1967 4dr Hardtop Impala Build - Is it still a 1967 Impala ??

651 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Jynx, 10 d ago

Jynx

I watched this 24 minute Video the other day and I'm so torn on whether it's really going to be a 1967 Impala any more. My brain says he saved a wreck & is putting an impala back on the road, but my heart says maybe all he really did is prevented someone else from using those parts to restore their own true 1967 Impala.
I can't make up my mind, what do you think ??

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magnetocheck

· #2 · 1 mo ago (Edited)

Personally, I would be more interested in a complete stock resto, but there seems to be a lot of interest in these four door Impalas among the young guys as a replica movie car. Kind of like trying to build a 1966 Batmobile or Black Beauty for us Boomers, so I am OK with it as a custom. It doesn't sound like he's going for an exact replica of the movie car anyway, so my question would be "why", and I guess the answer is "because I want to". I feel the same way about the Foose Impostor - Interesting, but why? Because somebody had a million dollars to spend, I guess, and Chip needed to showcase his talents.
Impostor

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65_&_67_Impala

· #3 · 1 mo ago

both of your answers are right, Jynx. I never saw the show so no interest one way or the other, but I've never really liked the 4dr versions. part of that would be because I have a 2dr convertible but also because I think the body lines look better with 2drs instead of 4drs. but yeah, I can see where a lot of the body itself was salvageable for a "real" 4dr mounted on a '67 frame.

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Jynx

Discussion Starter · #4 · 1 mo ago (Edited)

Yeah, the Foose car is interesting. I think he nailed it though, he took a cool full size coupe & made it the size of a Chevelle, but with the width of a full size and it stayed true to it's lines. Maybe even the car size GM should've built back in the day.

Yeah, it's funny, I didn't watch the show either, I never really think of it as a TV car at all, but others do I guess. Not too sure about the body lines being that different, I guess the 4dr & convertible are probably almost identical, the fast back's lines are completely different to the 4dr tho. Riding with all the windows down feels like a convertible until you look up.

I did a quick photoshop on mine to see how much difference long doors would change the overall look of the car.

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BA.

· #5 · 1 mo ago

I also found myself asking "Why exactly are you doing this swap? Are you just bored?"
Anyhoo, I'm not against what he's doing if he actually finishes it and it becomes a driver again. There's a long way to go on that project still!

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UttenBear

· #6 · 28 d ago

So the mind blowing thing here is that the B-Bodies stayed so close to spec over their lifetime that he could finesse a '67 body over a 28yr newer frame. That is a cool engineering feat.

As far as if it's a '67 question goes... it's the VIN that settles the identity of the car. So, by the book, it's a '67. Is it a "numbers matching survivor?" Oh hell no, but it is a valid restoration in my book. He's taken 2 classics that were just destined for the junk heap and is aiming to return it to the street. Respect.

(Although that BS move of stretching the fule and brake lines gave me the chills - Dude-Bro, that's just a stupid lazy move man.)

My '68 has a non-spec engine, non-spec suspension, non-spec brakes, non-spec rims, non-spec rubber, non-spec transmission, non-spec fuel system no-spec seats, non-spec paint and will be sporting 3 point seat belts all around. Let's not even address the new instrument / Dash gauges, stereo, and drivers assistance mods... It will be a Restro-Mod for sure, but the title will say "1968 Chevrolet Impala." It's sure to drive some of the more purist "numbers matching" crowd into a froth when I rumble up to the Coffee & Cars meet-up, but everyone that sees it roll by will say "check out that old Chevy..." I'm cool with that, especially since with her new bones she'll be seen 5x more often as a daily driver.

That said, there is a certain reverence to getting see or ride in a true restoration / survivor - and an equal amount of respect from me for the care and attention to detail it takes to deliver that end-result and keep it on the road for any amount of time. Once you take the hardliners out of this community (on either side of the fence), it's just a great thing to be a part of.

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BigDogSS

· #7 · 25 d ago

I see no problem with this guys work to mate the 1967 body to 1996 frame. Titled as a 1967 Impala 4-door: Great! Like UttenBear says-->"He's taken 2 classics that were just destined for the junk heap and is aiming to return it to the street." It will be a cool car!!

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Jynx

Discussion Starter · #8 · 15 d ago

65_&_67_Impala said:
I've never really liked the 4dr versions.

Here ya go, I found you a 2 Door, which is looking just a little bit Delicious.

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65_&_67_Impala

· #9 · 15 d ago

Jynx said:
Here ya go, I found you a 2 Door, which is looking just a little bit Delicious.

that is, or was, about 60miles down the road from me. I know that intersection well since the Buc-ee's is on the highway. kind of surprised they have that stealership there, but it is high growth and prolly lots of money moving into the area

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Jynx

Discussion Starter · #10 · 10 d ago

65_&_67_Impala said:
kind of surprised they have that stealership there.

Gotta say, they've got one of the best used car sites i've ever seen, it's very impressive when you search ( I just used "Impala"), but also once you click in to view a car the photo's are comprehensive, very good quality and I like the indexing they've used, it's easy to quickly get to the shots you want to see.

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Jynx

Discussion Starter · #11 · 10 d ago

Part 2 of the Impala Build.

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