The Chevrolet Impala was one of the most popular automobiles of the 1960s and 1970s. More than one million of them were sold in 1965 alone (the peak). The fifth generation arrived in 1971, and the cars would become the largest Chevies ever built. This sweet 1972 edition spent 30 years in a shed but hardly looks worse for the wear with a rebuilt small block. Located in Fairbury, Nebraska, this Custom Coupe is available here on craigslist for $17,000 OBO. Our thanks to “Zappenduster” for the tip!
As far back as 1968, you could get the Impala 2-door hardtop in two variants: the Sport Coupe (fastback) and Custom Coupe (notchback). The latter used the formal Caprice’s roofline, but the rest of the trim was all Impala. Impala sales were a solid 600,000 units in 1972 with a minor styling update from 1971. Of those, 183,000 were Custom Coupes, the second most popular body style by just a handful of units. Most Impalas probably had a 350 cubic inch V8 under the hood, but a 400 variation of the same block was available.
As the story goes, this Impala was in hiding for three decades. Perhaps there was a problem with the original 400 2-barrel motor at 99,000 miles, as it’s been completely overhauled. We assume it’s paired with a TH-350 automatic transmission. In addition, the Chevy has been fitted with a new dual exhaust and set of new tires. We’re told that many other parts were installed but not named (a short list would help sell the car).
The body, paint, vinyl top, and interior all look good, though the carpeting appears to be faded and could stand replacement. Despite the vast number of these cars produced, they don’t turn up that often these days (no Super Sports in the mix). Perhaps one of the cleanest examples you’ll find, the seller says his/her loss is your gain, suggesting that party has more than $17k invested.
I guess it’s clean early 70’s Impala 2 door hardtop week here. ( Not complaining).Our next door neighbor we had when I was a kid in the 70’s owned an Exxon station and always seemed to have something interesting in his driveway. He had a ’71 Impala drop top. Even then, as kids, we knew it was rare. These are nice cars, definitely a product of the 70’s. I can’t get over how good this one looks for the age, mileage and the fact it was stored for so long. Hope it goes to a good new.home and gets enjoyed.
I’m in love.
My Driver’s Ed car! Ours was a 4-door of course.
Wow, your driving instructor looks pretty hot!!!
That’s why I’m so good at parking!
Angel’s coming after you now! Lol!
You better watch out. Angel might be coming after you! LOL!
If you could park one of these boats you can park anything.
It’s the Generation Jones version of what kids are going through now where the instructor covers the backup camera because they don’t allow use of it on the driving test, but the camera’s presence meant the design team bumped rearward visibility well down the priorities list.
You could get the Impala “fastback ” two door as far back as ’65. But there were none after ’68.
However these (boats) had louvers cut into the trunk (for ventilation I believe). It just looked cool on these cars.
That was 1971 only.
Astro Ventilation, I think they called it.
1971s did
Bologna, I had a ’71 sport coupe. It was considered a fast back. I wanted the formal “caprice” type roof line but I was buying a left over ’71.
I believe that was 71 only across all GM lines
My Aunt had one with the 400 motor I could fry the back tires.
nice impala. i have found most of these in a 2dr had the s/b 400 in them. i would swap out those tailpipes for something more concealed. this looks pretty solid in and out. be curious how far off the 17,500 they would move. the guy with the beer should have stepped aside for the pic though.
The guy with the beer, at that moment, is being quoted for the Craigslist write up; “My loss is your gain!” Now that picture makes sense…
Is it just me or does anyone else think the front end would look better with the bumper across the grill cut out, making the grill gape?
I liked the prominent grille of these and other coffin nosed cars. They were, after all, imitating Cadillac. What impresses me is that it’s not bent from ramming curbs like so many back then.
Ahhhhh…… I went back to the opening shot and tried to imagine the front bumper split a la Camaro, but I don’t think it would look right – for me anyway. But I do like your creative thinking.
It would make it Cadillac looking. I guess that’s why you like it!
Hi Angle! I hope all is going well for you!
Hi Wayne,
Yes, everything is going well. Can’t complain….. no one listens anyway. 😅
Now, if it was a Turbo-Jet…
I don’t think Chevrolet ever used this color combination from the factory. Cars with this color roof and interior were painted green from the factory. My neighbor had one and it was gorgeous. I think someone didn’t like green and did a color change.
They had an issue with that system so they revamped it for ’72 on up.
yeah, they moved the vents to the door pillar.
It’s unusual but not impossible, either a special order or just an odd build. Red, blue and black tops/interiors with white cars were all much more popular, even beige as blank as it would seen, but white/green was orderable and they probably built a few on spec.
Sorry, I couldn’t help myself lol. Considering your profile picture and the car in your comment is a couple years off the one in the article I’ll have to say ‘close but no cigar’ 🤣
I had a 1971 four door with factory rear fender skirts and 400 emblem on rocker trim it was actually a 402 big block 300 hp for 71 and turbo 400 bought from my aunt in South Carolina with 29k original mi, wish I still had it.
My drivers-ed car was a ’76 Cutlass Supreme sedan.
See the USA . . . . . .
“See the USA” . . . . .
I’ll tell you one thing for sure….that’s a ’71 interior. I had a cottonwood green with a black vinyl roof and that exact interior. I may be wrong but the ’72 didn’t have the brocade interior. Those are ’71 wheel covers too.
The interior is correct. Seventy ones used a rectangular button on the upholstery where as the ’72’s were square like seen here. Brocade fabric was standard through ’74 unless you bought the herringbone sport cloth. Wheel trim was identical both years, likely due to the strike.
Chevrolet and other General Motors divisions used trunk lid vents exclusively in 1971 as part of a new “flo-thru” forced-air ventilation system, but the design caused major water leaks, trapped moisture that caused rust, and sucked exhaust fumes back into the cabin.
Why the Vents Were Added: GM designed the system to force fresh air through the car cabin using a mandatory blower fan whenever the ignition was on, even when the car was stopped. The louvers on the trunk lid or tailgate acted as the exit point to let the used cabin air escape outside.
Why the Design Failed and Was Dropped: Rain and car wash water poured directly into the deck lid louvers and got trapped inside the trunk panels. The trapped water caused severe rust and could freeze in cold weather, making the trunk lid extremely heavy and hard to open. Under certain driving conditions, exterior exhaust fumes were pulled backward through the vents into the vehicle. For the 1972 model year, GM quickly eliminated the trunk vents and relocated the exhaust exit points to safer, protected areas in the lock pillars (door jambs).
I grew up around squarebody GM trucks, at the age of 4 or 5 in 1978-9 I remember thinking how cool it was that the blower fan on Aunt Betty’s ’76 Corolla wagon could be completely turned off!
I can almost see it now, it’s going a case of colt 45 malt liquor in the front a riding on 39s with the most ridiculous wheels ever seen all within 2 hours of purchase!
I’m all for trusting everyone that takes and posts the same pictures numerous times on a car that has no more explanation than what this owner has posted.
No anything of substantial meat and potatoes about anything other than the engine was rebuilt.
Of course I forgot. Oh yeah, this is Craigslist. Oh, yeah and it’s limited to 34 words, Wheezing. And 10 pictures. Crap.
Gheez.
The only way this owner will receive this kind of money from anyone outside of their local area is to advertise on BaT and add some information substantial to really explain what all was done to the car. Oh, yeah and some underside photos.
Some people’s kids.
Wow, these things are coming out of the woodwork lately! DONKS for everyone!
Looks like there has been work done on the left quarter panel, in front of the rear wheel, below the quarter trim.
I’ve heard these are the best demolition cars ever because of the space between the bumper and the vitals under the hood.
Last of the good GM cars. After 73 they all were terrible cars. I had a new Eldo, a two year old low mileage Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser wagon. Many of my friends had Chevys of all kinds. Pontiacs too. Every one had build quality issues and even worse performance and fuel mileage. Disgraceful
I had a 74 Impala. Honestly it was a great car but the updated look didn’t ring my bell in the appearance department. It was a great car though. A 400 small block in 1974 certainly wasn’t in muscle car territory but it moved my Impala nicely. Even with the high (at the time) drag from the a/c compressor going.