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Hot Rods 61 Impala SS (four door)

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by DDDenny, Jan 15, 2016.

  1. 130910BeecheyZ28.jpg I didn't notice year lol. I saw Norm charging up Collingrove hillclimb in his genuine unrestored '67 Z28 in 2013.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2016
  2. rush549
    Joined: May 18, 2012
    Posts: 117

    rush549
    Member
    from Kansas

    1964 Galaxie fordor hardtops aren't particularly rare. Watch the movie "Crazy in Alabama" Theres one on there. I do know a guy in another town that has two 1963 XL Galaxie Wagons. Now those are rare!!!
     
  3. Comparsion of 4-door hardtop production Chevy Sport Sedan vs Ford Town Victoria body styles 1961-1964 (Chevy production figures from 348-409.com). Hands-down, Chevy more-doors in hardtop form outsold Fords by a very wide margin. Interestingly, most Chevy production breakdowns lump all Impalas together regardless of body style, but the only way to get a 4-dr HT/Sport Sedan was as an Impala (or so I've been led to believe after all these years). Ford, on the other hand, broke down production by model/trim line and body style. This is one of the few direct comparisons that can be made between the two manufacturers by trim/body style for the top-of-the-line models (Impala vs Galaxie ('61)/Galaxie 500 ('62-'64)

    '61 Chevy Impala 4-dr HT - 194,158 (this would include cars with 'SS' trim option - no known breakdown)
    '61 Galaxie 4-dr HT - 30,342
    (bucket seats were offered as a special-order option in full-size Fords but not well documented)

    '62 Chevy Impala 4-dr HT - 176,077
    '62 Galaxie 500 4-dr HT - 30,778
    (no 500/XL 4-door HTs offered - just 2-dr HT and convertible)

    '63 Chevy Impala 4-dr HT - 194,158
    '63 Galaxie 500 4-dr HT - 26,558;
    '63 Galaxie 500/XL 4-dr HT - 12, 592
    (1st yr for XL 4-dr HT - lowest production full-size Ford for '63);

    '64 Chevy Impala 4-dr HT - 200,172
    '64 Galaxie 500 4-dr HT - 49,242;
    '64 Galaxie 500/XL 4-dr HT - 14,661
    (Last yr for XL 4-dr HT - 2nd-lowest production full-size Ford behind '64 Galaxie 500 2-dr Sedan)

    For the uninitiated: Galaxie 500 - bench seat; Galaxie 500/XL - bucket seats/console. Interestingly, the bucket-seat Country Squire models were not given an "XL" designation if they were optioned with bucket seats/console - these are certainly in the "rare" category.

    Now, if a "phantom" Impala SS 4-door hardtop for '63 or '64 shows up, should some people be reaching for the duct tape to keep their heads from exploding?
     
    loudbang likes this.
  4. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,213

    sunbeam
    Member

    61 SS didn't have bucket seat.
     
    fourspd340 likes this.
  5. Judd
    Joined: Feb 26, 2003
    Posts: 1,894

    Judd
    Member

    Was a guy here in south mississippi with a chevelle ss station wagon about a 70 he bought new at the Biloxi Chevy dealer. He had an original 68 chevelle he bought new also.
     
  6. dorf
    Joined: Dec 5, 2008
    Posts: 1,087

    dorf
    Member
    from ohio

    read it was a 62
     
  7. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

     
  8. slim38
    Joined: Dec 27, 2015
    Posts: 619

    slim38
    Member
    from Sudan TX
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Its not an ss but 61 4door h/t. Pretty cool i think. Screenshot_2016-01-30-14-13-10.png
     
  9. slim38
    Joined: Dec 27, 2015
    Posts: 619

    slim38
    Member
    from Sudan TX
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Sorry volume bar was in the way. Screenshot_2016-01-30-14-17-13.png
     
  10. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Bump for new arrivals
     
  11. finn
    Joined: Jan 25, 2006
    Posts: 1,280

    finn
    Member

  12. BigDogSS
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 979

    BigDogSS
    Member
    from SoCal

    This is NOT proof. The car Norm Beechey owns in the article and a 1962 model year Impala 4 door, not a 61 and not an SS.
    This is for sure --> there positively were NO Impala SS 4-doors from 1962 - 1969. And NO proof of a 1961 Impala SS 4-door has surfaced.
     
    slowmotion likes this.
  13. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon


    TAP TAP TAP, IS THIS THING ON.
    Any of you new guys heard of this odd duck.
    Sure would like to hear of some "Proof" that any were actually built.
    Anybody!
     
  14. cavman
    Joined: Mar 23, 2005
    Posts: 669

    cavman
    Member

    Someone was thinking Sport Sedans only came as Impalas. Here is one just like my Dad bought new in '61. (minus skirts) I hit a light pole with it when I was 16.
    View attachment 3155343 upload_2016-3-5_21-54-40.png
     
    jw179251 likes this.
  15. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    Nice. I drove a 61 Impala 4 door hardtop in my late teens until I got my Nomad going. The Impala was all original. Gold and white with a gold interior. It was clean.
     
  16. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Saw your black with white stripe 61 four door hardtop, before reading your post, I said; There's my first car at 15, 1969, but.......mine was an Impala and Impalas had six tailites and only Biscaines and BelAirs had four, then you say WHAT.
    Count me in too,, never saw (that I recall) a 61 four door hardtop (sport sedan) that wasn't an Impala. Who knew! And I'm nearly as old as the year of my first car, weird.
    We might find this thread topic car is not as odd of a duck as we think, just need proof.
    One thing that I discovered years after my 61 went away, was Chevy built 61 BelAir two door hardtops, (bubbletops to some), I did know the 62 line had them. Spotted one, one day in a driveway, just blocks from my house, wierd.
     
  17. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Just a nudge for new members that may have some thoughts.
     
  18. Gman0046
    Joined: Jul 24, 2005
    Posts: 6,256

    Gman0046
    Member

    I recently saw a 61 Chevy more door hardtop that was lowered and had decent wheels and tires on it and thought it looked pretty good for a four door.

    Gary
     
  19. Just goes to prove my theory/beliefe that the SS was a trim package and not necessarily a performance package. ;)

    now I want a more door, that one. :D
     
  20. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    My 96 SS is definitely not just a trim package!


    As I mentioned in my opening post; my first car was a black 61 sport sedan, it had 5 spokes, and I really thought I had it going on, four doors or otherwise.
    Kinda like a first girlfriend, you have fond memories regardless of how much extra bodywork it came with it.
     
  21. The average show room SS was a trim package ( for eons it seems), some got better drivetrains but the overwhelming majority were just glitzed out versions. I always chuckle I bought a '64 Mailbu SS in the '70s. 283 2bbl power glide. it still had the window sticker in the glove box, came that way.
     
  22. 46stude
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 1,718

    46stude
    Member

    My best friend owned one of those. Two door '64 SS Impala with the six, 3 on the tree, & buckets. That was in '93 or '94. Yanked the engine/trans & dropped in a built 350 w/ a 4 speed. It got sold a year or two later.
     
  23. More fuel for the fire although I doubt one was ever produced.

    1961 Chevy Impala accessory SS 4.jpg


    Here's a couple 61 SS body tags (2 dr Sport Coupes) so now you can look under the hood of every 4 door BUT not all SS cars were designated on the body tag.

    St Louis built 1st week of July
    1961 Chevy Impala SS body tag 3.jpg
    Atlanta built 3rd week of April
    1961 Chevy Impala Super Sport body tag.jpg
     
    jw179251 likes this.
  24. Now while everybody is looking for the 4 door SS, I'd be looking for this car.
    The only Impala produced with bucket seats in 1961.

    1961 Chevy Impala at show factory photo 4.jpg

    1961 Chevy Impala at worlds fair.jpg
     
  25. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    May be the light blue one in the background.
     
  26. lippy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 6,825

    lippy
    Member
    from Ks

    I had a 66 Nova SS with a 327 350 hp L-79 with a 3 spd on the column and a bench seat. Marina blue with blue interior. It was a fuck up. It was suppose to be a 283 two barrel but the L-79 box got checked. This car was ordered with deluxe interior. That many times was the SS option. 4 were built according to Doug Marion super chevy mag. All different colors. It would drag the bumper and run the quarter in second gear. I am a sad man. Lippy
     
    mike in tucson likes this.
  27. primed34
    Joined: Feb 3, 2007
    Posts: 1,407

    primed34
    Member

    I'll bet you are.
     
  28. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Lippy
    Not to put you on the spot here but I need a clarification on the above post.
    Among my interests are Novas, we have had ours since 1983 and I'm always interested in trivia, especally rare factory combinations. You may or may not know the following.
    The L79 engine option was available in all body styles including wagons, the standard trans was the 3 speed on the column, 4 speeds had to be ordered as one of the available options, therefore not all Super Sports had consoles, but bucket seats were standard.
    The sport coupes (and the rest) had bench seats with no bucket seat option.
    You said your car was a f/up, did that refer to the mixup in the engine order or were you saying it was a Super Sport with a bench seat.
     
  29. The "super sport option", RPO # 240, was available on any 1800 model series Impala, except station wagon.
     
  30. lippy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 6,825

    lippy
    Member
    from Ks

    Denny.....yes. lol. I didn't order the car I bought it years later from Bill Dark Chevrolet. It was ordered by an older gentleman. He wanted a 283 2 bbl and a 3 spd on the column . He wanted floor mats and deluxe interior. Bill told me somehow things got screwed up. When it showed up it was a 327-350 with a 3 spd on the column and a bench seat. AND it had SS badging and hubcaps. The guy did not like the car. He seldom drove it and years later finally traded it in. It stayed in the warehouse for a long time, no one wanted it. I was snooping down there with a friend and saw it. It was a pretty car. You just couldn't get enough rear tire under it or passengers in the back. I never took pics of anything back then but here is Bill Darks bunch. I remember them all . :) Lippy
     

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    Last edited: Apr 29, 2016

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