Beyond Restoration

In much the same way that one person prefers chocolate and another vanilla, chicken over steak, college ball versus pro ball, Chevy enthusiasts tend to lean toward particular vintages, models, powertrains and other special Bow Tie features, which may be nothing more than a vehicle loaded with unusual options that make that car more unique, and valuable, than the next. Our love for such things is generally based upon a range of influencing factors.

To many it’s the often-storied tri-5s that raise blood pressure, while others center their attention on re-creating earlier models when fenders looked like wings, or the first Chevy V-8 came into being. For Kayo Erwin, the Chevys that matter most were built in the ’60s—Chevelles and Impalas in particular—and for the most part those fitted with engines of legend, 409s, 427s and other big blocks.

While we’ve featured other cars in his collection of fine Chevrolets in previous issues, including his Z-16 Chevelles and Del Rays, it is Erwin’s ’63 Chevy Impala SS convertible that interests us here. Sculpted with clean, sharp lines extending from front to rear, these cars are, to some, the finest variation on a basic design theme that ran from 1961 through 1964. And while some might opt for a bubbletop and others “post” models, this flawless red convertible has a special following all its own.

Convertibles conjure all sorts of “fun in the sun” images, and what better example of this fanciful appeal than one with this classic red-over-red combination accented with the much-loved SS trim package? As pristine as the day it rolled from the assembly line, and looking like a total frame-up restoration, it is actually much more than that. With just 7,900 miles on the odometer, everything about this car is original, other than a freshened V-8 that ensures that this car’s full potential is but a pedal push away.

It is hard to believe this nearly flawless Impala is truly original, yet it is. Garaged from day one and rarely driven, it is a prime example of one of the most treasured Chevys of its time. Although there are a few signs of age, they are hidden within the luster of the seemingly perfect contours. The same is true inside, where every bit of this car’s original attraction is evident.

Behind the wheel, it’s easy to see that this Impala SS is well optioned, with features such as the steering-column-mounted tachometer, and the stickshift sprouting from the center console adding still more appeal. The brilliant chrome trim accents and engine-turned panels provide a great look that extends to the dash and door panels, as well as the external trim. The vinyl upholstery, too, is as original as the paint and in keeping with the character of this special convertible.

Opening the hood reveals one of the car’s most surprising features, a 425hp 409 that is, as expected, spotless, from the air cleaner down, and surrounded by many memorable details, including the triangular windshield washer bottle and several distinguishing decals first glued down 45 years ago. Call it history in motion, the classics’ classic, or practically perfect, the real appreciation begins when all this power travels through the M-21 Muncie four-speed through a Positraction rear axle to the ground below. And while the rubber looks original as well, these exact bias-ply duplicates from Coker Tire take the driving experience full circle.

While there is much to love about the look of this ’63 convertible—certainly one of the finest original examples left—the true measure of this car comes with an occasional spin around town. It is then that passengers realize this is no pretender, especially when rolling into both four-barrel Carter AFBs easily breaks traction, as acceleration builds along with the extraordinary exhaust note.

In these times of exotic imported convertibles powered by turbocharged four-cylinders and V-6s, many have forgotten that long before these cars and the companies that build them existed, Chevrolet was shaping cars like this one. And while some may question the future of American carmakers, historians and citizens alike should recall the saying: “We’ve forgotten more than others will ever know.” This ’63 Chevy Impala SS convertible is a fine example of the cars that made this nation great 18 years after America saved the world from tyranny.

Fortunately, people such as Kayo Erwin know the importance of recalling our history, including the cars that have become icons of the past, and great designs that are actually quite fresh now, as we see so many retro efforts to recapture their allure. One thing is for certain—not many have been cared for as much as this unique Chevy has.