Impala SS 409 Dual Quad 425 HP 4 Speed

From the “you couldn't restore it for the asking price” files comes this freshly restored 1964 Impala SS 409. With the way Chevy did their numbers, it's impossible to prove that it's a real 409, but who would invest six figures in a mere 283? 8864 Chevrolets with 409s were built, with the majority being Impala Super Sports, so it's not at all unlikely that this is the real deal. If you're a fan, THIS is the car the Beach Boys were signing about: a 4-speed, dual-quad, Positraction 409.

Bright Riverside Red is the color most folks imagine when they picture a '64 Impala in their minds, and this one is every bit as nice as the fantasy. First-rate bodywork gives it a factory fresh look, and all the panels are crisp, detailed, and wave-free. Panel gaps are excellent throughout, and the build quality is evident even in the photos—look how nicely the hood fits and how well the trim lines up with the headlight surrounds. The paint is two-stage urethane and the finish is miles deep, a pure red with a brilliant shine that should last for decades given the right care.

The '50s were over, and the cars of the early '60s were restrained in their use of chrome and trim. The grille is simple, framing quad headlights in a no-nonsense kind of way. The SS models received that cool engine-turned strip of trim running the length of the body, and those pieces are virtually impossible to locate today and probably cost as much as an engine rebuilt to restore to their current condition. Chrome on the bumpers is show quality and it has lost none of the details in areas such as the ribs between the front bumper guards. Correct Impala SS badges are on the rear quarters, and the front fenders proudly wear '409' emblems, perhaps as a warning.

In the early days of the horsepower wars, the dual-quad 409 was king. There was simply nothing else on the road that could touch its 425 horsepower, and in the Impala SS coupe, it was powerful enough to yank buildings off their foundations. Fresh and exceptionally well detailed, the engine bay in this car has “show winner” written all over it. From the chrome air cleaner with twin snorkels, to the Chevy Orange paint that's as good as the paint on my daily driver, to the unique 409 valve covers, it is sanitary and brilliantly executed. Finishes on all the ancillary components are correct, and the exhaust headers are some of the best I've ever seen. The alternator is correct, as Chevy was one of the first to adopt the technology which was vastly superior to the old generators that had been in use since the '20s. The hoses wear correct GM markings and wear tower hose clamps, the radiator is freshly restored, and even the hood pad is brand new because there's nothing worse than a beautiful engine compartment with a shaggy hood pad hanging over it. It starts with a bark, and rumbles like a vintage NASCAR stocker at idle, which isn't too far from the truth. For a big cubic inch engine, it loves to rev, and pulls like a freight train in all four gears. If you're not careful, you'll spin those skinny bias-ply tires in first gear, and by the time you're in third, you've blown past everything else on the road. Honestly, until you've driven a dual quad 409, you haven't lived.

The only transmission you want with your 409 is a 4-speed, which feels like industrial machinery it's so precise and sturdy. The chassis has been completely refinished, with painted (not undercoated) floors, a solid X-type frame, and freshly rebuilt components throughout. A new dual exhaust system with Flowmaster mufflers and a ceramic coating stands out against the satin black frame and sounds awesome. New shocks, freshly rebuilt brakes, and power steering make it a pleasure to drive, and it truly does cruise effortlessly at highly illegal speeds. Wheels are the original 14-inch steel wheels wearing full SS wheel covers and fitted inside a fresh set of 7.50-14 BFGoodrich Silvertown whitewall bias ply tires, as original.

The interior is simply beautiful, dressed in contrasting red and white to match the exterior. Pure '60s elegance all the way, with a sporty vibe, that was the Impala SS. The white buckets have obviously been reupholstered and there are new matching door panels. Everything is so sparkling white, you might want to wear a clean suit when you drive it, and we make sure the guys in the shop check twice before they climb aboard. The red carpets are also new with the correct weave and nap. An optional tachometer has been installed in its own pod atop the steering column, which is about the coolest factory gauge installation you'll find. Stretching across the driver's side of the instrument panel, the restored speedometer shows crisp numbers and a crystal clear lens. Down low, another engine-turned panel houses the switch gear and the original AM radio, and matches the center console. All the correct SS badging is included, with emblems on the console and door panels. The steering wheel is beautifully restored with lovely, delicate details like the chrome rings around the rim and the slender horn ring. In back, the spatter finish on the trunk floors and walls is correct, and it is protected by new mats. A matching full-sized spare and complete jack assembly finish the nicely appointed trunk.

There's no question that these Impalas are surging forward in the market, and the top of the heap will always be the SS 409. With a hugely expensive, fresh restoration, this one is ready to show and enjoy and only you'll know what a bargain you got when you bought it. Lovely to look at and thrilling to drive, there's nothing else that drives like a 409, and even the handsome Impala sheet metal can't hide its performance car DNA. Compare this one to some lesser examples, and you'll see that this is a whole heck of a lot of car for not a lot of money. Call today!