Vehicle Description
409/425 dual quad engine with solid lifters. 4-speed manual
transmission. Older repaint in Tuxedo Black with recent correct
interior. Factory tach. Long-term ownership and known history
dating back decades. Chevy's nastiest early '60s muscle car, ready
to rock!There's a reason early '60s Impala Sport Coupes are so
popular?just look at it! It's gorgeous! The proportions are exactly
right, and even though Chevrolet was GM's entry-level brand,
there's nothing about the Impala that suggests cost-cutting. This
was a car you bought no matter who you were, just because you
wanted it. And the guy who spec'd this 1963 Chevrolet Impala
checked the single most important box: the dual quad 409 cubic inch
V8 with 425 horsepower on tap. We believe this to be a legit
409/425 because the second owner, who bought it in 1970, says that
the car was stolen a few months after he bought it. It was
discovered shortly thereafter bereft of its engine and
transmission, but otherwise intact. He made an insurance claim and
to its credit, the insurance company sourced a correct X-code 1965
409 block with a JA suffix code and put it back together properly.
A few years later, it was completely repainted, taking it from its
original code 936 Ermine White to its current Tuxedo Black, which
everyone will agree is a worthy improvement. While there are a few
minor signs of age, the car looks spectacular and the
laser-straight bodywork shows extremely well with no evidence of
patching or substandard work anywhere on the car. Rap your knuckles
on any of the panels and they ring true, just like a clean car
should. A few micro-blisters on the roof and rear deck below the
rear window might be able to be buffed out, but we're not so sure
we'd chase perfection?we like the look on this one just the way it
sits. There's a red pinstripe to add a little interest, but as a
non-SS model, it's got unadorned flanks that seem to enhance the
Q-ship vibe of this nasty black Imp. The black cloth and vinyl
interior was more recently replaced and is quite correct
throughout. The seats are firm and comfortable, the way a luxury
car should be, and we love the juxtaposition of the 4-speed Hurst
shifter and a bench seat. The color here was also changed from blue
to black, so that means everything you see in black is new or
restored, including the door panels, dash pad, carpets, and even
the steering wheel. The center console from an SS was sourced just
because it looks awesome, and there's a functional factory
tachometer perched right above the steering column. In fact, all
the gauges work, including the idiot lights showing when the engine
is cold?a handy piece of information with that thumping 409 up
front. A set of auxiliary gauges was installed under the center of
the dash and there is no radio?if your first instinct upon entering
a car like this is to reach for the radio, you're doing it wrong.
The upholstery and carpets are virtually unmarked, and there's a
fresh white headliner overhead that keeps it from getting too dark
inside. In back, there's a massive trunk with a full-sized spare
tire and jack assembly perched up on its own shelf in the back.As I
mentioned, the 409 in the car isn't original, but we do believe
this is a real-deal 409/425 car. First, there's the second owner
who stated that it was an untouched car when he acquired it in 1970
and that it was put back to that condition after the engine was
stolen. Secondly, it still has its original 3/8-inch fuel feed line
and a return line to the tank, something only used on the dual-quad
cars. Either way, the engine is legit, with an X cast into the
front of the block, two 4-barrel carbs up top, and that musical
solid lifter valve train inside. For a high-performance engine,
this one is beautifully tuned. It starts easily, idles nicely, and
doesn't seem to get fussy no matter what you're doing. The chrome
air cleaner is correct, and it's outfitted with period Edelbrock
finned valve covers along with the requisite Chevy Orange engine
enamel. Chevy switched to alternators earlier than most, so that's
correct, and along the way, it was retrofitted with a dual master
cylinder for safety. It does have power steering, which makes it
quite easy to handle, and ride quality is obviously excellent. The
4-speed snaps through the gears with authority and feeds a set of
reasonable 3.55 gears out back, making this a very usable cruiser.
The body has never been off the frame, but you can see just how
clean it is underneath, with original floors to match the
outstanding bodywork. A recent Flowmaster exhaust system sounds
just about right, and it's fitted with an electric fuel pump that's
a little noisy, but that's easy to remedy. The brakes and rear
suspension has been recently rebuilt, and there are fresh shocks
all around. It really drives nicely. Traditional Cragar mags are a
great choice and carry fat 235/75/15 blackwall radials that add to
the brutal look.You can probably tell that we really like this car.
Our experience with similar cars has been that they can be
temperamental, but this one just works like it should. Turn the
key, go have fun. It comes by its '409' emblems honestly and the
fact that it has never been totally blown apart means it feels
solid going down the road. Beautifully finished and just right for
cruising and casual shows, this is a car that has a lot of swagger
but doesn't ask the driver to pay for it. That's just plain cool.
Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal
or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior
to purchase.
