Chevy Impala
If there ever was a muscle car that continually adapted to the changing times, retaining its position as one of the most popular American sports cars ever produced, the Chevy Impala SS would certainly be a top contender. Its almost 60-year production run helped spearhead modern U.S sports car making with every generation, with original Impalas representing some of Chevy’s greatest production numbers.
Although the Super Sport wouldn’t come until a few years after introduction, the original Impala had its sights set on speed and performance. Original motor options included names like the “Blue Flame I6” and the “Turbo Fire” or “Turbo Thrust V8”, mated to the household name Powerglide transmission.
For all its performance savvy, the Impala was as much a measure of excess in its aesthetics, too. Massive, swooping flares crowned a wide rear end that sported strangely organic, almost insect-like taillights. Wide, full-body chrome bumpers adorned the front and rear, and the whole body extended at least 6” to 12” past the wheels, only adding to the land boat image the Impala portrayed.
But all this excess gave way to a true American sports car coupe in the early sixties. A massively shortened wheelbase and sleeker, flat rear end and decklid paved the way for the first pencil neck and fastback muscle cars. Hugely upgraded 4.6L and 5.4L V8s became available, as well as a monstrous 7.0L. It was this motor that gave a heartbeat to the first Super Sport in 1963.
The high-compression (13.5:1) 427 motor was graced with a cowl-induction air system, a longer 3.65” stroke, and a high-rise, two-piece aluminum intake manifold that fed two hungry Carter AFB carbs. The was result was an engine that, while underrated, produced a whopping 430 horses and nearly 600 torques. Seated in a modified body constructed entirely of aluminum, the Super Sport, with its Z11 special package, became a car that would likely best most modern muscle cars produced today – including special trims like the Shelby and ZL1.
Thanks to massive motors, continuous improvements to power and suspension, and a generally popular body styling that constantly evolved, the Impala easily found its way on our Top U.S. Sports Cars.
