[citation needed]. In 1968 as Caprice sales escalated, those of the Impala Super Sport suffered a decline. For the 2011 model year, Impala returned in LS, LT, and LTZ trims. In addition, certain features and option packages were deleted from both models.[90]. Impalas were discontinued from production from 1986 to 1993 with a total revamp in design in 1994. While the Super Sport was for the most part an appearance package for the Impala, Chevrolet did see fit to offer a performance version in a special equipment and trim package that today is rare and valuable. From 1964 through 1967, the Super Sport was a separate model, with its own VIN prefix (for example in 1965-67 cars, 164 was the prefix for a regular Impala with a V8 engine, 166 or 168 were used in 1966-68 for a V8-equipped Impala SS). Options included 267-and-305-cubic-inch (4.4 and 5.0L) V8 engines. Inside were color-keyed seat belts and floormats. The Australian Impala was the first American post-war import to come standard with a V8 engine. Here you will find monthly and yearly Canadian and U.S. sales figures for the Chevrolet Impala. The Impala", Image of 50th Anniversary promotional photo, "1958 Chevrolet Engineering Features-073", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Hkvhklkv8, "What Changes Were Made In The Chevy 235 Engine? The 1969 models were unique in several ways: Disc brakes were standard that year (optional on other years) along with 15 inch wheels, and this was the only year that the cars had the name "Impala" anywhere on the body. You may not have a true SS, just badges put on, that was popular also at the time. Super Sport (SS) models featured that panel in a special engine-turned aluminum, which was also used to fill the side moldings, making the SS more distinctive in appearance. The similar 1970 Impala got a minor facelift featuring a more conventional under the grille bumper replacing the wrap-around unit used in 1969 along with new triple vertical taillights in the rear bumper. [88], The 2019 model year Impala only saw minor changes. This was a special package created for drag racers and NASCAR and included a 427 with aluminum body parts and a cowl-induction air intake system. It was more of a bucket seat, center console, badging and wheel cover identifier. The 1965 396 375HP and 425hp were one year only motors. Unlike all other years, the 1961 Super Sport package was available on any Impala, including sedans and station wagons (the sales brochure shows a 4-door hardtop Sport Sedan with the SS package). GM is fully co-operating in the investigation. Turbo-Jet 396 V8. 1965 Chevrolet sales brochure. And while sales of the Impala line as a whole remained relatively high, the Impala suffered the worst fate as its production was cut by more than 50 percent. This was the final year for the Impala SS until 1994. The Impala was introduced for the 1958 model year as top-of-the-line Bel Air 2-door hardtops and convertibles. "Chevrolet" and "Impala" callouts on the body were all replaced by "Impala SS" badges. New styling for the 1965 model year retained the 119-inch wheelbase but saw the overall length of the car grow to 213 inches. The Australian cars had locally sourced amber flashing rear indicators replacing the clear reversing lenses, as red indicators were illegal. Standard features now included lap belts front and rear, reverse lamps, day/night rearview mirror, and a padded dashboard. . 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. #1 I think we all know that there were not very many 65 impalas made with the 409 due to the 409 being only available in the early to mid year cars before it was no longer available ultimately being replaced by the 396ci big block motor being introduced in 1965. Police vehicles were upgraded to correct this defect and law enforcement agencies were compensated for expenses incurred for tire replacement, but civilian vehicles were not recalled. As a result, Impala owners launched a class action lawsuit in July 2011 against General Motors. A mechanical refresh for 2012 brought the revised 3.6 L V6 (with Variable Valve Timing) to the LS, LT, and LTZ trims as the single engine offering, paired with an updated 6-speed automatic transmission. For the 2012 model year, the exterior received a slight refresh and 4 trims: a standard Impala, LS, LT, and LTZ. Due to a shortage of the unique five-spoke aluminum wheels, only 6,303 cars were sold. Impala Hardtop Sedan (1965-1970) Impala Sport Coupe (1965-1970) Impala-Kingswood Wagon (1965-1970) Other production years of this submodel: 1965 Chevrolet Impala Convertible specifications, all versions 1966 Chevrolet Impala Convertible specifications, all versions 1968 Chevrolet Impala Convertible specifications, all versions In terms of sales, there obviously wasnt much competition to the Impala in 1965. The 1972 model has a grille which extended below the bumper. Unlike the earlier Impalas built on a B-body, this one was front-wheel drive and was available with a choice of two engines, the ever-enduring 3.8L V6 engine, and the slightly smaller 3.4L V6 engine. This was a transitional step between traditional construction and the later fully unitized body/chassis; the body structure was also strengthened in the rocker panels and firewall. There were four new exterior colorsPrecisions Red, Imperial Blue Metallic, Bordeaux Red, and Red Jewel Tintcoat, as well as a Regency-outfitted "Impala RSS". LT, LTZ, and Police; Active Fuel Management. The Chevrolet Impala (/mpl, -pl/) is a full-size car built by Chevrolet for model years 1958 to 1985, 1994 to 1996, and 2000 to 2020. For 1974 the Custom Coupe was no longer a hardtop, with large fixed rear quarter glass and a thick B-pillar. "SS427" badges were also installed in the interior of the 1968 model only. Speedometers read up to 100mph (160km/h), and added kilometers per hour. You don't see many of them, but I know they are out there. The SS's has special interior for the SS production only. A Landau model available for 19751976 models featured a landau vinyl roof (with a chrome band across the roof), a choice of special paint colors, sports-styled dual remote outside rearview mirrors, color-keyed wheel covers, a vinyl bodyside molding insert, and pin-striping. However, the transmission was not upgraded up for the power of the LT1, nor the extra weight of the body and frame, and transmission failures after 100,000 miles (160,000km) were commonplace. It also came with the option for a rear vinyl bench seat and front cloth bucket or bench seats, both cloth front and rear seats, or vinyl front and rear seats. The 400 HP version was offered also, but there were no dual quad 409s in 1965. The 1969 Impala SS had no distinctive SS badging inside the car except for an "SS" logo the steering wheel (again, there was no Z03 offered that year). The new full-size Chevrolets featured dramatically rounded sides, and an all-new front end with new hood contours, curved, frameless side glass (for pillarless models), and sharper angled windshield with newly reshaped vent windows. The taillights were a large "teardrop" design at each side, and two slim-wide, nonfunctional front air intake scoops were added just above the grille. Another difference was that the block casting for the Impala LT1 had two-bolt main bearing caps while the casting used for the Corvette LT1 had four-bolt main bearing caps. The Super Sport option was quite popular, giving the buyer full SS-badged wheel covers, front bucket seats, all-vinyl trim, and a console with a built-in clock. The tailfins of the 1957 were replaced by deeply sculptured rear fenders. A Midnight appearance package was added as an upgrade for the LT and LTZ level trims, which included unique black-pocket wheels and gloss black badges in addition to the standard black paint. One should question of the 2,455 Super Sports how many convertibles were made and how many are surviving today. Based on the LT, it added a FE3 Sport Suspension (replacing the FE1 Touring Suspension), four-wheel ABS, eighteen-inch SS-style alloy wheels (replacing the 16-inch wheels), rear SS style spoiler, "50th Anniversary" Impala badges on the C-pillars, two-tone, leather-trimmed seats with "50th" logos embroidered on the front headrests, eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel with accent-color threading including audio controls, ebony carpet, ebony floor mats with accent threading, "50th" Anniversary emblems on the sill plates and a choice of two premium exterior colors: Black Granite Metallic and Red Jewel Tintcoat. 2 America in successive years, for Michele Mouton (1985), Bobby Unser (1986) and Walter Rhrl (1987). [14] New to the options list was cruise control. Redesigned in 1965, the Impala set an all-time industry annual sales record of more than 1 million units in the United States. The ignition switch was moved from the instrument panel to the steering column, and when the key was removed, the steering wheel and shift lever were locked. In keeping with federal regulations, safety features were built into Impalas during the 1967 and 1968 model years, including a fully collapsible energy-absorbing steering column, side marker lights, and shoulder belts for closed models. After four years of growing progressively more boxy, the 1965 models featured more rounded sides. This body style had been introduced for the 1974 model year, a precursor to Detroit's complete abandonment of pillarless body styles before the end of the Seventies. [43] It was rated at 240 horsepower (180kW) and had been previously used in the Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, Buick Regal GS, Buick Riviera, and H-body Pontiac Bonneville SSEI and Buick Park Avenue "Ultra". It was the last retail Impala to be offered with optional bench seat and column shift transmission. So was the fascination with large sporty cars, prompting abandonment of the Impala Super Sport. In 2007, the Impala received the FlexFuel 3.5-liter V6 and Flex Fuel rear badge for the LS, LT, LTZ, and Touring. The Impalas included crossed-flag insignias above the side moldings, as well as bright rocker moldings and dummy rear-fender scoops. Just my old memories and observations. From 2006 to 2011, the Impala 9C1 and 9C3 models used the 3.9L (237 cu in) V6 paired to the heavy duty 4T65E-HD transmission and had standard dual exhaust. The Impala was also used to represent Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series. [30] The power ventilation system was improved, and exit vents were moved from the trunk lid to the door pillars. [111], Motor Trend magazine awarded the full-size Chevrolet including the Impala as its 1977 Car of the Year. Cars equipped with this option got full-length door glass minus the vent windows. The Impala name was revived for the 2000 model year, being introduced on April 8, 1999. The 2015 Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel has a 500-mile driving range. This enabled the driver to turn off all lights in the vehicle and "hide"; something not allowed with the civilian models, as automatic headlights were standard. The eAssist versions went on sale in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Impala name returned for the Kingswood station wagon. Monthly figures may be averages. The 2006 Impala was introduced at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show in January. [33] Production of the downsized model increased substantially over 1976, and the Impala regained the number one US sales position. The (PDG) convenience package, AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD changer, and trunk cargo net were no longer available. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In 1964, the Impala SS earned its own model designation, and by 1965 production numbers ballooned to 243,114 Impala SS's built. (According to the Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1946-1975 by Ron Kowalke, which you really should read, if you add up all of General Motors's B platform cars built between 1965 and 1970 the. The station wagon was renamed the Kingswood - reverting to a pre-1962 Chevrolet practice of using different nameplates on wagons than other models. The Impala became a separate series, adding a four-door hardtop and four-door sedan to the two-door Sport Coupe and convertible and a five-door station wagon. The 2018 model year Impala went from four trims to three: LS, LT, and Premier. Interiors had repositioned front seats for more legroom.