Dan Gurney’s 1961 Chevy Impala Finally Back Home In The U.S.

Dan Gurney’s iconic 1961 Chevy Impala has returned to California, concluding an extraordinary six-decade journey that took it across the world.

Per a report from The Drive, the racing legend’s Impala was bought and sold by multiple owners over the years, traveling across the U.S., England, and Australia before recently arriving back in California.

For those who may be unaware, Dan Gurney was nothing short of a motorsports legend, not only as a talented driver, but also as an engineer and team owner. Born in 1931, Gurney competed in Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, and endurance racing, earning victories across multiple disciplines, even becoming the first American driver to win in F1 with a car of his own design. His contributions to racing also extend beyond the track thanks to innovations like the Gurney flap.

The story behind Gurney’s 1961 Chevy Impala begins in Van Nuys, California after Gurney purchased the bubble-top coupe new. A friend promptly used it on a cross-country honeymoon before Gurney shipped the car to England to compete in a race at Silverstone against icons like Bruce McLaren and Graham Hill. During the Silverstone race, Gurney led for 10 laps, but a wheel failure forced him to retire. Controversially, organizers later banned him from competing again, allegedly under pressure from Jaguar’s team boss.

Unable to race the Chevy Impala further, Gurney sold it to Australian motorsport enthusiast Laurie O’Neill. O’Neill converted the car into a tow vehicle, replacing the original 409-cubic-inch V8 with a straight-six engine. Over the following decades, the Impala changed hands across Australia before U.S. Impala expert Vern France purchased it. However, instead of returning to California, the car traveled back to England.

In England, motorsport journalist Ed Foster acquired the Impala and meticulously restored it, installing a replacement 409 engine to preserve its factory appearance. Foster honored Gurney’s legacy by driving the car at Silverstone, completing the two laps Gurney couldn’t finish in 1961. The Chevy Impala also served as a pace car at the 2018 Goodwood Revival, piloted by Dario Franchitti.

Justin Gurney, Dan’s son, had long expressed interest in bringing the Impala back to the family. Foster, now based in Scotland, eventually decided to sell it, but not before reuniting the car with its original numbers-matching 409 engine, tracked down after it had been swapped into a boat. With the car and engine reunited, Justin Gurney brought the Impala home to California, marking its return to American soil for the first time in over six decades.

Now a cherished part of the Gurney family collection, the Impala will be preserved and occasionally driven locally, albeit with a quieter exhaust setup. It will also be displayed in an upcoming Irvine museum alongside Dan Gurney’s other iconic vehicles. Reflecting on its journey, Justin Gurney proudly states, “I’m not going to sell it. I’m going to hold onto it as long as I can.”