1961 Chevrolet Impala SS in Mt. Dora, Florida

Vehicle Description

*****348 V8, 4 SPD MANUAL, CONVERTIBLE*******IN 1961, CHEVROLET WAS NOT JUST SATISFIED WITH SELLING 1,204,719 CHEVROLETS in 1961. THEY DECIDED TO 'FINE TUNE' THEIR PERFORMANCE IMAGE AND BOOST SALES FURTHER BY OFFERING A "SUPER SPORT" PACKAGE . THE "SS" PACKAGE WAS REVEALED LATE IN THE MODEL YEAR INITIALLY, AS A WAY OF INTRODUCING SHOWROOM CUSTOMERS TO THE "ALL NEW" LATE ENTRY...A 409 ENGINE OPTION. THE 409 WAS BASICALLY A BORED OUT 348 CUBIC INCH V8 BUT, IT QUICKLY BECAME KNOWN AS "THE TRUCK ENGINE DESIGNED FOR DRAG RACING AND STOCK CAR RACING". AFTER ONLY 142 ENGINES WERE ISSUED PRODUCTION PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADS WARPING HALTED THE 409 OPTION UNTIL 1962 SO, MOST OF THE "SS CHEVY'S. BUILT WERENOT EQUIPPED AS 409'S. AS IT IS,ONLY 453 '61 SUPER SPORT CHEVROLET'S WERE EVER BUILT ONLY A HANDFUL WERE CONVERTIBLES. THE DEALER ORDERED 'KIT' COULD BE FACTORY OR, DEALER INSTALLED BUT, IT REQUIRED AT THE BARE MINIMUM, AT LEAST A 348 CUBIC INCH MOTOR. THE FACTORY BROCHURE CONFIRMS THE 2-SPEED POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC TRANNIE WAS OFFERED BUT, VERY FEW WERE ORDERED.

THE SUPER SPORT PACKAGE REQUIRED SS I.D. PLATES, HEAVY DUTY SPRINGS, SHOCKS, POWER STEERING , BLACK WHEELS (iNSTEAD OF BODY COLOR) & SINTERED METALLIC BRAKES. LET'S NOT FORGET, THOSE GORGEOUS SPINNER HUBCAPS, DASH 'GRAB BAR', PADDED DASH, 7,000 R.P.M. STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED TACH AND NARROW WHITEWALL TIRES. DEALERS ONLY CHARGED A PALTRY $63.10 FOR THE "SS PACKAGE" BUT, THE 'OPTIONS REQUIRED' HAD THE CAR 'STICKER OUT' AT OVER $4,000, WHICH WAS MORE THAN THE BASE STICKER FOR A NEW CORVETTE ! THIS CAR IS FINISHED IN 'JEWEL BLUE' W/ MATCHING 2-TONE INTERIOR, WHITE SIDE SPEAR AND WHITE SOFT TOP. SHE ALSO HAS FACTORY FRONT & REAR BUMPER GUARDS WITH REMOTE HOOD OPENER, DUAL MIRRORS, THE CORRECT BLACK WHEELS, OPTINAL REAR ANTENNA, THE ORIGINAL PUSHBUTTON 'CHEVY' AM RADIO AND WIDE WHITEWALLS.

IT HAS THE MATCHING NUMBER MOTOR, TRANMISSION, REAR AND IT'S THE ORIGINAL COLOR COMBINATION. LOADED WITH THE 'SOLID LIFTER' 348 / 4V CARB, AND 4-SPEED GEARBOX.....

IT HAS 32,000 ORIGINAL MILES PLUS, IT'S ORIGINAL SHOWROOM BROCHURE AND MANUAL. PURCHASED HER OFF THE SHOW FIELD AT THE A.A.C.A. CAR SHOW , HERSHEY, PA. IN 1996. IT'S BEEN SHOWN LOCALLY BUT, PRIMARILY ON DISPLAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED CAR MUSEUM SINCE 2000. THIS CAR IS A STUNNING BEAUTY. A GO FIND ONE CLASSIC.....

OFFERS AROUND $126,000 'CONSIDERED'

SORRY, MUSEUM DISPLAY ITEMS INCLUDING; 45RPM RECORD PLAYER, DRIVE-IN TRAYS WITH IMPLEMENTS, D-CUP BRA :) & RARE REMINGTON SHAVER ARE NOT INCLUDED.