Chevrolet Impala - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia Page 1 of 14
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Chevrolet Impala - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 1 of 14 Chevrolet Impala From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of Chevrolet Impala 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 1958 Chevrolet Impala Coupe was revived as a muscular 5.7-liter V8–powered version of the Caprice Classic sedan. In 2000, the Impala was re-introduced again as a mainstream front-wheel drive full- Manufacturer Chevrolet Division size sedan. [3] of General Motors [citation needed ] Ed Cole, Chevrolet's chief engineer in the late 1950s, defined the Impala as a "prestige Production 1957–1985 [1] [2] car within the reach of the average American citizen." February 1994 –December 1996 1999–present Model years 1958–1985 Contents 1994–1996 2000–present ■ 1 History Class Full-size ■ 1.1 Origin and sales ■ 1.2 First generation (1958) ■ 1.3 Second generation (1959–1960) ■ 1.4 Third generation (1961–1964) ■ 1.5 Fourth generation (1965–1970) ■ 1.6 Impala SS (1961–1969) ■ 1.7 Fifth generation (1971–1976) ■ 1.8 Engines (1958–1976) ■ 1.9 Sixth generation (1977–1985) ■ 1.10 Seventh generation (Impala SS, 1994–1996) ■ 1.11 Eighth generation (2000–2005) ■ 1.12 Ninth generation (2006–present) ■ 1.13 Tenth generation (2014–) ■ 2 Gallery ■ 3 Safety ■ 4 Awards ■ 5 NASCAR ■ 6 Notes ■ 7 See also ■ 8 References ■ 9 External links History Origin and sales The Impala name was first used for the full-sized 1956 General Motors Motorama show car that bore Corvette-esque design cues, especially the grille. Painted emerald green metallic, with a white interior, the Impala featured hardtop styling. It is not known to have survived. Clare MacKichan's design team, along with designers from Pontiac, started to establish basic packaging and dimensions for their shared 1958 General Motors A body in June; the first styling sketch that would directly influence the finished Chevrolet product caught the eye of General Motors Styling vice president Harley Earl in October. Seven months later, the basic design was worked. From 1958 through 1996, Impala sales were in excess of 13 million, more than any other full-size car in the history of the automobile. The 1964 model year sales of 1,074,925 units (Impala and Impala SS) in the U.S. still stands as a record. 1965 wasn't far behind with 1,046,500 units. In 2008, Impala was the 6th best-selling car in the United States and had the distinction of being the top-selling American nameplate sedan, according to Reuters Top 20 Best-selling Vehicles Scorecard. [4] First generation (1958) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Impala 8/ 8/ 2011 Chevrolet Impala - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 2 of 14 The Impala was introduced in 1958 and First generation 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 Chevrolets. Hardtops had a slightly shorter greenhouse and longer rear deck, giving the impression of an 1958 Impala Hardtop Sport Coupe extended body. It was a change from the 1955–1957 shape that was itself a substantial move away from the conservative Chevrolets of past years, longer, lower, and wider than its predecessors. [6] The sharp tailfins of the 1957 gave way to deeply sculptured rear fenders. Three taillights each side would become an Impala hallmark whereas lesser 1958 Chevrolet Impala Convertible Coupe models had two and wagons just one. Special crossed-flag insignias sat above the side Production 1957–1958 [5] moldings plus bright rocker moldings and dummy rear-fender scoops. 1958 was the first year of dual headlamps. Model years 1958 Body style 2-door convertible Underneath this new body was a new chassis. The standard perimeter-type frame was abandoned, replaced by a unit with rails laid out in the form of an elongated "X." 2-door hardtop Chevrolet claimed that the new frame offered increased torsional rigidity and allowed Layout FR layout for a lower, yet still roomy passenger compartment. In this design, a transitional step between traditional construction and the later fully unitized body/chassis, the body Engine 235 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6 structure was beefed up in a number of areas (most notably the rocker panels and 283 cu in (4.6 L) Turbo Fire V8 firewall) to create a solid package. [7] However, this frame was not as effective in 348 cu in (5.7 L) W-series Turbo Thrust protecting the interior structure in a side impact crash, as a traditional perimeter frame. V8 With a six-cylinder engine, a Chevrolet Bel Air Impala started at $2,586, while $2,693 Transmission 3-speed (close-ratio) manual bought a V-8. In all, 55,989 convertibles and 125,480 Sport Coupes were built, 15 3-speed overdrive manual percent of production. Interiors held a two-spoke steering wheel and color-keyed door Turboglide auto. panels with brushed aluminum trim. No other series included a convertible. Impala 2-speed Powerglide auto. signaled Chevrolet's entry into the mid-price field, even if the design was less radical (Corvette-type) than planned. In addition to style and vigorous performance, ads marketed its "quick, eager-to-please handling that lets you know you're the boss." Longer, lower, and Related Chevrolet Bel Air, Chevrolet Biscayne, wider—a recurrent theme-all Chevrolets had full-coil suspension, displacing the old Chevrolet Brookwood, Chevrolet Nomad, rear leaf springs. A new "Safety Girder" X-type frame reduced height without Chevrolet Parkwood headroom loss. A 283-cubic-inch engine was now the standard V-8, with ratings that ranged from 185 to 290 horsepower. A big-block 348-cubic-inch Turbo-Thrust V-8 was a new engine option, descended from a truck engine putting out 250, 280, or 315 horsepower. The 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala helped Chevrolet regain the number one production spot in this recession year. [3] Second generation (1959–1960) The 1959 Chevrolet Impala was radically Second generation reworked sharing bodyshells with lower-end Buicks and Oldsmobiles as well as with Pontiac, part of a GM economy move, Chevrolets 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 1959 Impala Hardtop Sport Coupe overall. The growing size contributed to increased curb weight, one more trend of the times. Its tailfins protruded outward rather 1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible Coupe than upward. Auto tester Tom McCahill, of Mechanix Illustrated, declared that a [5] Chevy's decklid had "enough room to land a Piper Cub." Chevrolet eschewed the Production 1958–1960 triple-taillight rear style this year with a very large, single controversial "teardrop" Model years 1959–1960 taillight at each side. Body style 2-door convertible Impala was now a separate series, including a four-door hardtop and four-door sedan, 2-door coupe as well as the two-door Sport Coupe and convertible. Sport Coupes featured a 2-door hardtop shortened roofline and wrap-over back window, promising a "virtually unlimited rear 4-door hardtop view" to complement the car's new compound-curve windshield. The hardtop Sport 4-door sedan Sedan had a huge, pillar-free back window and "flying wing" roofline. Base V-8 was the carryover 283, at 185 horsepower. Performance fans could select 283-cubic-inch Layout FR layout outputs to 290 horsepower – or turn to the big-block 348-cubic-inch V-8 up to 315 Engine 235 cu in (3.9 L) Blue Flame I6 horsepower. With a V-8, the Impala convertible listed at $2,967, but a six-cylinder version saved the customer $118. Impala interiors flaunted their top-of-the-line status, 283 cu in (4.6 L) Turbo Fire V8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Impala 8/ 8/ 2011 Chevrolet Impala - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 3 of 14 offering front and rear armrests, an electric clock, dual sliding sun visors, and crank- 348 cu in (5.7 L) W-series Turbo Thrust operated front ventipanes. A contoured instrument panel held deep-set gauges residing V8 below hoods to prevent glare. A Flexomatic six-way power seat was a new option, as was "Speedminder" (a device which allowed the driver to set a needle at a specific Transmission 3-speed (close-ratio) manual speed; a buzzer would sound if he exceeded this pre-set speed). 3-speed overdrive manual 4-speed manual The 1960 models created a more conservative Turboglide auto. look than was seen on the 1959 models and 2-speed Powerglide auto. were simply toned down a bit. Stylists and marketers realized that the fin-and-chrome (Corvette-type) fashion had about run its course decided to Related Chevrolet Bel Air, Chevrolet Biscayne, shift direction, creating a more conservative Chevrolet Nomad, Chevrolet Brookwood, face-lift. The effect was helped by reinstating Chevrolet Parkwood, Chevrolet El Camino three modestly sized round taillights on each 1960 Impala Hardtop Sport Sedan side of the top-of-the-line Impala.