The fifth generation of the Chevy Impala (1971-76) was the last for the really “big” cars, proportions-wise. They would be downsized (or is it better to say rightsized?) for 1977 to be more practical for fuel consumption. The 1972 editions would be more formal-looking than the year before and built before bumpers began to look like cowcatchers. This Impala may have been inside its storage unit for a long time given the amount of dirt and grime that have accumulated. Located in Grand Prairie, Texas, the car is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,000 or trade for a 4X4 truck or SUV.
For 1972, 2-door hardtops continued to be available in two forms: a semi-fastback coupe (roofline shared with other B-body GM cars) and a “custom” coupe with the formal roofline borrowed from the Caprice. From the photos provided of the seller’s car, it appears to be a Custom Coupe. The seller says it’s green in color, but it could very well turn out to be blue when given a thorough wash. Total Impala production for ‘72 was a healthy 597,500 units and – while down from the one-million-unit heyday of the mid-1960s – it was still healthy enough to outpace Ford.
The inline-6 engines and manually shifted transmissions all but disappeared in the Impala by 1972. The basic V8 was the 2-barrel 350 and you could still go all the way up to a 454 big block. But all of them were beginning to get detuned for lower emissions (and poorer performance and the horsepower ratings were now SAE net as opposed to gross as in years past. We don’t know which eight-cylinder is in the seller’s car, but – given the presence of the larger TH-400 automatic – we’ll go out on a limb and surmise a 400, which came in 170 and 240 hp versions.
At one time or another, this car’s owner (current or previous) may have tried to squeeze a little more speed out of the machine. The B&M “Slap Shift” automatic floor stick is aftermarket as are the gauges propped up on the dashboard above where the radio once was. We’re told the car runs and drives, but the photos suggest otherwise. The battery is connected on only one terminal and the Chevy is so crowded in its space that the only way in or out of the car would be to crawl through the passenger side window. But we’re told this Impala is one of too many projects for the seller to deal with. If you have a 4-wheel-drive truck or SUV that’s worth $6,000 or less, run it up the flagpole and you might make a trade.
A 1961 Chev Impala was ordered at a Detroit area dealer with the full list of options, was a 2 door and color was fawn. When the car arrived it was an Impala 2 door sedan, not a hard top and customer refused it. I believe this was the only year an Impala 2 door sedan was offered. Like to know from someone that might have sold these back then
I saw one at BJ auction in Arizona a few years ago and it stated it was the only year for an Impala 2 door sedan.
This one is for the donkers
1961 is the first, last, and only year an Impala 2 dr. sedan was made. 2 bad he didn’t keep it. They are very rare.
Looks like a 73.
Sorry Jim, it is a 72, I owned two 73s. They had the 5 mph front bumper.
If you’ve got a 4×4 or suv worth less then this, try for the trade, then flip it and make some Benjamin’s.
Every year the Chevrolet looked different all through the 60’s and the 70’s. This is for sure a 1972. The 1973 had a more egg crate type grill and had smoother lines.
This 1961 Impala 2 door sedan is the only one I ever saw. This one is even unique among two door sedans, it had power windows, power seat, PS and PB.
I myself purchased a new 1963 Impala 2 door hardtop in dark red with a black interior. 6 cylinder with automatic trans. I was an auditor and driving 75,000 miles a year. I needed good fuel mileage.
If this has a 400 or 454, it would have a call out badge on the front fenders, where the 350 didn’t. I believe this was the last year for it.
If it is a 400 they made two versions in the early seventies. One was based on the classic small block with some internal modifications and had two barrel carb. The others was a modified 396 AKA 402 and a four barrel carb.
Hard to tell but looks like it might be a big block 400 (actually 402) as Bill Hall noted and as far as fender call out the body has been painted and Bondo’d so much those might have bee removed the emblems were only glue on by then