• Full body-off restoration in San Diego

 • Massive history file

 • Rare, top of the range “Turbothrust” model

Built in an unbroken run from 1958 to 1985, the Impala was Chevrolet’s flagship car for a number of decades. Available as a sedan (saloon) and convertible, it offered a taste of classic American luxury and open-road motoring from what is probably the USA’s most glamorous period.

The 1959 model is particularly sought-after, as it was only built in this form for that year, making it a very rare car. And in top “Turbothrust” specification, it’s a particularly collectible machine.

This particular car was imported to the UK in 1990, before this it had been resident in San Diego where it underwent a full “body off” restoration to original factory specification. Once imported into the UK, it has been kept garaged and only used in good weather – as is evident from the condition. We were hard-pressed to believe the car had been restored more than 32 years ago!

The second owner in the UK was a gentleman called Kenny Whymark, a professional Humphrey Bogard impersonator, who used the car as part of his act. Featuring in magazines and winning multiple shows awards during his ownership, the car became a bit of a darling of the American car circuit in the UK.

The current owner purchased the car from Mr Whymark in 1998, maintaining the car to the same high standards and keeping it dry-stored in a heated garage. The only time the Impala comes out onto the road is in good weather, and this care really has kept the car in superb condition.

There is a massive paperwork file that comes with the car. As well as the obvious V5, also present and correct are the original import and registration documentation from 1990 and a massive bundle of receipts, covering every aspect of the car’s maintenance and servicing.

The current owner has carried out all servicing himself (he is a qualified engineer) during his ownership, but the receipts certainly bear out that no corners have been cut – whatever the car needed, the work was carried out to a very high standard.

More intriguingly, a number of original period pieces of paperwork come with the car, including original sales booklets, parts catalogues, original workshop manuals, evidence of the car’s many awards, a  magazine featuring the car with its previous owner, the vanity plates he used when taking the car on a job, and a metal “Impala Only” parking sign. It’s rare to find a vehicle of any kind with this kind of provenance and comprehensive history, for a 63 year old American car in the UK it’s a truly impressive file.

But there’s more. The owner is also including a genuine USA drive-in cinema speaker stand, sprayed to match the car, in the sale. Obviously, it’s just a display piece, but it will make a brilliant and humorous touch to any collector’s garage.

Interiors can be luxurious, they can be spacious, they can be striking, well-crafted or beautiful. This one is every single one of those things and then some. Still in stunningly well-kept original condition, the multi-tone blue vinyl interior, with patterned fabric inserts has some very light signs of wear and a tiny tear in the top of the driver’s door card. The carpets are a deep blue, with custom “Impala” carpet and rubber mats, and the original lap-belts are a light blue. Otherwise the interior is in lovely overall condition.

One of the most striking elements of the interior is the dashboard – as with so many luxury American cars of this period, it’s beautifully designed and almost jewel-like. The clocks and switchgear are machines metal, very well designed and presented in fine condition, with natural wear and patina adding to the cabin’s character. 

The two-tone blue steering wheel feels wonderful to hold and immediately conveys the feeling of piloting a large, comfortable luxury car. The original radio is still present and correct in the dash, itself quite a rare feature. The cabin also features optional spot/search lights on both the driver and passenger side, manually operated from the wonderfully tactile handles that poke through into the cabin. 

As a full-size convertible, the cabin has a powered hydraulic fabric roof. Trimmed in contrast off-white, it’s in very good condition inside and out. The roof operates correctly, dropping smoothly and correctly. When raising, the roof is a little sticky and requires some assistance, but this is most likely simply due to lack of use. As the car is only ever used in good weather and is kept garaged, the current owner tends to only drive it with the roof down. The tonneau cover for the roof is a blue vinyl to match the interior and is likewise in very god condition.

Inside the boot, you pretty much have enough room to play a game of five-a-side. It’s massive, easily big enough for all the luggage four adults would need for a week or two away. It’s in excellent condition too, with well-kept carpets, solid floors underneath and a full-size spare. 

The owner assures us that everything in the cabin works exactly as it should.

The first thing that strikes you about the car is how big it is – some 20 feet long! The second thing that strikes you is that every inch of that length is in superb condition. The paintwork, the original light blue, is deep, smooth and has a glossy shine. With the contrast stainless steel brightwork of the 1959 model, it really is a head-turner. The brightwork is all in exceptional condition too, much of it having been restored or replaced when the car was restored more than 30 years ago.

It’s clear the car has benefitted from its early life in dry-and-sunny California, and its later life in the UK as a cherished show car and classic. We couldn’t find a single spot of corrosion, damage or anything more than light age-related wear and tear on the entire car. All of the trim, badges and other external items have been kept very well. That epic 1950s body is set off perfectly by the white-wall tyres and chromed hubcaps too – all of which are in fine fettle and entirely period correct.

Underneath the car is very solid and corrosion-free, looking more like a 3 year old car, rather than the 63 year old car it actually is.

Only a couple of very minor customisations have been made to the exterior. First, the current owner has put USA flags on the rear aerials, but these can be removed in a couple of seconds should the new owner wish to. Also, the previous owner fitted deep-blue LEDs to the front grille and rear numberplate, activated by a switch under the bonnet. They’re very unintrusive, in fact we didn’t even notice them until they were pointed out to us. The previous owner also had a reversing alarm fitted, probably a wise choice given the sheer size of the car.

In summation, we’d say the car is in exceptional original condition for a vehicle of this age and type.

One of the great attractions of American cars of this era are the massive, smooth engines and effortless power. This car is no different, in fact it’s really quite special. The 1959 Impala is already a rare beast, in this top “Turbothrust” specification, it’s even more sought-after. 

Strangely, although bearing the “Turbothrust” moniker, the car didn’t come with a turbocharged engine. Instead, power comes from a massive 348 cu in (5.7 litre) V8 - an absolute monster of an engine, but one that’s surprisingly simple and easy to work on. Mated to the two-speed ‘Powerglide’ automatic box, it provides heaps of power, smooth progress and a frankly brilliant soundtrack.

Here it sounds deep, throaty and smooth. The owner assures us that the car drives perfectly. When we saw it, it certainly started well, sounded great and drove and stopped smoothly and without any pitching or unexpected noises. Mechanically, the car is clearly in very good condition - as testified by the mountain of maintenance and servicing receipts.

Is there a period of car manufacture more evocative of the adventures offered by the open road then American cars of the late-50s and 60s? Hailing from a time of huge cars replete with stainless brightwork, gorgeous interiors, massive engines and even bigger tail-fins, this Impala is every inch the American Dream.

If you love the look of this car (and let’s face it, why wouldn’t you?), then this is the one for you. Why so? Well, the 1959 Impala was the only model that looked like this. The ’58 and ’60 models were significantly different, with the ’60 model ditching the iconic rear fins and those gorgeous tear-drop rear lights. On top of that, this car has the kind of history you very rarely find – a full California restoration, minor celebrity owner, multiple show awards and a meticulous maintenance record by a professional engineer.

Add to that the specification of this car – we’re sure you’d agree that the pale blue paintwork and white contrast convertible roof combined with that amazing multi-hued blue interior are like nothing else on the road. If you want to turn heads, with is the way to do it. It’s rarer than pretty much any car you care to mention – remember, during the fuels crisis of the late 70s, many of these old V8s were scrapped or used for banger racing. Very few remain on the road today, and in the UK they’re an incredibly rare sight.

Whether you’re looking for something to take to classic car shows, an investment piece, or simply a lovely old car to cherish and enjoy, we can’t help but feel you wan’t find much better than this. It’s, quite simply, a staggering vehicle and, frankly, we want it. We want it very, very badly.