Immaculate 1969 Chevrolet Impala Custom Coupe with Remarkably Low Mileage

 It took me less than 18 months to reach 15,000 miles (24,140.1 km) in my 2021 Mitsubishi. On average, Americans reach that mileage in even less time. So when we find a classic 1969 Chevrolet Impala rocking less mileage than most 2021 models, you know we had to check it out.

Granted, not every nut and bolt of this classic eBay find out of Mundelein, Illinois, is original hardware. But people who perseverate on such matters are hardly ever fun to be around.

To the average gearhead, there are lots of things to like about this late 60s family coupe. For one thing, we don't think anyone but a snob would quip about this Impala's shiny light-green paint not being OEM.

Most unrestored 1969 Impalas are sporting colors that only resemble rust-orange at this point. To see an example in the complete opposite state is nothing short of a breath of fresh air.

Though this Impala left the factory with a Chevy V8, the owner states items like the intake, headers, and exhaust system are radically different than what was on offer back in the late 60s.

Also, we don't know, and the seller doesn't say if it's the car's original heart or not. But it says that's a 350 underneath that shining hood of this 2-door Custom Coupe.

Power is fed to a modern GM 700R4 four-speed transmission, and through its driveshaft is met at the rear by a Positraction limited-slip differential.

With a stunning black-vinyl interior accented by wood grain trim pieces on the door cards, steering wheel, and instrument cluster, this is a package that screams the early 70s more so than it does the late 60s.

Essentially, that's where the divide between people who might want to buy this car and those who walk away will be drawn. Is non-numbers matching hardware really that big a deal?

It's not like we're dealing with a limited-run vehicle, fourth-generation impalas sold in relatively huge numbers for seven model years. Well, though it might not bother most people, that aftermarket hardware may as well be money down the drain to some folks.

That's why an asking price of $24,900 sounds more than fair for what you're getting

1959 Pontiac Bonneville in Porsche Riviera Blue Sets the Perfect Tone for an Incredible Week

 New week starting today, and even if it’s one of just three left in the year, we still need some sort of stimulus to get stuff going. And what better push in the right direction than a beautifully sculpted 1959 Pontiac Bonneville?

This thing will be one of the head turners of the mammoth auction Barrett-Jackson is hosting at the end of January 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Some of you might be familiar with it, as it’s been featured during the 2018 SEMA show, but as far as we know, this is the first time it is going under the hammer.

The Bonneville was put together as a full restoration by a Scottsdale-based crew called Airpark Motorsports. It took these guys two years to have it ready, but the result is truly spectacular.

Unseen to the naked eye, the Bonneville rocks an Art Morrison chassis complete with rack & pinion power steering and Wilwood disc brakes. Strange 9-inch rear differential and four-corner coilover suspension complete the underpinnings of the vehicle.

The chassis supports the iconic body of the machine, wrapped in beautiful Porsche Riviera Blue, and shining light on the road ahead by means of LED headlights. The connection to the ground is made by means of American Racing wheels shod in Michelin tires.

Under the hood the car packs a 6.2-liter V8 engine, which in this application develops 495 hp. The entire troop is kept in check by means of a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Inside, the power of the engine and the elegance of the body are perfectly matched by tan leather spread throughout, but especially on the bucket seats and center console that runs the length of the car. Modern touches come in the form of a Kenwood sound system and power windows and seats.

The former SEMA star 1959 Pontiac Bonneville is going under the hammer with no reserve, and no mention of how much the owner expects to get for it is made.

Rare 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Gleams in Harvest Gold, an Exquisite Museum-Grade Classic

 With more than 250,000 units sold over the last decade, the Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most popular sports cars out there. But it wasn't always like that. In its early years, sales were so poor that Chevrolet briefly considered discontinuing the nameplate.

The Corvette arrived in 1953, when the American sports car market was still in its infancy. First-year production began in late June and only 300 cars were built by the end of 1953.

Output grew to 3,640 examples in 1954, but sales were still far off GM's projections of nearly 10,000 units per year. The body's tendency to leak during rainstorms and the low output of the Blue Flame inline-six were to blame, according to potential buyers.

Chevrolet was almost ready to axe the Corvette, when Zora Arkus-Duntov stepped in and added a V8 engine and a three-speed manual transmission to the lineup in 1955. Even though sales dropped to 700 units that year, the move saved the nameplate, and the Corvette went on to become one of America's most legendary.

Come 2022, and these low-production years are among the most sought-after. First-year Corvettes fetch six-figure sums at public auctions, while 1955 examples are just as valuable when fitted with V8 engines.

Add in a numbers-matching drivetrain, a comprehensive restoration, and a wild color, and you get a fabulous classic that will turn heads no matter the event. The Harvest Gold example you see here is one of those cars.

And this color makes it quite special because only 120 units were finished in this lovely hue that year. Granted, it's not the rarest 1955 'Vette you can buy today, but it's a museum-grade restoration that still has its numbers-matching V8 and Powerglide gearbox, and a long list of factory-correct components.

On top of that, this Corvette became the first car to cross the new Mario Cuomo Bridge in August 2017 with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo behind the steering wheel. It hasn't been driven much since then, though, with only 166 miles (267 km) recorded on the odometer since the restoration was completed.

Overhauled by Vette Dreams in Long Island, New York, the Corvette boasts a two-tone, yellow-and-green interior and a Dark Green soft top, just like it did when it left the assembly line.

And I think it's the best color combo for the 1955 Corvette. Yes, it's even better than Roman Red with red/white upholstery.

If you fancy this rare and gorgeous drop-top, it's scheduled to go under the hammer at Mecum's Kissimmee 2023 event between January 4-15.

There's no pricing estimate for the sports car, but Concours-ready examples are valued at more than $160,000. Will it go for more than $200,000?

1959 Chevy Impala Convertible became the first car in the States to sell more than 1 million units in a single year

 

The 1959 Impala, therefore, gave birth to a model whose sales just kept growing year after year until eventually setting a new record in its domestic market.

In 1965, the Chevrolet Impala became the first car in the States to sell more than 1 million units in a single year. As a result, the 1958 and the 1959 models are a great opportunity to see where it all started.

This absolutely breath-taking 1959 Impala that eBay seller 1958stevea has recently posted online (the car is actually being sold by S&S Classic Cars) doesn’t necessarily look like a new car but even better than one.

It’s a perfect 10 no matter the angle, as it exhibits flawless condition outside, inside, and under the hood.

Powered by a 350 (5.7-liter) small-block V8 paired with a 350 Turbo transmission, this Impala is ready for anything you’re up to, though it’s pretty clear its place is rather in a garage alongside other mint classics.

The seller has provided a long list of improvements this Impala has received, starting with a chrome alternator and power steering pump and ending with MagnaFlow mufflers and an HEI ignition system.

The video shared by the seller gives us the immortals the chance of admiring this Impala in all its glory, so it’s no surprise so many people are ready to spend quite a fortune on the car. At the time of writing, the bidding on eBay has already surpassed $110,000, and the reserve isn’t even unlocked.

More surprising is the Impala has received no less than 35 bids, so it’s pretty clear it has caught the attention of many wealthy collectors out there.

Rare 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda Rescued After 40 Years, Reclaiming its Former Glory

 When it comes to derelict classic cars, we usually associate them with junkyards and worn-out barns. But many old vehicles were also left to rot away in backyards or even abandoned in the woods.

This 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda, for instance, spent more than 40 years hidden deep in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. And even though it's a sad sight, it was rescued, and it's off to a better life.

What is the story behind his Mopar? Well, the folks that saved it don't share much info beyond the fact that it was wrecked and abandoned.

Apparently, it happened sometime in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, so they don't know for exactly how long it's been sitting. But it's anywhere from 40 to 45 years, which is about five times longer than this muscle car spent on the road.

That's also long enough to turn a solid automobile into a rust bucket. However, this Mopar took all those decades of total exposure to the elements like a champ. Sure, it's rusty, shows a lot of damage, and it's missing a few parts, but it's still in one piece.

And amazingly enough, the original Bahama Yellow paint still adorns most of the sheet metal. That's something you don't see everything on vehicles that spent decades outside.

Now for the answer to the big question: how rare is this 'Cuda? We don't get to see a VIN or any other tag, but our host mentions that the Mopar left the factory with a 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8 under the hood. Granted, the LA-type mill is far from impressive next to the big-block mills that were available in 1971, including the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB and the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI.

It's not quite as rare either, but it's a relatively low-production unit. Specifically, records show that only 3,440 'Cudas were ordered with the 340 V8 in 1971. That's less than 21% of total production that year.

However, this figure includes all three transmissions that were available at the time. This one being an automatic, it's one of 2,110 cars made. If we also exclude the convertibles, we can narrow it down to 2,008 examples.

Indeed, this figure is not as impressive as those that come with the HEMI and 440 cars. For reference, Plymouth sold only 114 HEMI 'Cudas and 254 440-6BBL models in 1971. But the Bahama Yellow paint would narrow things down even further.

The problem is there are no production records based on color options, but we do know that Bahama Yellow wasn't popular back in the day.

It's not the best-looking color out there, and it was overshadowed by flashy hues such as In-Violet, Rallye Red, Sassy Grass Green, and Curious Yellow. All told, it's safe to say that fewer than 100 340 automatics were shipped in Bahama Yellow.

Does this mean it's worth as much as a HEMI? Not by a long shot. But it's definitely worth restoring simply because it survived for so long in the wild. And hopefully, the folks from YouTube's "S and S Barn Finds" will put it back on the road soon.

The 1962 Impala was one of the model years that paved the way for the record sales the nameplate achieved in 1965

 The 1962 Impala was one of the model years that paved the way for the record sales the nameplate achieved in 1965. As such, it didn't come with too many massive changes, as Chevrolet was rather focused on further polishing and refinements to boost the car's customer appeal.

Bigger changes happened in the engine department, where the GM brand finally dropped the famous 348 (5.7-liter). On the other hand, because the Impala SS still needed a big-block option (though the car could be ordered with any engine in the lineup, including even the lazy six-cylinder), Chevrolet offered the 409 in two separate configurations.

First of all, it was the single four-barrel carburetor option that produced 380 horsepower and was marketed as the more affordable version of the two. The almighty choice was the 409-horsepower engine, this time equipped with two four-barrel carburetors.

The Impala SS that you see in these pictures is powered by the most popular engine choice in 1962 – a 327 (5.3-liter) now paired with an M22 four-speed transmission.

As you probably figured out already, the Impala is no longer entirely original, as it already received a series of aftermarket upgrades here and there, but otherwise, it's a beautifully preserved SS that's hard to find these days.

Parked in storage since 1996, the car received a second chance following an estate sale, and it's now looking for a new owner as part of an auction on eBay.

The vehicle looks mesmerizing, there's no doubt about it, but the closer you get to it (or the more you zoom in), the more problems you discover. The paint is 30 years old, so it comes with scratches and dings that any diehard Chevy fan would want to resolve ASAP.

The metal is entirely original, seller mismay-39 claims, but the interior looks like it has already been refreshed at some point in the car's life. It looks incredible, though, so make sure you closely inspect the cabin, especially if you're interested in the original factor.

Needless to say, this Impala SS runs and drives, and this isn't necessarily surprising, given the overall condition. The seller says they believe this isn't the matching-numbers powertrain (and I do too, but I could be wrong), so don't forget to have a thorough look under the hood as well.

Unsurprisingly, the car has already attracted the attention of many people online, as the auction received close to 30 bids in just a few hours online.

The top bid is currently at $20,000, but the reserve is yet to be triggered. If you want to buy the car without a fight, you must be ready to pay $38,000 for it, and you'll then be able to take it home.

The 1963 Studebaker Avanti A Sleek and Innovative Coupe

 

Founded in 1852, The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company was a wagon builder who went on to become one of the only American companies of its type to successfully transition to automobile production at the turn of the century. While still selling their wagons and coaches, they formed an early partnership with E-M-F to sell automobiles at Studebaker dealers. Quality issues with E-M-F led to Studebaker taking over that firm’s automobile line and the rest, as they say, is history