One of the hottest-selling cars in 1962 was the Chevrolet Impala Super Sport. After a limited late-season debut as a performance machine, the SS shifted gears and went more mainstream as an image package. The ploy worked. and nearly 100,000 of them were sold in ’62. That includes this edition which has had its frame rebuilt, but its drivetrain is missing. Located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, this project may or may not be complete and awaits the engine/transmission of your choice. The Chevy is available here on eBay where $4,200 has not likely come close to cracking the seller’s reserve.
Chevrolet only built 453 copies of the 1961 Impala SS with a 348 or 409 cubic inch V8. The next year, the strategy was to focus on the looks of the car by limiting bucket seats to just the SS and adding the appropriate trim. Also, any engine in the Chevy inventory could be ordered with the Super Sport, even an inline-6. We don’t know how the seller’s car was equipped when built, but a 4-speed set-up was likely and the new 327 V8 could have very well been along for the ride.
As the story goes, the seller’s father bought this SS from someone in Tennessee who had just spent $10,000 having the frame redone. But why was that work needed? Was it rusted away or was it somehow damaged in an accident? We don’t know, but we’re told the body was taken off for the initiative. When that was finished, new bushings and brake and fuel lines were installed.
The seller provides photos of stuff not in or on the car, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s 100% there. As the seller says, “some assembly is required” which is an understatement. It would be nice if photos of the car’s VIN, cowl tag, or build sheet had been provided to determine what all-original would be like. But they’re not, so perhaps this represents a clean slate for the engine and tranny of your choice?
First, how the blankety blank do you spend 10k on a frame. Every bushing, bearing, steering piece, and even an updated steering box can be had for under a grand. Is this thing powder coated and blessed. The body looks decent. The car is much better than many that have passed through here. It is a major project that could go off the rails if you cannot do the bulk of it yourself. I am still amazed how many of these are still lying about. I wonder how much they are looking to get for this mess.
Another B.S. story.
do us all a favor and just take it back to the barn it came from.it needs way too much money to get it back to where it should be and no drive train to go with it.run don’t walk people and even if you could do the work yourself still going to cost more than you would get back.