Car: Chevrolet Impala Convertible
Year: 1960
What makes it special: Chevrolet’s Impala model has been produced as a full-sized model for 1958 to 1985, then from 1994 to 1996, and has been produced as a mid-sized offering from model year 2000 since. It’s Chevrolet’s most popular flagship passenger model and among the best-selling models of all time.
What made it famous: After a restyle from the 1959 model, the 1960 Impala lost the famed “Nostril-look” and given a tamer front grille, and three round taillights on each side, while lesser models like the Biscayne were only given two. A white band ran along its rear fenders. There were several available V8 choices for 1960, in either 283 or 348 cu in displacements. The carbureted Turbo-Fire 283 could be had in 170 or 230hp, while the 348 could be had with 250 to 320hp, as a 350hp, Special Super Turbo-Thrust with triple 2-barrel carb set-up, 11.25:1 compression and dual exhausts. New for 1960 was speed and cruise control as well. Fuel injection was no longer a part of the options list for the full-sized Chevrolets. The Impala also rode on an “X-Frame.”
Why I would want one: Although I loved the very charismatic look of the ’59 model with its flaring nostrils, the 1960 model looked sleeker, and more in tune with the “space race” styling of the time period.
Fun fact: The current generation of Impala is also sold in the Middle East, China and South Korea.
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