Bowing for the 1958 model year, the Chevy Impala was part of the fiftieth production-year celebration for GM. Designed as a prestige vehicle, the Impala was part of the Bel Air lineup. The Chevy Impala could be had as a hardtop or convertible, with a longer trunk section, wheelbase, and lower greenhouse than the other Bel Air offerings.
The 1963 Chevy Impala had sharper, cleaner styling, with the beltline moved lower on the car. The rear panel was home to three tail lights per side as in the previous year, but was concave with a machine-turned aluminum panel. The Chevrolet emblem and script dipped down in the center of the panel.
Inside the 1963 Chevy Impala, the instrument panel was “hooded.” Indicator lights for hot and cold engine conditions were standard issue, and an optional tachometer could be fitted just below the center of the speedometer.
The SS trim package first offered for the Chevy Impala for the 1961 model year was again available for 1963. Impala Super Sports had anodized aluminum side and rear trim inserts, red rear-quarter SS badging above the Impala script, nonfunctional spinners on the wheel covers, and chrome trim around the tail light panel. Impala Super Sports had standard vinyl bucket seats split by a new center console sporting an SS badge in front of the shifter. There were anodized panels on the dash, and SS badging on the steering wheel horn button.
1963 Chevy Impala Super Sports could be had with a number of drivetrains, in both Small Block and Big Block configurations. In addition to the two 409 cubic-inch W-head Big Blocks rated at 400 and 425 horsepower carried over from the 1962 model year (these were rated at 380 horsepower and 409 horsepower respectively for 1962), a third 409 rated at 340 horsepower was offered for ’63. Unlike the higher-horse 409s, the 340-horsepower engine had a hydraulic cam and could be ordered with an automatic transmission. The Small Block offerings could be had in either 283 or 327 cubic-inch displacements, with 195-, 250-, 300-horsepower ratings.
Our feature 1963 Chevy Impala SS convertible has had a body-off restoration that was completed in 2021. It is finished in Ermine White with a white vinyl convertible top over an Aqua Vinyl bucket seat interior. All of the brightwork has been either replaced, replated, or polished to a fault. The Impala is powered by a Small Block Turbo Fire 327 topped by a four-barrel carburetor and backed by a four-speed manual transmission. It is equipped with power steering, power brakes, and a power convertible top.
