Finding a Hidden Gem Online

It used to be that people took their old stuff to junkyards and swap meets when they didn’t want it anymore. And resourceful bargain hunters would pick through the goods in search of that diamond in the rough—turning over busted fenders, inspecting used fuel tanks—all in the hopes of finding the item that’s actually worth something.

Nowadays, in the era of eBay, the search for value is conducted with a keyboard and high-speed connection; kicking the tires happens by way of written descriptions, digital images and email communications. Of course, the opportunistic at heart relish eBay as the best thing since sliced bread, a massive database of the world’s old stuff, neatly organized and categorized. For everyone else, eBay is the Internet’s junkyard, with shady merchants hiding around every corner.

So it all depends on your perspective. In Northern California, there’s a guy named Jim Allen who’s more of the opportunistic type. Naturally, when Jim wanted a classic 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS, he turned to eBay to find it. And he found it alright, a 1961 SS that needed a little lovin’ care to get back to its former state of hot rod glory.

The Vision at Fesler Built

Jim brought his new toy to the experts at Fesler Built in Phoenix, Ariz. Chris Fesler took one look at the dingy ’61 and knew he had the expertise, resources and contacts to remake the car into something truly special: a classy, factory-look Impala that drives like a modern car. The car wasn’t really in bad shape, but Chris could see immediately that it needed top-to-bottom detailing as well as a new interior. And a drive around the block revealed that the old Impala could also use a suspension overhaul.

Modern Suspension and Steering Upgrades

After a little brainstorming, Jim, Chris and the Fesler Built crew sketched out a roadmap for the project, starting with new suspension that would drop the Impala just enough and give it a smooth, easy ride. The suspension is built around a Hotchkis 4-link system, Hotchkis sway bar and heavy-duty drop springs on the front and rear. Classic Performance Products (CPP) supplied a whole catalog of suspension hardware and components, including the upper and lower ball joints, lower A arm rubber bump stop, rubber control arm bush set, inner and outer tie rod ends and adjustable shocks. CPP also provided a drive shaft and carrier bearings which, along with everything else, keep the Impala’s ride soft and shimmy-free.

The steering needed some work too, since it started out stiff enough to require the strength of three grown men to make a u-turn. Addressing this problem, Fesler Built installed a CPP pitman arm and CPP power steering hose set consisting of a rebuilt slave cylinder, control valve and steering box.

Improved Braking Performance

Since a car this heavy can’t be out on the road without reliable stopping power, the guys had to put a good deal of attention towards the braking system as well. The heavy-duty Baer Claw TRACK system fit the bill, with its hard-core two-piston aluminum calipers and one-piece, 13-inch zinc-washed rotors. The braided brake lines and proportioning valve are also by Baer, but Fesler Built chose CPP’s master cylinder, brake booster and 2-inch drop spindles to complete the system.

Revitalizing the 409 Engine

The build team also had to clean up the 409 Chevrolet engine and replace some of the supporting systems, including ignition, fuel, power and exhaust. Detailing the 409 was time-consuming, but worth the effort. When the guys were done, they crowned the squeaky clean engine with Offenhauser finned valve covers, giving it the mark of a legitimate hot rod. The ignition system was replaced with an MSD ignition, MSD distributor and MSD coil pack, plus ACDelco spark plugs and Taylor plug wires. A Holley fuel pump, Holley fuel filter, CPP fuel tank and CPP fuel sender revamped the fuel system, while a Powermaster alternator and Optima battery revived the power system. Lastly, efficiency gains were eked out with the installation of a MagnaFlow exhaust and muffler, complemented by Hooker headers.

Restoring the Exterior

If the work stopped there, the Impala would have something of a split personality, driving like a dream and looking like hell. Fesler asked his friend Gary Sharp to go over the body and correct every knick and scratch, and Gary was happy to oblige. Once Gary had the Impala smoothed over, the classic red paint and white pinstripe from PPG went on perfectly. Staying with the classic theme, the wheels and tires were updated to the stylish combination of Budnik aluminum and Dunlop rubber. The five-spoke, 18-inch M5s and 245/40R18 tires fit snugly under the newly lowered Impala body.

Factory-Style Interior with Modern Comfort

The Impala’s interior design is all factory, only without the telltale signs of old age (you know, squeaky windows, torn leather, unreliable radio…). Fesler’s team essentially took the cabin apart and reassembled it, cleaning up or replacing almost everything along the way. Seats and door panels were recovered with two-tone white and red leather, while the dash was meticulously detailed. The mechanical components in the windows were taken out and scrubbed up, so that the cranks glide the windows up and down easily—like they did when the car was new.

A Clean, Hidden Audio System

The audio system in the Impala is mellow: a sure indication of how consistent Fesler is with his designs. After all, a monster entertainment package just wouldn’t sit well in this classically cool Impala. To maintain the dash’s original layout, the team hid a Sony head unit inside the glove box. Two sets of KICKER speakers are also installed; one set is practically invisible in the dash and the other is inconspicuously mounted in the rear deck. The rest of the system is tucked away in the trunk: two 10-inch KICKER subwoofers and a KICKER ZS700.5 amplifier. All in all, the system provides a nice level of power and great sound quality—and that’s all this Impala needs.

From Internet Find to Dream Car

When the Fesler Built crew was done, the guys had turned an old clunker into a dreamy flashback to the days when hot rods ruled the road. It’s an odd thing, to think that modern technology started a project that ended with a tribute to an older, classier way of getting around. But then, guys like Jim Allen and Chris Fesler probably wouldn’t have it any other way.