wheres the impala guys?

[Turismo556]

I called on a '67 chevy c-10 and also got word on a '62 impala SS 409/4spd, for 3k. Says it needs lots of work, but a 409/4spd is pretty damn rare. What do you guys think? Im going to go look at it today.

 

[Gil]

If nothing else, if the engine is re-buildable and the price is reasonable buy it.
You can put the rebuilt engine and trans in a better preserved Impala, Chevelle or El Camino.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

If it's an honest to God (and there are Chevy resources to prove this) 409/4spd Impala SS then by all means restore it.

Do NOT - as the previous poster suggested - use the powertrain in another car. The 409's have held their value very well over the years and both well restored stock examples and competition history Super Stock drag cars have proven to be $45,000 and up (depending on options list, quality of restoration, factory color scheme) at auction.

There were only 15,091 Impala S/S's built with 409's in 1962. Start diving deeper into that number and you see that some options can make the car even rarer (like the 4spd you mentioned, and boy howdy if it's a dual four barrel carb motor).

Of course, this all assumes that the '62 Impala in question is already numbers matching.

 

[Gil]

Let me elaborate, If the Impala needs too much work for the resto to be done, and the car to be safe afterwards, then follow my suggestions.
However as most older chevs are not unibody cars, you can get or fabricate most of what would be necessary to restore the Impala. But if you have to buy all the body panels, and fabricate parts of the frame and floor, you're getting into some big money. A $50-60,000 resto on a car that you have no real history/attachment with, can fast become a "money pit" restoration.
If, however, you grew up in a 409 Chevy, and have lots of fond memories then you can't spend enough to restore it.
Also, insure that the motor is restorable. If it has a cracked block, or has shot a piston thru the side of the block, etc. It will just dis-appoint in the long run.

I would do the same if I had a shot at the T-Bird I grew up in. Any other T-bird resto, I'd start with the best car I could find.

In the case of the Impala, you are in rare waters, If it isn't hugely rust and a cool motor, go for it, and follow LK's advice.

 

[High-Test]

I'd follow Gil's advice. If the Impala's in good shape, do it! (look out for the bushing around the driveshaft-they can be problematic sometimes)

That being said, giddy up Four oh nine.....

 

[Slicks]

Make sure it's a numbers matching car if you plan to buy it for the purpose of doing a resto. Otherwise, if the car is an absolute rust heap, then take the engine. If the rest of the car is salvageable then a restoration (especially if you do most of the stuff yourself) could potentially be profitable.
Or basically, what Layla's Keeper said.
Edit - Damn, Layla. You seem to be a fountain of old-car knowledge. How do you know all this stuff so well?

 

[Turismo556]

Well I went and looked at it, and its needs quite a bit of work. Its all there and the 409 starts up and runs like a champ, but i dont have the time or money to restore it.

 

[Slicks]

If you say so, but let me say this.
A few years from now when prices on musclecars have gone up even more, you'll be kicking yourself.
Sure, you may not have the time or $$ right now, but you will surely find some time and cash in the future. Get it now, and hold onto it until you can afford to do something with it. That's what I plan to do with a TR6 down the street. Buy it as soon as I get the money and work on it when I can.

 

[High-Test]

Ooh... I love TR6s... Does this one have the Pagoda top?

 

[Layla's Keeper]

Slicks, it's a combination of a real passion for classics, being the owner of a 1970 MGB GT, and a lot of experience researching classic cars.

In fact, my father and I used to be journalists for RPM Racing News out of Latrobe, PA. Covered the midwestern supermodified and sprints scene, as well as general automotive musings.

Right now, though, I'm making my living turning wrenches on folks' everyday drivers. Mechanic, journalist, driver, done a little bit of it all in only 20 years.

 

[Slicks]

Ooh... I love TR6s... Does this one have the Pagoda top?

The Pagonda top being the factory-optional hardtop?
I don't know if it has it, but probably not.

I'm going to wait for a couple paychecks to roll in and then make a move on it.

 

[S31Ender]

hehe. You mean...............*peeks around*.....................like this one! Dunno about the top though. sorry.

 

[StevieMo]

I'll be an Impala guy in a couple weeks. Picking my 1996 Impala SS up on Oct. 13th hopefully.

 

[S31Ender]

I did a small search and found this for ya'll.
I don't like the color, but hey, when you're twice my age, your color won't be so hot will ya!?

 

[Slicks]

hehe. You mean...............*peeks around*.....................like this one! Dunno about the top though. sorry.

Well, the one around the corner isn't in nearly the condition of that one. A definite fixer-upper, while I still have the Neon to drive. In fact, I haven't once seen it move in the 4 years that I have lived where I do. At least it's got a car cover on it inside a car port.
I basically want to make it driveable as a daily driver (No, I'm not crazy. I do want a TR6 as a daily driver). Not perfect, but nice. I plan to go take a look at it once I get a few paychecks in my wallet.

It's a Pimento Red car produced sometime after 1972 ('72 being the first year they painted them Pimento Red). The closest I have gotten to it is the sidewalk at the end of the driveway. Not close enough to see anything in great detail. I really hope they will part with it

Is this the top you were talking about, Menglan??