Frame Up Restored Impala 350 V8 TH350 with A/C

In 2014, after 13 years of being America's number one fleet sedan, a redesigned Impala will once again take its rightful place as the stylish line-topper for GM's powerhouse Chevrolet division. It's a move Chevy fans, no matter what generation, have tirelessly championed for decades. And when one takes a close look at this awesome 1960 hardtop, it becomes perfectly clear why the Impala, despite its ever broadening definition, STILL enjoys such a loyal following. Steadfast, distinguished and great to look at, this solid hunk of Detroit steel carries the trademark combination of classic good looks and rugged versatility that's built Chevrolet into one of the largest and most recognized brands in the world. And when you add those attributes to a modern 350 cubic inch crate motor, a durable Turbo-Hydramatic 350 transmission and out-of-this-world custom paint and upholstery, you get one incredible car! If you're in the market for a classic that's as traditional as it is modern, and classic as it is custom, welcome to the large and diverse family called Impala!

The beneficiary of a professional frame-up restoration, this super cool cruiser is covered in a striking combination of Light Blue and Parchment basecoat, highlighted with a hint of Light Blue Pearl, detailed with hand painted red pin stripes and covered in a thick clearcoat shell. Under that high quality paint, an incredibly straight fuselage hangs solid panels that, with the exception of a thorough massage during their restoration, appear to have led a quiet, drama-free existence. Those massaged panels feature better than factory alignment and, when opened and closed, sound solid and function exceptionally well. That functional body's combination of excellent reflections and Kansas-flat surfaces suggest many labor intensive hours were likely spent blanketing every inch of its metal with top-notch finish work. And one close look at our high definition pictures will reveal a handsome payoff in the form of one of the most unique and individualistic Chevys on the planet!

GM's number one brand ushered in the 1960 model year by creating a conservative and toned down appearance for their entire full-size range. But this impressive Impala, even with its clean body lines and painted trim, transforms a normally traditional cruiser into something that's loud, proud and flat-out custom! At the front of the car a painted, body-width grille hangs a red “Impala” script between four modern tri-bar headlights, which are complete with amber turn signal bulbs, and a painted bumper that's complete with a traditional stainless center section. At the sides of the car chrome bowtie mirrors and traditional chrome door handles combine with stainless side-exit exhaust to add just the right amount of detail to the body's impressive combination of pigment. At the top of the car curved and factory tinted glass is cleared by bright stainless wipers and traced by well-maintained stainless trim. And at the back of the car, six modest tail lights illuminate a second painted bumper.

Although this Impala's menacing 350 cubic inch crate motor may look a little small in its glossy black engine bay, one turn behind the car's accelerator pedal proves it has no problem being both a boulevard cruiser and a stoplight bruiser! At the top of the hot small block, a custom painted Cadillac-style air cleaner injects wind into high octane dino juice that's supplied by a 4-barrel Edelbrock Endurashine carburetor. Below that carburetor, a high quality Edelbrock Performer EPS intake funnels a perfect air/fuel mixture into factory heads that are topped by finned aluminum valve covers and detailed by polished aluminum wire looms. And behind that carburetor, a modern points distributor sequences sparks through bright red Accel Super Stock plug wires. Cooling is provided by a heavy duty factory radiator which comes complete with fresh hoses and two electric puller fans. Charging comes courtesy of a polished pulley and bracket system that spins a chrome alternator between a chrome AC compressor, a chrome power steering pump and a polished water pump. And spent gases are evacuated through a slick pair of ceramic coated long tube headers which flow into great sounding Flowmaster mufflers. Aesthetically, this sweet Chevy's engine bay is fully-sorted and displays a nice coat of jet black paint on its block, fenders and clean firewall. And small details like a fresh brake booster, a coated radiator support and trick dipsticks ensure solid reliability to match the V8's awesome good looks.

Under the car's floors a virtually unbreakable GM Turbo-Hydramatic 350 3-speed transmission sends power to a completely rebuilt factory rear end. Braking is handled by a GM-style four wheel power set up that utilizes fresh calipers to squeeze straight rotors up front and completely rebuilt drums to scrub off speed out back. And exhaust flows through aluminized, true dual pipes to the aforementioned dual chamber Flowmasters and stainless side exit pipes. During the restoration this Impala's original double A-arm front and three-link rear suspension was completely rebuilt, and now features stiff tubular control arms. Above that suspension, rust-free floorpans are covered in a thin coat of protective undercoating that fights back and protects against rust. And at the corners of that suspension, polished 15 inch Eagle Alloy wheels are glued to new 205/75 Coker Classic white walls which look good and grip great. None of this Chevy's lines, hoses, brackets and fasteners display any signs of severe weathering. And everything from its polished transmission pan to its fresh stainless fuel tank is fully-sorted and ready to go!

Open this Impala's rock solid doors and you'll find a fully restored interior that's been accented with enough custom trim to turn 'all-American retro' into 'show car style'. The firm front bucket and rear bench seats are big, comfortable and feature tight leather covers which show no signs of wear at all. Below those seats thick carpet, which isn't weathered or damaged in any way, props a custom Light Blue console around stylish Dolphin accessory gauges and what appears to be a traditional Lokar shifter. At the sides of those seats, custom leather kick panels perfectly accent custom leather door panels which feature a full array of chrome door handles and window cranks. At the top of the car, a white leather headliner looks so good it could've been stretched at the factory. At the front of the car, a smooth blue dash hangs a full set of Dolphin gauges beside a direct fit radio, controls for the heat and air conditioning system and a broad swath of stylish stainless trim. In front of the driver, a Light Blue steering wheel spins a traditional chrome horn ring around a polished tilt steering column. And behind the passengers, a fully finished trunk features so much storage space that you could stage an entire Lost America photo shoot.

The sale of this old school Chevy full-size includes a set of standard issue, “350” branded valve covers and a couple of large, very impressive trophies.

This slick 1960 Impala hardtop is a first class full-size that's ready for years of endless showing and cruising. It's one of the last great no-holds-barred designs to come out of Detroit; and with a plethora of modern aesthetic updates, it's the kind of car your family will enjoy for generations. Whether your interest lies in creative customizing, head-turning good looks, or vintage American style, this Chevy has it all!