A 1964 Chevrolet Impala is hardly a rare discovery here on BF, we’ve covered them out the Wazoo; so why another? Well, this one’s a true garage/barn find that’s been sitting since 1982 – not a megadollar, fully restored example, so I thought it had cred for that reason alone. This one’s a Super Sport (SS) two-door hardtop model, finished in Daytona Blue – a very common combination back in the day! It’s a bit forlorn but maybe has some potential for the future – let’s look it over and decide. Hot Springs, Arkansas, is where you’ll find it, and this stylish coupe is available here on eBay for a no-reserve current bid of $5,200 with six bids tendered so far.
Chevy’s Impala SS became its own model with a unique numerical designation in ’64 and continued as such through the 1967 model year, returning as a regular production option (RPO) in ’68. Successful, these were as about 117K Super Sports, in both hardtop and convertible body styles, were assembled in ’64, a year that proved to be a phenomenal one for the bowtie. They assembled 2.3 million passenger cars that year, placing them number one in the domestic production race, and besting number two, Ford, by about 260,000 vehicles.
This car is rough! The driver’s side looks OK, but I have no idea what in Sam Hill happened to the passenger side – it’s a rusty mess. The seller does state, “Underside looks like it’s in acceptable shape. A few rust areas noted but did not put it up on a lift and do an extensive review,” but fails to mention anything about the obvious elephant in the room. There are some interesting placed dents too, one in the roof and another in the top of the quarter. Even the Mickey Thompson, or maybe they’re American Racing wheels, have become very tired-looking.
“Interior in remarkably good shape considering the age, except for mold spots,” opines the listing, but yuck! What a turnoff that mold is – it’s truly disgusting. Beyond that, we have a missing radio, a cracked dashpad, a broken horn ring, rancid-looking carpet – well, you get the idea. This is an A/C equipped Impala and the seller states that all of the components are included – that’s a start anyway.
You know, when you try to sell something, it helps to know a bit about what you’re trying to sell. Besides not bothering to open the hood and give us an engine image, the seller states, “Not a 409 engine, so must be a 327, 2 barrel carb.” The crossed flag fender emblems tell us that this Chevy was built with a 327 CI V8 engine developing either 250 or 300 HP. Whether that’s what’s still under the hood or not is unknown, and the seller seems disinclined to delve further into that matter. Oh, and both of those 327s were fed by Rochester Four-Jet (four-barrel) carburetors – a two-barrel-fed 327 wasn’t a factory installation in an Impala until ’69. The only two-barrel carburetor-equipped engine available in a ’64 B-body was the 195 gross HP, 283 CI powerplant, and those were identified by a tri-color “V” fender emblem, sans the crossed flags. As is too often the case, a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission is in place.
Final verdict? The seller is honest with the images (other than that missing engine faux pas), so that’s certainly admirable, but I’d keep looking. There is a sizeable population of these big ’64 Chevies still running around, and better examples can certainly be had. That’s my thought, what’s yours?
God forbid they open the hood and take a few decent pictures, and give it a bath.
The 1964 Impala SS was it’s own model (13/1400 series) even though it was an appearance package which could be had with the 230 CID six.
The water damage to the doorcards and rampant interior mildew aren’t positives. Neither is the amount of rust and silt in the trunk. The exterior sheet metal and underside have their own issues. There’s not one system on this car which can be used as is. Anyone interested should have deep pockets or else look for a better starting point.
I had a teacher in high school who bought one like this. Same color, beautiful SS with a 6 cyl and 3 on the tree.
That was so sad to us sports.
From my memory crossed flags was a 283.
327. Had the number above the flags.
Yes in 1965; no in 1964.
Note the attachment, it’s the “V” emblem used on ’64 full-size models and Chevelles equipped with a 283 CI engine. To further confuse matters, the Chevelle (and El Camino) continued to employ this badge after the mid-’64 model year introduction of the 327 to that mid-sized line up.
JO
The 327s had the V with a “wing” on each side of the V
Yeah, as I stated in the post, what’s on either fender of this car.
JO
To even confuse matters more, the ’64 Nova with a 283 used a version of the “V” that was flatter.
Jim, that is not correct. The ’64 Chevelle and El Camino with a 327 used the crossed flag emblem. The ’65, ’66, and ’67 Chevelle, El Camino, and Nova 327 used the crossed flags with the engine size above it.
I based my statement on a high school friend’s ’64 Malibu hardtop. This was back in about ’72 and his car was equipped with a 250 HP, 327 CI engine (I had a ’65 at the time with a 283 and a 4-speed manual transmission) and his had the unadorned “V” without flags. Now, that 327 engine was a mid-year option, so maybe his car was an early production example and assembled before the badge was altered with flags but that is how it was decorated.
JO
Not in ’64, Chevrolet didn’t start putting the engine size above the emblem until ’65. Another quick note: the 250 horse 327 used a Rochester carb, but the 300 horse used a Carter AFB. As far as this car is concerned, hard pass.
I did some digging and you’re right, the 300 HP version did use the larger Carter carb, thx!
JO
And why was it parked in the early 1980’s. Does the engine turn over manually and no engine pictures.
The Elephant in the Room is the ‘57 Nomad!
she was a looker done in blue with a silver gut. you don’t see that too often. it will take some bucks to get her back to that
RustBucket ! Rust Everywhere you look. Hard Pass !
Forget this how about the 57 Nomad next to it.
The bottom line is the car is worth restoring if you could get it at the right price
The big question is “what is the right price”? If it doesn’t go much above where It is now you may be right, much higher would make it harder to justify.
My son had one of these, nice car in the SS model. His had the same thing happening to his only not as bad, the roof and fender/door issues on the passenger side. Turns out the center section of the frame was rotted out and being none repairable we replaced the frame. Turns out it was a common problem with the X frame design.
I’m thinking that thing was sitting in knee deep water once upon a time.
The last seller I would want to deal with is one that uses AI to write the description. Just reading those first few sentences makes me ill.
“this Impala is a well-preserved piece of automotive history from the iconic Chevrolet brand. Perfect for collectors or enthusiasts looking for a timeless classic to add to their collection.” I want to puke!