Bowing for the 1958 model year, the Chevy Impala was part of the fiftieth production-year celebration for GM. Designed as a prestige vehicle, the Impala was part of the Bel Air lineup. The Chevy Impala could be had as a hardtop or convertible, with a longer trunk section, wheelbase, and lower greenhouse than the other Bel Air offerings.
The 1963 Chevy Impala had sharper, cleaner styling, with the beltline moved lower on the car. The rear panel was home to three tail lights per side as in the previous year, but was concave with a machine-turned aluminum panel. The Chevrolet emblem and script dipped down in the center of the panel.
Inside the 1963 Chevy Impala, the instrument panel was “hooded.” Indicator lights for hot and cold engine conditions were standard issue, and an optional tachometer could be fitted just below the center of the speedometer.
The SS trim package first offered for the Chevy Impala for the 1961 model year was again available for 1963. Impala Super Sports had anodized aluminum side and rear trim inserts, red rear-quarter SS badging above the Impala script, nonfunctional spinners on the wheel covers, and chrome trim around the tail light panel. Impala Super Sports had standard vinyl bucket seats split by a new center console sporting an SS badge in front of the shifter. There were anodized panels on the dash, and SS badging on the steering wheel horn button.
1963 Chevy Impala Super Sports could be had with a number of drivetrains, in both Small Block and Big Block configurations. In addition to the two 409 cubic-inch W-head Big Blocks rated at 400 and 425 horsepower carried over from the 1962 model year (these were rated at 380 horsepower and 409 horsepower respectively for 1962), a third 409 rated at 340 horsepower was offered for ’63. Unlike the higher-horse 409s, the 340-horsepower engine had a hydraulic cam and could be ordered with an automatic transmission. The Small Block offerings could be had in either 283 or 327 cubic-inch displacements, with 195-, 250-, 300-horsepower ratings.
Our feature 1963 Chevy Impala SS convertible has had a body-off restoration that was completed in 2021. It is finished in Ermine White with a white vinyl convertible top over an Aqua Vinyl bucket seat interior. All of the brightwork has been either replaced, replated, or polished to a fault. The Impala is powered by a Small Block Turbo Fire 327 topped by a four-barrel carburetor and backed by a four-speed manual transmission. It is equipped with power steering, power brakes, and a power convertible top.
This beautifully restored 1963 Chevy Impala SS convertible will cross the Mecum Auctions block at their Monterey, California event taking place August 18th through the 20th.
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Comments
We had a ’63 Impala wagon until I was 9. It was a metallic turquoise which glowed violet at dusk.
It had a V8, Powerglide, and dealer-installed A/C, which wasn’t very effective in the way back.
I had a 63 conv. Auto 327 250hp beige WHT top matching interior pb ac ps am radio ss of course my first car My parents had a hard top white aqua interior auto 283 2 barrel ps pb no ac ss no ac ! 😑
I would love to own a 63 ss 409 Impala convt.
This is when cars had there own individual style. Not the cookie cutter stuff that’s out today.
Nice car, we had a red 63 Impala as the family car after our 55 got t-boned in an icy intersection in late 65. Dad loved those 55’s he had two while I was a baby and a young kid.
Ours was a 2-door HT non SS with a 283 and Power Slide trans. That we got from my granddad, also a GM retiree. It had black vinyl bench seats with chrome trim and a rear seat speaker (one in the middle) and no seatbelts! We kids hated the fake chrome rivets in the seats, they got very hot in the summer sun and burned our legs. Ahh the memories. Dad traded it in on a new 69 BelAir which eventually became my first car.
We had one as the family car, non SS, white with black top and black bench seat interior. Got my drivers license in 1964 and drove it until I joined the Air Force in July 1968. Tomg
My cousin John, bought white one with a red interior, he was 10 years older than me and always enjoyed when he gave us younger cousins rides in it with all the windows down and our hair flying everywhere. Unfortunately he had a car full of fellow college friends. Heading through an intersection as dump trunk full rocks brakes gave out and they got T-boned. With 6 people in the car, the lady in the front seat was killed on impact. The rest all ended up in the hospital/physical therapy for a month. Went along with my Uncle to the Chevy dealer to see it. Wow the chassis held up straight, but the hood to grille was bent forward as well as the trunk, passenger compartment was pushed towards the driver side and the roof shaped a V from side view. All in that car are 78 & 79 years and all walk uneven and joint issues to this day. My cousin John loved that Impala and ordered an Identical Impala. His last Chevrolet was a 1976 Caprice Classic. With the 1977 downsizing the full-size to mid-size, John never bought another Chevrolet. When his daughter started college they bought a used Corolla, so impressed with Toyota has bought many Avalon’s and Lexus LS over the years and told me the other day they have a 2023 Toyota Crown Sedan’ on order (replaces the Avalon)..
I grew up on GM cars in that Era. I had 2 uncles that had those cars. One had a 63 Chevy Impala convertible, white top with blue interior, blue exterior, 327 engine, loved the sound of that engine . The other one had a 64 Impala white convertible with white top and blue interior. Beautiful cars and floated down the street. I loved riding in those cars with the tops down with the whole family. Unfortunately these cars were favorite cars of choice for car thieves back then . They got stolen plenty of times.
I wouldn’t call this a nut and bolt restoration. I’m looking at the dirty/ worn carpet, the hinges and weather strip in the door jamb area, the wiring hanging out under the dash, and the grundge under the hood. I don’t think the alternator or windshield wiper motor are period correct either.
My cousin bought a new ’63 Impala Coupe (non-SS) with the same 327/300 and 4 speed. Same color interior but blue exterior. He was a car guy so he really kept it nice. Impalas of that era were so pretty. Wish I had garage space for one.
1963 Full-size Chevrolet is my go to classic car! Reliability, Form and Functionality! Fantastic power plants! In my eyes, the most beautiful Chevrolet ever designed and built! My first car was Azure Aqua 4dr sedan, 283 powerglide! Beautiful cars! If they are wearing the mock wire spoke wheelcovers and whitewall tires, they knock your socks off!!!
Ours had those mock spoke wheelcovers. They were a pain to clean. I don’t think I’ve seen any like them since, probably for that reason.