Highlights
- Rare SS-model Impala two-door
- Only one UK registered owner
- One of only 11 UK-registered 1962 Impalas
- Full bare metal respray in 2002 to a high standard
- Engine rebuilt in 2013
- In current ownership for over 12 years
The Appeal
The Sixties were a heady time for American car culture, with a new model being introduced on a yearly basis. As tail fins started to fall out of style in the late Fifties, a new era of streamlined aero-inspired design was ushered in and cars became much sleeker with taping dart-like bodywork. Chevrolet had intended to launch the ‘62 Impala to celebrate their 50th Anniversary, but were slightly late with their unveiling. The Impala was their flagship model at the time and boasted a winning combination of muscle car grunt, sleek styling mated up to a luxury interior with plenty of room thanks to the full-size body.
Powered by either straight sixes or beefier V8s, the top-spec option was the Super Sport (SS) package which featured engine-turned detailing on the side panels and the tail-lights giving the car a distinctive look. It is rare for one of these one-year-only pillarless coupe Impalas to come up for sale, let alone one in the most desirable SS spec, complete with a 350 cubic inch V8 developing 335bhp. This example has been garaged for its entire UK life and treated to a bare metal respray so the paintwork is stunning. Said to drive without any issues, it’s all ready for you to cruise to a summer car show and soak up all the admiring looks.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in UK in 2011
- V5C logbook in current owners name
- Garaged at all times in UK
- Two-tone bare metal respray in 2002 to 2004
- Hydraulic lowering system fitted in early 2000s
- £1,824 engine rebuild in 2013 by American Car Repairs
- £2,225 wheel and tyre package fitted in 2008
- Lots of invoices from Stateside Autoparts
Built in Los Angeles, this ’62 SS is thought to have originated from the dry state of California with a dash plaque indicating servicing work carried out on it in San Diego. It was imported to the UK in 2002 by Melton Mowbray car dealer Autostyle, whose owner specialised in importing American cars and selling all sorts of interesting vehicles. He then spent three years treating the car to a bare-metal respray with dark green metallic paint used on the roof and an aquamarine metallic on the bodywork. A firm in the midlands then fitted the hydraulic lowering kit that allows the ride height to be infinitely adjusted. This system is powered by three separate batteries so there’s no danger of it flattening the starter battery.
The car was not UK registered at this time and sat inside the Autostyle showroom window for many years, only being occasionally driven on trade plates. The current owner was friends with the owner of Autostyle and had admired it for many years when he drove past it in the showroom. He was subsequently offered the car in 2008 and jumped at the chance to buy it.
He then put his own stamp on the vehicle in 2008 by adding the Boyd Coddington Junkyard Dog alloy wheels in 18-inch size at the front and 20-inch at the rear. A new set of Dunlop Sport Max tyres were fitted at the same time. To match the wheels, he also upgraded the steering wheel with a matching two-spoked alloy and leather steering wheel (the original ‘wheel is supplied with the car).
It was first registered in the UK on 1 June 2011 and the six digit number plate will come with the car. The car was first MoT’d in the UK in 2007 at 49,316 miles and then used sparingly covering only a few hundred miles a year. It’s last MoT was in May 2017, when it passed without any advisories and had covered 51,245 miles. It has only covered 249 miles in the six years since then, having been garaged and kept charged up on a battery conditioner. The current owner now feels that it is time for the car to be enjoyed by someone who is able to use it more often.
The Interior
- Superbly original unmodified aluminium dashboard
- Comfortable and original spec seating
- Fantastic condition interior with a pristine headlining
- Upgraded steering wheel (original steering wheel supplied with car)
Compared to the modern trend for boring slabs of black plastic, the Sixties dash of this Impala is a real feast for the eyes and takes you back to an era of tactile design where everything you touch is sturdily milled out of metal. An angular flash of cubic-detailed aluminium sports circular dials for engine temperature, a clock and a fuel gauge. The speedo is a delightful linear display with a sweeping orange needle boasting a heady 120mph top speed. With 335bhp on tap, it can probably do it, too!
Ergonomically all the controls are wonderfully eccentric with pull knobs for the vents and wipers and a set of four typewriter-like controls for the airflow marked ‘Fan’, ‘Def’, ‘Heat’ and ‘Air’. Naturally there’s a cigar lighter and an ashtray located above the all-metal glovebox. The dash top is also steel and sports an uncracked vinyl padded edge. The bluey green vinyl bucket seats in the front are in great condition and match the padded door cards in the front and rear. No tears, rips or stains are evident and the immaculate headlining is neatly detailed with small stars. The only interior modifications are the addition of a more practical smaller diameter leather and aluminium alloy steering wheel and the control box for the hydraulics. No holes or non-factory gauges have been added to the dash.
While the front bucket seats hint at the sporty nature of the car, the Impala SS badging inset into the passenger side grab handle makes it clear that this is no ordinary run-of-the-mill Impala. Overall, the interior doesn’t need a thing doing to it. It’s all ready for a new owner at the helm!
The Exterior
- Stunning two-tone paintwork really gleams
- Excellent brightwork and engine-turned panels
- Shut lines are tight and even
- Arrow straight flanks enhance the streamliner looks
Despite having had a respray back in 2004, the fact that the car has only done a couple of thousand miles since then and always been garaged has meant that the paintwork is as eye-poppingly fresh as the day it was sprayed. The paintwork has a glass-like finish that is vastly superior to the orange-peel effect that modern mass produced cars all seem to sport (blame those robot sprayers!).
The car was originally turquoise so the current shade is in keeping with the original and the dark metallic green rood blends well with the original green interior. It looks very sharp indeed. All the brightwork and engine-turned panels on the car look superb, too, and the panel gaps are way better than the car would ever have had in period, giving it an arrow straight look to the all the panels.
The underside has been neatly painted in black stonechip and looks really solid and straight with only a few minor traces of surface rust evident that could easily be repainted over a weekend. It looks like it was all recently upgraded and it would not take a lot of detailing work to get this car up to near concours standard.
Bodycolour paint has been used under the front wheelarches and they are immaculate – the current owner has clearly been very fastidious in cleaning it. All the original headlights are uncracked and the silvering appears fine, while the stylish tail-light lenses are in equally great condition. The bumpers are undented and sport great chromework – as do all the trim badges and glass surrounds. The large curved windscreen looks to be in excellent condition, as does all the other glass on the car.
The Boyd Coddington Junkyard Dog wheels suit the car wheel and help fill the carvernous wheelarches to give a cool retro classic feel. For the full low-ride look, the hydraulic suspension can be lowered to the deck to give it a really mean stance, but for street use a higher setting is preferable. This professionally fitted system can move the car up and down rapidly, too, unlike the cheaper air-ride systems. The Dunlop SP Sport Max tyres are in 235/40-18 size at the front (dated 2008) and 255/35-20 size at the rear (dated 2007) and all have lots of tread.
The Mechanics
- 5.7-litre V8 has been rebuilt to run on unleaded
- Two-speed automatic gearbox
- Car said to drive without fault
- Hydraulic suspension system all works fine
During its 2002-2004 rebuild, its clear that all systems on this vehicle were comprehensively overhauled and there is not a lot for the new owner to do other than wax it and enjoy it. The 350 V8 was rebuilt in 2013 and upgraded to be able to run on unleaded fuel. It has only covered a thousand miles since then and has always been garaged. The brawny V8 engine fired up easily and the two-speed automatic gearbox slotted easily into forward and reverse gears engaging without any clunks or knocks.
The current owner says that the car drives without any faults he’s away of and during the photoshoot the vehicle started every time without complaint and ran beautifully. The only point the owner notes is that if he were keeping the car he’d upgrade the front drum brakes with a disc conversion – these are readily available in the States and an easy bolt-on upgrade.
Summary
This is a stunning looking piece of Americana that will have US car fans falling over themselves to get a closer look at it at car shows. Those in the know will realise that it’s not only a one-year only bodystyle, but the much more desirable Super Sport spec complete with a 350 cubic inch (5.7-litre) 335bhp V8 engine mated up to a two-speed Powerglide auto. The paintwork looks superb on it and the interior is delight. It’s all ready to be enjoyed by a new owner. Turn the key and cruise to a show while enjoying the burbling V8 soundtrack…
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only. Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.
