Why The Chevy Impala Is Still A Hot Commodity On The Used Market
The Chevrolet Impala is one of the all-time best-selling American nameplates, and was produced on-and-off from the late 1950s until the 2020s. It has been everything from a luxurious land yacht to a FWD compact, but the money-ride collectibles are the two-door hardtops and convertibles of the 1960s. These Golden Age Impalas are the most unique classics in that they bridge so many segments. They can be a luxury liner, a boulevard cruiser, a straight-up muscle car, or all of the above at the same time.
Chevy sold a ton of Impalas back in the day, because they provided style and performance at an everyman price. Nearly as luxe as a Cadillac or Lincoln, the Impala gave regular people access to the good life. Its popularity has never waned, largely due to both pop and car culture, which has glorified this ride into a true automotive icon. Nobody wrote songs about the Buick Electra or Dodge Polara, but the Impala is an endless source of inspiration. It's also a hot commodity on the collectors' market, simply because it is timelessly cool.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Chevrolet and other authoritative sources, including Hagerty, and J.D. Power.
A parked 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS
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The 1962 Chevy Impala SS may be a forgotten gem, but it is competent enough to demand a place in muscle car history.
Broad Appeal Of The Chevy Impala
3/4 side view of 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS
Chevrolet introduced the Impala in 1958 as part of GM's 50th anniversary of making cars. It was actually the top-of-the-line Bel Air, but would become its own nameplate in the second generation, which would come only one year later. Both first and second-gen Impalas had that classic '50s styling, but in 1961, for gen-three, got the sleek, muscular design that most people remember. With a boxier look and sharp lines, the third-generation Impala had hood and decklid for days, as well as the signature "bubbleback" roofline. This is the car that defined the Impala and the epitome of the classic Chevy.
Third-Gen Impala Stats
Model Years | 1961-1964 |
|---|---|
Production Numbers | 2,827,529 units |
Body Styles | 2-door convertible, 2-door sedan, 2-door hardtop, 4-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, 4-door station wagon |
Engines | 230ci I-6, 235ci I-6, 283ci V-8, 327ci V-8, 248ci V-8, 409ci V-8, 427ci V-8 |
Transmissions | 2-speed automatic, 3-speed manual, 3-speed automatic, 4-speed manual |
Power | 140–430 HP, 220–575 LB-FT |
MSRP | $2,618 - $4,280 ($27,633 - $44,143 adjusted for inflation) |
Average Used Price | $28,800 - $56,400 (Not including the Z11) |
The Impala went through generations early on faster than Henry VIII went through wives, so by 1965 the fourth-gen was upon us. With a more rounded styling, it wasn't quite as sharp as the third-gen, but still a smooth cruiser. Both the third and fourth-generation Impalas gave the air of luxury at a decent price and were by far the coolest full-size rides on the road. When it comes to collectible Impalas, 1961-1970 are the target years and, because they resonated with the public, are a fairly abundant vehicle, meaning they are still attainable. Of course, top examples are going to be pricey, but there is no shortage of project cars out there.
1962 Impala SS 409
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In 1960, Chevy added the Super Sport performance package to the Impala line, and in 1962, that included the mighty 409ci V-8. Making an un-ironic 409 horsepower, this was one of the fiercest rides on the streets and a precursor to the coming age of muscle cars. The SS 409 was such a stunner that the Beach Boys wrote a song about it, that was un-coincidentally titled "409." An original, matching numbers '62 SS 409 is a six-figure ride, like this amazing white convertible, which sold for $150,000 at the Mecum Kissimmee 2024 auction. Not bad for a car that originally rolled off the lot for $3,240.
Impala Z11 Factory Drag Car
Bring a Trailer
In the early '60s, drag racing was surging in popularity, so to meet the demand, Chevy built a limited edition, track-ready Impala. Equipped with a dual four-barrel carburetor 427ci V-8, the '63 Impala Z11 produced an astounding 430 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque. Limited to just 50 examples, this is one of the rarest and most desirable classic Chevys ever built. As is often the case with factory drag cars, many of them were destroyed in competition, so the rarity of this car is even higher. A 1963 Impala Z11, once owned by racer Terry Prince, hit a high bid of $298,000 on Bring a Trailer in 2023, indicating the value of these elusive rides.
Red 1969 Ford Torino Talladega
10 Fastest Factory Drag Cars
These limited numbers factory drag cars delivered professional track performance to anyone with good credit back in the day
From Car Culture To Pop Culture
Cars Down Under/Wikimedia Commons
Much of the Impala's appeal on the collectors' market is due to how the classic Chevy has permeated our culture and the Lowrider scene is a big part of that. As early as the 1940s, SoCal Chicano car enthusiasts were dropping their rides to the pavement. Initially, this was achieved with heavy bags of cement or sand, but eventually, they started chopping coils and spindles to get that sucker down. In what were most certainly racist laws California and most major cities banned car mods that set the body lower than the bottom of the rims, essentially outlawing lowriding.
Best Movies With Impalas
- Cheech and Chong Up in Smoke - 1964 Impala SS
- Repo Man - 1971 Impala
- Friday - 1961 and 1963 Impalas
- Saturday Night Fever - 1964 Impala
- Jeepers Creepers - 1960 Impala
- The Getaway - 1969 Impala
- Straight Outta Compton - 1964 Impala
- Lowriders - 1961 Impala
- Dirty Mary Crazy Larry - 1966 Impala
- Set it Off - 1962 Impala
Unsung automotive genius, Ron Aguirre, got around these stupid laws by installing hydraulics on the suspension, so he could quickly toggle the ride height and avoid a ticket or impound. Lowriders can and have dropped just about every vehicle imaginable, but the third-gen Impala is a clear favorite. The reason is simple: a '61--'64 Impala is lean, clean, and mean, giving it the baddest possible profile, sitting a half-inch off the blacktop. Also, because Chevy made so many of these cars, they could be picked up cheap, leaving plenty of funds for customization.
Rollin' Low and Slow in a Six-Fo'
"Lowrider" by War is easily the most recognized song about lowriding culture, but it doesn't mention any specific rides. West Coast rappers, on the other hand, can't get enough of the '64 Impala. Everyone from Snoop Dogg to Eazy E celebrates the "6-4" in song and video, which is partly because it is such a smooth ride, but also maybe due to the fact that it's great to rhyme with, especially when liberties are taken with its pronunciation. In Coolio's hit "Fantastic Voyage," he switched it up and gave some love to the fourth-gen Impala with "Slide, slide, slippity-slide, I'm hittin' switches on the block in a '65."
The Chevy Love Machine
3/4 front view of 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS Up in Smoke Love Machine
Muscle cars and exotics have become popular movie stars, but the Impala has some rides on the A-list as well. None is more awesome than the Chevy Love Machine from Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke. The 1964 Chevy Impala SS from the 1978 film, is a beautiful mess with Bondo, primer, and a mismatched door but it couldn't have been more perfectly cast. Even in its transitional state, The Love Machine still looks badass, and adds to the comedic value of the film. The Love Machine was supposed to be a lowrider, and while it was dropped, it lacked hydraulics, but the film had a very limited budget and the car was thrown together by the production in under a week.
1964 Chevy Impala Given Away By Rosati's Pizza
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Chevy Impala Used Market
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Impalas are like any other classic cars in that year, condition, and engine make all the difference in price. As was already mentioned, a second-gen with a 409 or 427 is going to be steep no matter what, but there are top-sellers from the entire classic era. In fact, some of the highest auction prices have actually gone to first and second-generation Impalas. Then, there are the custom cars, including lowriders, which also command big-money bids. Chevy made so many Impalas, however, that there are plenty of affordable ones out there for anyone willing to do the detective work.
Top Impala Auction Sales
- 1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible - $368,500
- 1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible - $319,000
- 1962 Chevrolet Impala Custom - $297,000
- 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible - $275,000
- 1961 Chevrolet Impala Convertible Custom - $275,000
- 1958 Chevrolet Impala Resto Mod - $253,000
- 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door Wagon Custom $252,000
- 1959 Chevrolet Impala Custom - $220,000
- 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 - $180,000
- 1965 Chevrolet Impala Convertible Custom - $139,700
In many cases, someone in the market for an Impala is looking for a project car to customize the hell out of and those are abundant. If all you need is the Impala body, $3,000 or less will do the trick. For those who want a complete running and driving car, Haggerty sets the good condition value of 1964 with 283ci V-8 at $28,700, which is a solid deal. Even better, J.D. Power reports that the average used price for a 1965 Impala SS convertible is a mere $36,000, with a high retail price of $64,000. There really is a classic Impala for every budget in the smoking used market that has seen thousands of these beauties change hands in recent years.
A parked 1958 Chevy Impala
Red Hot Chevy Impala
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Corvettes, Chevelles, and Camaros have rabid fans, but those are all performance cars that always attract enthusiasts. The Impala bucks the trend by being a full-size Chevy with a genuine cult following. It's probably the only non-sports or muscle car nameplate that has this much devotion, and that's a testament to the inherent coolness of it. Full-size cars are generally not that exciting, even top luxury versions, and associated with an older crowd. In the early years, it was a big car that kids wanted to take to the streets, and now that it's matured, it's a rebel ride on the fringes of society.
There's nothing wrong with a classic Cadillac, but it's just an old car, while an Impala is a lifestyle and statement. That's what is driving the red-hot used market for the Impala, as it's a way of life that people want a piece of. Again, nobody has romantic notions about other full-size cars from the 1960s, but the Impala is special. It's a speedster and a slow roller, which no other vehicle can claim, and it kicks all the ass in whichever mode it functions. Most of all, it's a car that defined cool more than half a century ago, that has never relinquished its title.
