1963 Chevrolet Impala Parked for 35 Years Emerges With Mysterious Bits, Intriguing

The 1963 Impala landed directly into automotive history books thanks to a significant achievement. Chevrolet built its 50 millionth car, and the Impala was the landmark vehicle picked to celebrate the moment.

The Super Sport, which was already in its third year on the market, was picked to become the 50 millionth car produced by Chevrolet. New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller and GM’s General Manager Semon Knudson drove the car off the assembly lines in Tarrytown, New York, turning the Impala SS into a superstar everybody wanted.

Someone on Craigslist posted a standard Impala, but the car tries to convince potential buyers to give it a second chance using a different recipe.

It doesn’t flex the highly desirable Super Sport tags but comes with intriguing mileage, which is likely original, considering the many years of sitting.

The odometer indicates just 49K miles, with the seller explaining on Craigslist that they recently purchased the car from the original owner. It’s another sign the mileage could be original, but you’ll want to have this inspected if you believe the Impala qualifies for a complete restoration.

The vehicle was sitting for 35 years at the time of the purchase, but its shape still looks decent, especially because we know nothing about the storage conditions.

It’s where the mysterious bits start pouring. It’s unclear if the Impala is still complete, and the owner says you’ll find the usual rust suspects on the car. It probably means the floors and the trunk require some work, but you’ll have to put the Impala on a lift and inspect every inch of metal thoroughly, as it’s unclear if patches are enough or if the car will need new floors altogether.

A 283 paired with a Powerglide transmission is in charge of putting the wheels in motion, but its condition is as mysterious as the rest of the car. I can’t tell if it runs or not, but considering the decades away from the road, it’s probably safe to assume that it doesn’t. The 283 was the base V8 for this model year, and while I would’ve preferred a big-block unit, this unit is still a solid choice if you plan a restoration to factory specifications.

A 1963 Impala would make for a great collectible if restored properly, and this candidate could check many essential boxes, especially because it only recently waved goodbye to the original owner. Chances are it’s still original, complete, unrestored, and unmolested, so do yourselves a favor and go see the car in Martinsville, VA.

If you’re committed to a purchase, bring your trailer and $6,000, as the owner believes the Impala is worth this much, considering its shape. It doesn’t come with a title, so you’ll only get a bill of sale.