History
Built by General Motors in their Los Angeles, California facility this Impala 2 door sport coupe rolled off the line in March of 1960. It spent its entire life in California until mid 2014 when it was imported into Australia.
With a "ground up" restoration the vehicle was fInished in 2 pack clear over base, the original Jade Green being kept albeit with an added pearl enhancement for effect.
The vehicle retains its original 348 W engine and while rebuit still retains its original bore and is essentially stock standard.
While the differential was rebuilt the Turbo Glide gearbox was replaced with a rebuit 3 speed TH350 which was an easy match. The gearbox was changed mostly for improved driveability and safety.
Front and rear ends were totally rebuilt.
While the vehicle is mostly intact in terms of its original equipment with much of it being restored it was necessary to replace the interior with the original style and colour maintained. Glass replacement was necessary but the original green tint was retained.
Modifications
Engine bay was given a "dress up" with the provision of a chromed 120 amp alternator and a chromed a/c compressor which supplies cooling to the retro under dash fan coil unit.
Engine sports billet rocker covers and air cleaner and is fed by two 4 barrel Edelbrock carburettors via an Offenhauser inlet manifold. All of which is for effect.
An MSD ignition system was fitted mostly for improved reliability.
The radio was replaced with a retro version which includes blue tooth capability. Sound is fed to 6 speakers plus a 10 inch sub woofer and is powered by two amplifiers which have their own dedicated deep cycle battery and a built in C-TEK charger. All this is discreetly hidden behind a panel in the boot.
While the original instruments were in reasonably good condition, Autometer gauges were fitted for safety and reliability.
Manual window regulators were upgraded to electric but equipment used is in keeping with the period.
The car sports 15 inch whitewall tyres with Tri-Bar Spinner hub caps. Power assisted disc brakes on the front wheels, drums retained on the rear.
