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Super Sport? 1963 Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet discovered in the early 1960s that buyers liked full-sized cars with some sporty featured. Which is why the Super Sport option became so popular so quickly. From building 99,000 copies in 1962 to 153,000 more in 1963, Chevy was on a roll. In the early days, it was hard to determine if an Impala SS was a true SS without documentation. That changed in 1964 when it became a series of its own. This ’63 edition is said to be a true SS, but nothing definitive confirms that other than bucket seats which may have come later. The car is in rough condition and no longer has an engine or transmission. Located in a yard in Kansas City, Missouri, this roller is available here on eBay for $4,750 (or you can make an offer).

In 1961, the Super Sport began as a limited production performance-type car. A year later, the image of the car shifted from muscle to style and sales took off. You could still get an Impala SS with a big engine, but now you could have one with any engine. The VIN on this 1963 Impala indicates it left the factory with a six-cylinder engine (230 cubic inches?) and the brake peddle tells us it also had an automatic transmission, a Powerglide. But both of those are long gone, leaving a shell of a car with most of the trim removed and sitting on the hood.

The only thing that remains of what would have made the car an SS is the presence of bucket seats, but those could have been added. And the seller mentions a console, but it’s not installed. Also, one lone SS wheel cover is present. The cowl tag points to a color change at some time as tan-colored paint may have been there instead of blue. We don’t know if the car is complete, but the seller does mention that the bumpers have parted company.

This is one of those “what you see is what you get” cars that also has no title (bill of sale, only). As a restoration, this would be a major uphill climb. And anyone restoring the car would drop in a V8 rather than another six-banger. As a parts car, is there nearly $5,000 in value here?

Comments

  1. Avatar Harvey Member

    Ran when new,just needs a little spit and polish and a small fortune:-)

    Like 10
  2. Avatar mike

    You are kidding right?? So sad.

    Like 9
  3. Avatar Rooster Calls

    Will this chicken coupe displace roosters and hens upon sale?

    Good luck with sale

    Like 6
  4. Avatar local_sheriff

    Well, one CAN tell a real deal ’63 SS from regular ‘pala, and it’s not really hard either. It of course requires a bit more work than just going by the VIN but not much.

    Thing is; Chev would specify type of upholstery under the ‘trim’ designation on the cowl tag. Not only does this # reveal what color the specific car’s upholstery was, but also series/style (Biscayne/BelAir/Impala). Yes; a ’63 SS is still the same series as a regular ‘pala, however the trim code specifies what material upholstery is AND what kind of seat it’s for! Since we know a ’63 SS has buckets it’s just to check out whether the trim code specifies bucket seats.

    Since our seller here has been so kind to supply a pic of the cowl tag (WOW!) we just need to decode the trim code 858; which translates into Saddle vinyl upholstery installed on bucket seats. So yes; the car in question is indeed a legit SS

    Like 13
    • Avatar Al

      Now that I’m informed, I still don’t want it.

      Like 8
      • Avatar local_sheriff

        I’ll definately admit that it looks like s*** however if you care to take a closer look at its sheetmetal it appears to be shockingly sound. There can of course be plenty of bondo underneath the incorrect paint but we’ve seen rust bucket X-frames here before which need way more patching than this specimen appears to need.

        A ’63-’64 ‘pala has become almost as easy to own as a Tri-Five or Mustang when it comes to parts availability. Everything that’s missing or ratty here can easily be replaced or restored, it’s just a matter of how much you’re willing to spend. While I personally would never buy a vehicle without a clean title (judging by the surroundings this looks like a place cars are butchered…?) however there are in some states still ways to legally obtain a title with bill of sale only. Don’t judge a book by its cover

        Like 2
  5. Avatar Rw

    There you go Taco.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Taco

      Taco says no go on this one…

      Like 5
  6. Avatar Big Al

    He knows what he’s got ! No low ball offers ! He doesn’t need to sell. His loss, your gain ! hahahaha

    Like 4
    • Avatar greg v

      You forgot to add “easy restoration”! My favourite. Is there such a thing?

      Like 5
      • Avatar Bill McCoskey Member

        Just remember, there is no such thing as a “small repair”.

        Like 1
  7. Avatar gaspumpchas

    looks like it was already used for a parts car. think the paint might buff up. Scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Sure the floors are crackers from wet carpets. Look it over good, the amazing thing is it doesnt present itself as a rust bucket but who knows. Know what you are buying.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Frank

    It may have a solid body, it looks pretty good. Possibly a nice car stripped for a resto that never happened? I’d restore it if I owned it, how many six cylinder SS Impalas have you seen?

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Mike

    Pop rivets on the vin tag is a bad sign too

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Chuck Foster

    A buddy I worked with in the Air Guard had a tan 63 6 cylinder Impala SS, it was a very clean car he got from an old lady, he sold it for a good price in the 90s, 1990s that is.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Frank

      They have to be a oddball among oddballs.

      Like 0
  11. Avatar Jerry Bramlett

    That VIN plate has been removed before. Run, Forrest, run!

    Like 0
  12. Avatar PRA4SNW

    It is so junkyard fresh that it’s still in the junkyard!

    Like 0
  13. Avatar V12MECH

    My 63 Impala had a spot welded tag. I believe GM went to rosette rivits in ’65. Not sure, but a vin maybe stamped in frame , rear area. One of our customers had a family owned ’65 Biscayne with round rivits securing tag, ’64 build date.

    Like 1

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