The Chevrolet Impala is a full size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet’s most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best selling automobile in the United States, competing against the Ford Galaxie 500 and the Plymouth Fury when full size models dominated the market. The Impala was distinguished for many years by its symmetrical triple taillights. The Caprice was introduced as a top line Impala Sport Sedan for the 1965 model year becoming a separate series positioned above the Impala in 1966, which itself remained above the Bel Air and Biscayne. The Impala continued as Chevrolet’s most popular full size model through the mid 1980s. Between 1994 and 1996, Impala was revived as a muscular 5.7 liter V8 powered version of the Caprice Classic sedan. In 2000, the Impala was reintroduced again as a mainstream front wheel drive full size sedan.
The first generation Impala was introduced in 1958 and positioned as top of the line Bel Air coupes and convertibles. From the windshield pillar rearward, the 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala differed structurally from typical Chevrolet’s. Hardtops had a slightly shorter greenhouse and longer rear deck, giving the impression of an extended body. It was a change from the 1955 – 1957 shape that was itself a substantial move away from the conservative Chevrolet’s of past years, longer, lower, and wider than its predecessors. The sharp tail fins of the 1957 gave way to deeply sculptured rear fenders. Three taillights each side would become an Impala hallmark whereas lesser models had two and wagons just one. Special crossed flag insignias sat above the side moldings plus bright rocker moldings and dummy rear fender scoops. 1958 was the first year of dual headlamps.
The second generation 1959 Chevrolet Impala was radically reworked sharing bodyshells with lower end Buicks and Oldsmobiles as well as with Pontiac, part of a GM economy move, Chevrolet’s rode a wheelbase 11/2 inches longer than before. Atop a new X-frame chassis, roofs sat three inches lower, and bodies measured more than two inches wider overall. Its tailfins protruded outward rather than upward. Chevrolet eschewed the triple taillight rear style this year with a very large, single controversial teardrop taillight at each side. Impala was now a separate series, including a four door hardtop and four door sedan, as well as the two door Sport Coupe and convertible. Sport Coupes featured a shortened roofline and wrap over back window, promising a virtually unlimited rear view to complement the car’s new compound curve windshield. The hardtop Sport Sedan had a huge, pillar free back window and flying wing roofline. Base V8 was the carryover 283, at 185 horsepower.
The third generation Impala was restyled on the existing GM B platform for 1961. The new body styling was more trim and boxy than the 1958-60 models. Sport Coupe models featured a bubbleback roof line style for 61, and a unique model, the two door pillared sedan, was available for 1961 only. It was rarely ordered and a scarce collectible today. The rare Super Sport (SS) option debuted for 1961. The 1962 model featured new C pillar styling for all models except the four door hardtop. Sport Coupe models now featured the convertible roof styling, shared with other GM B full size hardtop coupes. This style proved extremely popular, and contributed to the desirability of the 62-64 Impalas as collectibles. The overhang roof style of the sedans was replaced with a more attractive, wider C pillar with wraparound rear window. Engine choices for 62 settled down, the 348 cubic inch (5.7 L) V8 discontinued and replaced by the 340 brake horsepower (250 kW) 409 cubic inch (6.7 L), which could be ordered with any transmission.
Totally redesigned in 1965, the fourth generation Impala set an all time industry annual sales record of more than 1 million units in the U.S., which has never been bettered. All new full size Chevys eschewed the X frame for a full width perimeter frame, a new body which featured curved, frameless side glass (for pillarless models), sharper angled windshield with newly reshaped vent windows, and redesigned full coil suspension. In 1965 Chevrolet introduced the Impala Caprice, exclusively as a four door hardtop.
The Impala remained Chevrolet’s top selling model with the fifth generation. A high performance big block V8 was still available in the form of the Turbo Jet 454, which produced 365 hp in 1971, but power decreased as the years went along. The 1971 redesigned B-body would be the largest car ever offered by Chevrolet. The hardtop Sport Coupe continued to be offered; it was a smoothly sloped semi fastback reminiscent of the 1961 bubbletop styling. A three speed manual transmission remained standard at the beginning of the year, but in the spring of 1971 all V8 equipped full size GM cars got Turbo Hydra Matic as standard equipment. Interestingly, Powerglide remained optionally available for six cylinder cars until the 1973 models.
The changes in the automobile marketplace resulted in Chevrolet redesigning the sixth generation Impala once again in 1977 to meet changing demands. The new downsized Impalas were shorter in length, taller and narrower than before. The new Impala’s frame was a shortened version of the one introduced in 1971 and would be utilized until 1996 when the B-body production line was shut down. Even with its trimmer exterior dimensions, the new Impala featured increased headroom, rear seat legroom and trunk space. Production of the downsized model increased substantially over 1976, and the Impala regained the number one US sales position. The redesigned 1977 Impala/Caprice was named Motor Trend’s car of the year.
