for a car of this age and weight. The seller says that the Impala has recently received a new fuel tank, along with a full tune-up. The result is a classic that is said to run and drive like new. It would seem that this Impala is all set and ready to hit the road for a bit of Summer fun.

The interior of the Impala generally looks quite respectable, with not too many problems that are worth noting. The carpet is now showing some wear, but it would be considered to be presentable for an original survivor. However, with replacements carpet sets easy to find for around $250, that would be a cheap investment to make the interior really stand out. I don’t think that the originality extends to the cover on the front seat, as I believe that this has been replaced at some point. There are some mismatches between the front and the rear covers, and since the rear appears to be of the correct color and pattern, this makes me think that the front is new. There have been no aftermarket additions, so the original radio is still in place. The Impala is also fitted with air conditioning, but this will apparently require a recharge to blow cold once again.

Interest in this 1964 Impala has been very strong since it was listed for sale. A total of 10 people have submitted an impressive 50 bids up to this point. Given the fact that the reserve hasn’t been met at this point, it might be worth speculating on just what this car could potentially sell for. It’s general lack of significant rust, its originality, and its apparent mechanical health mean that the next owner might not be looking at a huge outlay to return the Impala to an impressive state of presentation. That means that I personally wouldn’t be at all surprised if this classic sells for somewhere in the region of $20,000. Of course, it is an auction, so all you need is two individuals who want this car badly enough. Then all bets are off.

Comments

  1. Avatar dirtyharry

    I “understand.” I have had 2 cars for almost 50 years. Granted, one is drag car and only goes down the track. I can’t sell them. It would be like selling a family member, who isn’t a brother in law. I could sell one of those. Nice find.

    Like 14
  2. Avatar Rixx56 Member

    Had a ’64 around 1976-7. Always loved the look of these; particularly from the back… those tail lights!

    Like 13
  3. Avatar local_sheriff

    It’s also mentioned in the ad owner has had it for 3years…? Like my own ’64 SS this is a St Louis MO built vehicle and considering its last 6 digits are some 27k’s after mine it must be a fairly late production as I know mine was delievered in Apr ’64.

    The rust in the trunk behind LH wheel is the most comprehensive and is a common issue on these ‘palas. I think this section is available in repop now, when I bought mine in ’96 these bits had to be fabricated. Owning a ’63-’64 Impala today is almost as easy as owning a TriFive or Mustang when it comes to parts availability.

    When you own a car for so long it becomes a part of you. Such a relationship will definately not be without some hurdles (yes I’ve sometimes almost hated my ’64!), but just the thought of selling becomes more unthinkable for each year passing by

    Like 5
  4. Avatar Mark

    Beautiful car. But I’m biased. My aunt had a 64 Impala hardtop this color. Traded in her 56 Bel Air. She got married in 1967, and the car got wrecked in 1973

    Her hubby was a Pontiac guy and bought her a 73 butterscotch and tan Catalina.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Very nice automobile. I’ve never owned a 64 Impala but have admired them from a distance. I have owned cars for more than twenty years. I bought a Ford Taurus new and drove it until 2017 with over 300,000 miles with no major issues. I replaced battery three times, serpentine belt and tensioner one time and ofcourse tires three or four times. Four wheel disc brakes with rotors were replaced once at over 120,000 miles.
    Now, I’ve now owned my 64 Buick Riviera for nine years and will keep it for at least another ten before giving it to my grandson who is eight now, and loves classic cars.
    My next classic will be a convertible, preferably 67 Buick Skylark with factory 4 speed transmission.
    God bless America

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Very nice automobile. I’ve never owned a 64 Impala but have admired them from a distance. I have owned cars for more than twenty years. I bought a 96 Ford Taurus new and drove it until 2017 with over 300,000 miles with no major issues. I replaced battery three times, serpentine belt and tensioner one time and ofcourse tires three or four times. Four wheel disc brakes with rotors were replaced once at over 120,000 miles.
    Now, I’ve now owned my 64 Buick Riviera for nine years and will keep it for at least another ten before giving it to my grandson who is eight now, and loves classic cars.
    My next classic will be a convertible, preferably 67 Buick Skylark with factory 4 speed transmission.
    God bless America

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Frank Delia III

    So has he owned it for 3 years or since the late 60s??? Do some sellers even read their ad?

    Like 5
  8. Avatar John S.

    ’64 Impalas have a special place in my mind… In ’74 I had an SS 327/Powerglide. Frost Blue with the blue interior. I replaced the engine/trans with a 454/4-speed out of a wrecked ’70 Chevelle. The Impala had a 3.08 posi and that car flew… it could bury the needle on the speedometer! I drove it from Chicago to Boston, and after a week’s visit, drove from Boston to Long Beach, California. From there I drove up the coast to Portland, Or., where it was stolen. What a car & what a summer! (I couldn’t afford the fuel these days, though)

    Like 3
  9. HoA Howard A Member

    My 1st GF out of HS had a car just like this, only gold. I think it was her dads. She was just a little thing, and had to sit on pillows to drive it. She traded it for a Datsun 1200 which fit her much better. Talk about one extreme to the other.

    Like 5
  10. Avatar Bennie C Davis Jr

    It is one beautiful car, I’ve always owned Fords. With the way this car looks, the seller shouldn’t have any problem getting around 20 to 25K for it. I hope the seller gets what he’s wishing for, you only get one chance at it.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar George Mattar

    Had a turquoise 64 two door hardtop. Put SS wheel covers on it I foand at Carlisle for $40 in 1981. Drove it through my Penn State years 1980 to 1983. 283 PG like this with add on air just like this car. Never broke down. Burned a ton of 10W40 as the valve guides wore out. My car was bought new by my father’s step mom in Tampa. She died in 1980, and lwft it to me. Wish I kept it. Zero rust car, but plenty of old lady dents. She was 92 when she died.

    Like 5
    • Avatar DayDreamBeliever

      We had the basic Impala 4-door, that great turquoise color as well.
      Dad had the seats covered with a HD clear vinyl, so that when he traded it in ’68 on the Oldsmobile Delta 88, the fabric was like new.

      That always bothered me, letting a second owner have comfortable fabric seats, while we rode summers and winters in the car on that plastic. (No AC either) 283/PG with the only cool option being a positraction differential.

      My brother was a little hard on the car….

      Like 2
  12. Avatar TimM

    Another clean well cared for example of what a big car from the 60’s should be!!! Nice find and I commend the caretaker of this ride!!! Well done!!!

    Like 4
  13. Avatar Steve P

    Had a ‘64 SS 327/4sp, white with black interior. My high school car ‘68-‘69. Would give anything to have it back

    Like 2
    • Avatar 4504 Member

      Those were super super cars, there was something about the SS models that turned my eyeballs upside down. My brother had a 65 Impala 327, God rest his soul. I think that just about every one of us “older” folks wished they had their old rides back. Don’t blame yourselves folks, hardly none of us knew what our cars would be worth and would mean to us today. Man, we let those cars (the ones we did not wreck) go for peanuts. We just were not thinking… imagine that, being a teenager. But we have our memories that we can tell others about and nobody can take that away from us, especially our kids who have heard the same story from us about a couple of dozen times haha and we expect them to act like they heard it for the first time. Then our kids turned into us, but it seems that the kids today just generally don’t feel the same way about cars as we did back then. Sigh…. mike

      Like 3
  14. Avatar 4504 Member

    ok, this is one of those “I had one” comments. Well, not quite. The Caprice was the top of the line, the Impala was just under it, followed by the Bel Air and then the lowly, lowly Biscayne. I had the Biscayne and it only had 2 of the round tail lights one each side so that people knew you were poor. It had a solid red vinyl interior that would cause you to get flashbacks. I hated that friggin car as a 17 year old, bought it for $400. The girls did not exactly flock to it. Now I feel differently about it. I wish I had it back. I have that car to thank for my career, as one night I got caught by a deputy spinning dounuts around a lightpole one night behind my high school. The judge said either some clinker time or go into the service (I had a few minor traffic warrants as well I think). I chose the service, which I did not exactly love, but I served faithfully and fully with an honorable discharge. I credit all of that for being the success that I am today, living in a 30 year old 36′ Southwind rv that has not moved in years! Still can’t get the chicks interested in that either and it’s a real head-scratcher for me… mike

    Like 4
    • Avatar Edward michalski

      At least you can laugh about it

      Like 0
  15. Avatar stillrunners

    Count me in as a 50 year owner of a car or truck……like a good woman you just don’t get rid of them…..

    This is a nice 1964 that a flipper has and he hasn’t had it 50 yrs – that thanks should go to the previous caretaker.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Patrick Curran

    I learned how to drive on my dad’s 64 Impala. It was just like this but was Daytona Blue. Great memories of this car.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Edward michalski

    I bought a1964 impala ss 327/250
    hp 4 speed Paloma red with white interior and traded it for a motor home like a idiot 3 years latter I found another 64 impala ss almost exactly the same car except this one was a 300 hp so I traded a vette that I had at the moment and will never let this one go

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Edward michalski

    The list of cars I have owned over the years 1957 Chevrolet 210 red 1962 bel air gold 1963 bel air red 2 1964 impala ss both Paloma’s red with white interior 1966 impala convertible ss light blu with white top 1968 impal fastback(my first car) 1969 impala brown with black top 1968 nova drag car 8.60 @166 mph in quarter mile

    Like 0

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