1963 Chevrolet Impala SS convertible review from Netherlands
"Great experience, great memories"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rusted floor, brakes needed service, gas line broke, 2BBL defective, heater core leaked, steering pump, rag top hydraulics failed.
From 80 MPH up, oil sprayed onto the exhaust, leaving a blue smoke trail.
Road holding went south from there too.
The steering had a lot of play.
Kept losing hubcaps.
Keep in mind it was an old car with probably 300000 miles on it, and it needed more TLC than I could give it.
New parts were easy to get, but quality was doubtful.
General comments?
There's no better music than the sound of a V8 engine. So I didn't mind it was a gas guzzler.
Brakes are a joke compared to nowadays standards, but the 4 drums never faded or failed me.
It corners like a boat, but it drives very comfortable. It's the only car I frequently took for a spin just for fun.
The Powerglide is a rugged transmission (it didn't even complain after reversing it at 50 MPH.)
After fitting a 4BBL and dual exhaust, pick up increased to a sporty level.
This car has a timeless design. Being a full size convertible in SS trim it's the prettiest car I have ever owned.
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| Great looking collector car, and very dependable! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1963 |
| Year of manufacture | 1963 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 283 CID Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 2 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 250000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 300000 miles |
| Previous car | Citroen AX |
| Date of Entry | 9th April, 2009 |