Awesome Impala Wagon, ice cold A/C, great colors, original 327/250, southern car

1964 Chevrolet Impala Additional Info:

This 1964 Chevrolet Impala station wagon isn't a car for purists but it is a car for people who love wagons. Long, low, and very cool, it's got a hot rod look with a lot of 1964 sensibility, and someone has invested a great deal of cash getting it into shape. We bought it on the spot when we saw it at a show simply because we loved the look and there was a lot of discussion about keeping it. How cool to take a road trip in a car like this? With a new interior, ice cold A/C, a strong-running 327, and an upgraded transmission, it's a strong candidate for best long-distance cruiser ever.

Despite the slammed stance and oversized rolling stock, this car is still pretty stock, so don't be fooled. Code 916 Daytona Blue is the car's original color and it was repainted just a few years ago and incorporates a charcoal gray top for a cool two-tone look that's still quite subtle. It hails from South Carolina, so the bodywork is quite straight and doesn't appear to have been rusty or wrecked, and the repaint wasn't a cheap quickie job but one that probably cost a fairly significant chunk of change. All four doors open and close with ease, the gaps are good, the hood fits flush, and the tailgate snaps open and closed without extra effort. There's a great shine and if you really want to take it up a notch, you could give it a wet sand and buff, but for a car that's going to get driven, this one still looks like a million bucks. All the factory trim is still intact, including the cool C-shaped stainless along the flanks and the iconic 1964 Impala grille. I especially like the slash of chrome running down the center of the hood and the little crossed flag emblems on the front fenders. It's all in very good condition with no notable issues, although some of the trim is still original. We don't know the origin of the roof rack—it isn't original—but it looks cool and doesn't sing on the highway, which is nice.

The interior is almost all new, including seat covers, door panels, carpets, and headliner. It isn't custom stuff, it's authentic-looking reproduction pieces in the original code 836 blue vinyl that look great. The handsome combination of pleats, button tufting, and plain panels has an upscale appearance that works well in the top-of-the-line Impala and the fit of the new upholstery is excellent. The dash is finished in the same charcoal gray as the roof and you'll note some intricate pinstripe work on the dash that lends a custom feel, but it's easy enough to remove if it's not your thing. The factory steering wheel is in fantastic condition with no cracking or peeling and the horn ring and button shine up well. Original gauges amount to a speedometer and fuel gauge, plus a quartet of warning lights, and they all work properly, and they're joined by a trio of auxiliary dials under the dash. You'll also note that this is a factory A/C car and it blows ice cold thanks to $2500 worth of new hardware working behind the scenes. Other options include a power front seat and a power rear window in the tailgate, which still works! There's also a Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo head unit powering new speakers in custom kick panels and in the cargo area and it sounds great. The under-deck storage area in back isn't rusty or patched, the spare tire well is in good shape and includes a factory steel wheel that'll fit on all four corners once a tire is mounted.

We believe the engine is the original S-coded L30 327 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and 250 horsepower. It's mostly stock but plenty robust, pulling the big wagon around with genuine authority, with the only notable upgrade being an MSD ignition system that ensures that it fires off immediately every time. It was rebuilt when the car was refinished and runs superbly with a smooth idle and plenty of power at any speed. It's wearing a coat of Chevy Orange, a correct air cleaner assembly, and factory valve covers with fresh decals advertising the 327 cubes living underneath. It's also wearing factory "ram's horn" exhaust manifolds and uses the original fan shroud to keep plenty of air moving through the giant aluminum radiator up front. There's a new A/C compressor up top (in fact, all the A/C hardware is brand new), a fresh alternator, and a new wiper motor. Can you see how this would make an awesome road trip machine?

Originally equipped with a PowerGlide transmission, it was upgraded to a fresh TH350 3-speed automatic during the build and it makes all the difference in around-town performance and comfort. Out back, it has punchy 3.23 gears that are still comfortable on the highway. The suspension has obviously been lowered using custom springs up front and a combination of springs and blocks in back, and air shocks have been added to fine-tune the ride height with a load in back. Remarkably, it rides quite well, not harsh, and if anything, we might advise a set of stiffer shocks in back to keep it buttoned down a little better. Power steering and power brakes make it effortless to drive for anyone and the custom dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers and turn-downs just ahead of the rear tires sounds great without getting annoying on the highway. Floors are original and in good shape with no signs that the car has spent time in winter weather and the frame hasn't been cut, welded, or modified, so the structure is solid. Big 18-inch Boss Motorsports wheels look awesome, especially since they're the same color as the roof, and carry 245/40/18 front and 245/45/18 rear performance radials that ride and handle rather well.

We like this car. A lot. I've been driving it regularly for a few weeks and it took a while for us to decide whether we really wanted to give it up. We love it the way it is, but we also see a lot of potential with a set of big disc brakes inside those wheels and maybe an overdrive transmission to turn it into the ultimate road trip cruiser. With an awesome look, lots of recent expensive work, and lots of desirable options it remains the top-of-the-line for Chevys in 1964 and at this price, it's pretty hard to resist. Call today!