Chevrolet reportedly made fewer than 30,000 convertibles in 1967; that’s not a lot. They made over 115,000 wagons and over 575,000 two and four-door sedans, but I had no idea the numbers were so small for Chevy’s ’67 Impala ragtop. This example is listed here on eBay in College Point, New York; there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $8,100.
The peeling Deepwater Blue (?) paint on the hood is the biggest giveaway that this Chevy convertible needs some work. The seller says this is a car that’s been in the same family since it was new, and it needs to be redone, body-and-rust-wise. The floors are bad, and they say the body, in general, needs to be redone. That’s a big job, but it doesn’t appear to be scaring away the bidders.
The fourth-generation Impala was made from 1964 for the 1965 model year until the end of 1970, and things got really big after that, unfortunately, because the oil crisis wasn’t that far ahead of that timeline. As with a lot of folks in their 50s and 60s, our family had a Chevrolet of this era, and we had a couple of them at least. My dad had a company car that was, I believe, a 1968 Biscayne, the basest of the base models of all time. It was a nice car, but really basic, as most company cars are. He also bought a ’65 white over gold four-door project sedan at some point, to use the 283 engine in some sort of creation he was building at the time.
If the seller wasn’t honest in reporting on the condition of this car, a person would never know that it needs rust work just by looking at it. They say the frame is solid, as is the trunk floor, but the floors are rusty and were repaired at some point and need to be redone, as with parts of the body. I know that feeling. The seats look perfect, both front and rear, and the top was replaced a few years ago and works as it should. Here’s a fun brochure to check out if you have time.
The 283-cu.in. OHV V8 appears to be wearing a rusty aftermarket air cleaner over what is likely an aftermarket carburetor. The engine would have had 195 horsepower and 285 lb-ft of torque when new, passing through a two-speed slip-and-slide (Powerglide) automatic, sending power to the rear wheels. It runs, drives, and brakes just fine, according to the seller. Hagerty is at $12,700 for a #4 fair-condition example, how much is this one worth?
There is one of the 30,000 ’67 Impala converts not far from me under a carport, next to a really cool 1920s Florida bungalow, on a busy Tampa street in a hot Tampa neighborhood. I spotted it probably 4 years ago, and pulled around the corner to have a closer look.
I didn’t venture onto the property, but looked from the side street. The car looked pretty decent, but the driver’s window was down, and the house looked run down and unoccupied. Eventually, over time, I got bold and chanced to walk onto the property and have a closer look at the car. I brought with me a note with my phone number, saying if the car was for sale, contact me. As I stood next to the car, there were two other notes on the dashboard with other guys’ numbers, also inquiring about the car. I removed those notes and replaced them with my note. There was no call from the guy.
Eventually, on one of my passes by the house, I saw the owner on the property. I parked my 65 New Yorker on the side street and approached him about the car. He was really nice, enjoyed talking about the New Yorker and Impala, but wasn’t interested in selling the car. Weeks later, I saw the guy in a gas station as I was in my 63 Riviera. He came right over but didn’t remember me; he really liked the Riv, and told me all about his ’67 Impala convertible, as if he drove it often. (As if it actually drove!).
Today I happened to drive by the house and there was the car. Still under the carport, the window was still down, and the rear tires still flat. The very cool Florida bungalow style house was still forlorn and in need of restoration. I recall the guy telling me he was waiting for the right price for the lot, so he’s just looking to cash out and is in no hurry it would seem. I guess the house and the car will meet the same fate and be demolished to make way for some 5-story high-priced apartment building. Well, I tried to save the car, as did those other guys whose notes I grabbed.
Interesting story. My dad’s best friend used to travel all over KY and TN locating and purchasing 39 and 40 Ford coupes and convertibles. He was an expert at restoring them and brought them up to like new when finished. I remember him telling Dad that when located one he had this old pickup truck he would travel in for the visit. He would wear overalls and a John Deere cap and sometimes sat on porches all day working the deal out. He said if you tried that driving a nice car and clothing most of them wouldn’t even answer the door! Funny how some people hold onto vehicles, even if they know they will never drive them again.
My favorite gripe: Put the correct radiator hoses on it! They’re about the same price, readily available, and put less stress on the radiator necks. Also, lose the Mickey Mouse air cleaner. That being said… I want it.