This 1961 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe was purchased by the seller in 1998 following history in South Carolina, and it later underwent a multi-year cosmetic and mechanical refurbishment that was completed in May 2024. The car is finished in white over blue cloth and vinyl upholstery, and it is powered by a rebuilt 283ci V8 mated to a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Equipment includes an Edelbrock Performer carburetor, quad headlights, chrome bumpers and trim, dual antennas, tinted glass, drum brakes, 14″ steel wheels with polished covers, bench seating, a push-button AM radio, and a deluxe cabin heater. This Impala is now offered with invoices, a copy of the previous title, and a Pennsylvania title in the seller’s name.
The car was finished from the factory in Ermine White (936) with Jewel Blue accents and was resprayed under previous ownership. Styling incorporates chrome bumpers plus bright trim and headlight surrounds, and other features include a bubble-top roof, quad headlights, triple taillights, dual antennas, tinted glass, and a recessed tail panel. The underhood, underbody, and trunk were refinished during the recent refurbishment along with replacing the seals around the glass, door, trunk, and body. Cracks are noted on the driver-side C-pillar and trunk lid paint as well as bubbling in the lower-front corners of the doors.
The 14″ steel wheels wear polished covers and are mounted with G78-14 Coker Classic whitewall tires, and a full-size trunk-mounted spare is fitted with a 7.50″ BFGoodrich Silvertown tire. Work under current ownership consisted of rebuilding the steering box, shaft linkage, and column as well as replacing the following suspension and drum brake components:
- Bushings and ball joints
- Wheel bearings
- Springs
- Tie rods and idler arm
- Brake master cylinder, lines, and hoses
- Brake shoes and wheel cylinders
- Brake drum hardware
The seat covers, door panels, and headliner were refreshed under previous ownership, and the recently refinished floor pans were fitted with sound-deadening material before being covered by reproduction molded carpets. The cabin consists of front and rear bench seats upholstered in two-tone blue vinyl and patterned cloth, and appointments include vent windows, metal trim accents, a padded upper dash, a push-button AM radio, and a deluxe heater. The kick panels, floor mats, and package tray trim were also recently replaced, and the upper dashboard paint is cracked.
The two-tone steering wheel wears an Impala logo and sits ahead of a refinished instrument panel consisting of a horizontal 120-mph speedometer, an analog clock, and gauges indicating coolant temperature and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 82k miles, approximately 8k of which were added under current ownership.
The 283ci Super Turbo-Fire V8 was factory rated at 230 gross horsepower, and it features an Edelbrock Performer four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust system. The engine was rebuilt under current ownership, which included boring the cylinders 0.030″ oversized, rebuilding the cylinder heads, and installing a replacement camshaft, pistons, bearings, oil pump, lifters, and timing components. The starter motor, windshield washer pump, and windshield wiper motor were rebuilt, the exhaust manifolds were refreshed, and these additional components were replaced during the refurbishment:
- Engine and transmission mounts
- Generator and voltage regulator
- Wiring harnesses and fuse block
- Fuel tank, pump, filter, sending unit, lines, and hoses
- Radiator and cooling hoses
- Water pump and thermostat
- Heater core
- Transmission cooling lines
- Dual exhaust system
Power is routed to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission that was installed under prior ownership and was rebuilt during the recent refurbishment. The rear differential and driveshaft were also rebuilt.
Decoding the body tag reveals the following information:
- Style: 61-1837 – 1961 Impala Sport Coupe
- Body: SL 19035 –St Louis, Missouri, assembly; production sequence number
- Trim: 841 – Blue cloth and vinyl
- Paint: 936 – Ermine White
- Accessory: EZI – Tinted glass
Photos highlighting work completed under current ownership as well as engine component part identifiers can be viewed in the gallery below.
The Pennsylvania title carries an Antique brand.
