Last-Ever Chevrolet Impala Bought By 93-Year-Old Michigan Man
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Back in February, GM Authority reported that the final Chevrolet Impala to be produced had rolled off the assembly line at General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Michigan. This wasn’t just the last of the current-generation Chevrolet Impala, but very likely the last Impala ever, with GM turning its back on sedans in favor of crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks.
Chevrolet Impala in Cajun Red
Now, we’re happy to report that the last-ever Chevrolet Impala, a Cajun Red example, has found a home after it was purchased by 93-year-old Chevrolet enthusiast Pinky Randall. The Houghton Lake, Michigan resident is a lifelong Chevy fan and has maintained a collection of Bow Tie-badged vehicles throughout the years.
Randall knew GM had planned to discontinue the Chevrolet Impala, so he went into Classic Chevrolet in Lake City, Michigan to inquire about purchasing it. “I ordered it a year ago, he told local news publication The Houghton Lake Restorer. He and his wife Joyce later drove the car back from Lake City to Houghton Lake, which is about 30 minutes away.
“By golly, the car made it alright,” he said after arriving home. “It handles nice. I like it.”
1996 Impala SS in Dark Cherry Metallic
Back in 1996, Randall purchased the last 1996 Impala SS produced and was invited by Chevrolet to personally drive the vehicle off the line, something he described to The Houghton Lake Restorer as a “real honor.” He added the Dark Cherry Metallic performance sedan to his collection, which included six other Chevys at the time, but eventually sold it back to GM.
Based on the photos, Randall’s Chevrolet Impala appears to be a handsomely equipped LTZ trim model. He also has it outfitted with a custom front license plate reading “Mr. Chev” while his actual rear plate, which features his WWII veteran designation, reads “FINAL1.”
Chevrolet is estimated to have built 18,386 units of the Chevrolet Impala for the 2020 model year.
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I drove the 2009 Impala which is the first year of the last generation, and it was a wonderful car! Even my niece, who drives an Infinity, fell asleep in the passenger seat while I drove, then later said “it was the smoothest car she has ever sat in”. I expect GM to change again in the near future and revive the Impala which I remember as early as 1963.
The Impala is a great car Drives as well as the caddy or any other sedan out there. Why is G M stopping the production of it, they are morons and deserve to loose money.
Discontinue this car is a mistake.
From the article they made approximately 18,000 models for the 2020 model year. That is only about 1500 vehicles sold per month. That is not enough to keep any mass produced vehicle viable.
I said the same thing about the Cruze and the Volt … getting harder to stay GM loyal when they’re not making what I want anymore. And get ready, because the Camaro is next to disappear… probably after the 2023 model year.
I agree with you.
Always an American beauty and mainstay it’s sad to see it go. Combine the motoring public turning their back on these sedans/coupe variants then add in GM too easily throwing in the towel to the Asian and European competitors with only token support getting behind and promoting this final edition…. this was inevitable. Really hard to see the end of these cars and especially the end of style and design imagination unlikely to ever return for a full sized platform.
The same thing happened with the Chevrolet Cruze. It surpassed the Japanese and the Koreans, and the Europeans until a certain year, and they dropped the ball. Shame on GM for not making the effort with such excellent vehicles
IMO one of the best cars GM has produced. It sold well considering there was hardly any ads or promotions. GM also limited sales by restricting commercial sale such as police special. Every person don’t want a suv but if they want a sedan they will have to looks elsewhere.
I drove a 2015 Red LTZ for 5 years and it was a great car ! Still had the original brakes after 80,000 miles – great combo of smooth, quiet, tight and even handled nice for a full sized car -some good giddeup and lifetime gas mileage of 27.3 with the 3.6 and 6 speed.
Pinky Randall is an amazing person. He is the World Authority on the Chevrolet 490 series and Baby Grands built in the teens. He has been a part of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America VCCA for probably over 60 years!!!! This is so cool he is 93 and still a Chevy fan!!!!!
General Motors should have him as a consultant, and even name an assembly plant by his name for his proven brand loyalty. More Americans should think like him.
This vehicle and the lacrosse both shared what i thought was an awkward looking rear quarter panel.
The Impala and Lacrosse did not share the same rear quarter panel. If you understood the history of the Impala then you’d know why the quarter panel looks the way it is.
I never said the two vehicles shared the same panel. I said they both look awkward. Read my comment!!
Lol, I hate to tell gmauthority and ole pinky pink, but the last year of the Chevrolet Impala was 1996. Adding some goobley goop fwd car to your car collection is a waste of time. I’m sure Australians will feel the same way about the Commodore.
To Josh…..that may be your opinion, but at least have respect for this man!!! “Ole pinky pink?!” You oughta be be ashamed of yourself, which I’m sure you’re not! You’re a dumbass…..and that won’t just be MY opinion!
note to self, don’t get on magenta’s bad side.
My wife bought a 2019 Impala Premier last year that was assembled in Oshawa, up here in the frozen north. The problem I have with this car is the styling of the rear door. Why would anyone put the two ridges in the back door? it makes it look so ugly and a disjointed flow of the body line. As an example, the 2019 Buick La Crosse, or even the Cadillac XTS, on the same platform had the good taste to finished off the rear door body line in a most elegant manner, a simple flowing line with a slight kick up on the drear fender, looks nice and is reminiscent of the 1965 chevy Impala 2 door hard top. But then that’s a Buick or even Cadillac, but then they may have stolen the body line idea from an old chevy design of years gone by.
Also, I ave a problem with the firm ride that the car produces. I suspect it is caused by the Green X tires that came on the car which are harder than normal in order to produce better Gas millage but gives up on a smooth and quiet ride. Not the cars fault, but it seems to be a poor choice of tire by the Chevrolet division or maybe it’s just the problem of the northern assembly plant (Oshawa).
I first purchased the 2014 Impala, I loved it! But I wanted a few extras, so I purchased the 2017 2LZ Sedan. It’s loaded with everything. I will not ever sell.
I’m so happy that the last Impala was bought by someone who will cherish it! Good for Pinky!
It is a beautiful car. I have read that the transmission is not so smooth. Have you had any complaints or mechanical problems?
I own a 2019 Impala Premier in the same Cajun Red color. Absolutely love it. I had a Lincoln SUV prior to this and quite simply, the Impala is bigger inside, has more power (3.6 engine), is quieter and more comfortable. Obviously an SUV has more cargo space, but I’ve gotten 4 guys and 4 sets of golf clubs in the car comfortably. I think GM simply never marketed this car very well and its sales suffered because of it. Sad to see it go.
No regular cab regular bed pickup truck now no Impalas, to loyal chevy people you don’t know what your doing! We know what is wanted and will not buy what you decide we want. I’ve been a GM owner for over 50 years but not anymore. I don’t have much to choose from but I’ll find what I want. Just look at the price of used GM truck like I have described that should tell you what we want! You still make them for other places so not us!!!
I think the impala is a good car it never got a refresh with the outgoing model. Wish for a new one that would compete with the charger in terms of more engine options and aggressive styling.
That would have been a smarter move for Chevrolet. A Charger competitor would probably have sold much better than something that only appeals to 93 year olds
I’m driving a 2005 Impala right now, got almost 300 thousand miles on it. It’s got a few issues, like the security.But overall she’s still being good to me.
I was born in 1964 and my most favorite vehicle is the 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS. I have always been a big fan of the Chevy Impala SS and 1996 SS Impala has to be the most beautiful, especially the purple color. I always said that was the car I wanted. Now that Chevy is pulling the model this year forever, my goal is to purchase a 2013 Chevrolet Impala. I love the Impala and I’m sad to see it go.
I’m the proud owner of the last Chevy SS sedan a 2017 what a beast the car is a true muscle car. The morons at GM did not know what a beautiful car they have when they stop making this beauty
It is a very impressive car. The interior is exquisite. Excellent buy.
I own a 2013 chevy impala luv it
So reminiscent of 1996 when they canned it then… They finally built it right by putting the shifter on the floor and they killed it. Now, after years, the body style doesn’t completely suck….and you kill it. An SS in the current body style would have been PHAT AF!!!
I see there’s a nice 2020 Impala Premiere in Silver Ice Metallic for sale at my local Chevy dealership. I think I’m gonna pull the trigger and buy it. Last year I test drove an LT Midnight edition and it drove beautifully and was quick. It looked good to with the blacked out pocketed wheels and bowties. They stopped making that trim in 2019. Too bad. Chevrolet is making a mistake. And yes a little advertising couldn’t have hurt. Instead they let a great car “die on the vine”. GM please reconsider.