Hot Rods 61 Impala SS (four door)

Citizens arrest! Citizens arrest!

 

First time I saw this post, had to replay. My dad bought a used 65 Impala Caprice SS 4 door in 1968. We always thought it was strange but Caprice was a trim option in 1965 and became its own model in 1966. It had all 3 emblems and the SS was not tacked on. It was originally bought and resold from our small town (pop. 500) Chevy dealer. Original owner was an older farmer and this car was just a 283/pglide, no AC or power options except PS/PB. Vinyl top. Not the kind of car someone is going to tack SS emblems on.

 

Bump
I'm not getting any younger guys!

 

I know the location of a -61, 409 SS 2dr hdtp. The guy was going to sell it to me, then reneged on the offer. 25 years have passed, and he still has it, and hasn't done anything with it. The motor is missing, and the body is so banged up that it would take a tremendous amount of work to make it right again, but it would still be worthwhile doing.
The way I understood the SS, is that it was just the trim package and could be ordered on any model of car. I am not aware of any restriction on the engine package, but all the SS cars I saw in the day, had a big block. My buddy back then, bought a brand new 61 2drhtp with the highest rated 409. I can't remember if that was the car with the 2, 4 bbls on it, or if that was the 63 that he bought. Either way, it was the hottest car in town, and there were 2 406 Fords, and a couple of 413 MOPARs. I loved the sound of that car with the caps removed from the headers.
I don't recall seeing the SS logo on any other body style, but I never looked at any car, no matter what brand, unless it was a hard top or 2 dr post.
To me, the 61 SS 2dr hdtp was one of the prettiest cars ever.
Bob

 

In 1961 the SS option was available on any Impala, see the factory brochure here (note that the Impala was not available in a station wagon):
http://oldcarbrochures.org/United States/Chevrolet/1961-Chevrolet/1961-Chevrolet-SS-Foldout/index.html
However, it's anyone's guess if any four door SS's were actually built.

 

Bump for the new year.

 

Bump
Original post with removed photo added back in.

 

After reading the post above I'm wondering if the dealer didn't add the SS trim pieces to the car my dad bought as it was purchased toward the end of the model year. We'll never know.

 

I've never seen a pre-1962 SS, and I've never seen a four-door SS. My father had a 1963 Impala SS/w 283 and Powerglide. He bought it new.

My uncle was a GM manager. If you had the right connections, you could get most anything that was available. Ever hear of COPO? However, the particular car in question sounds like someone (dealer/owner) added SS badging, or someone made a mistake on the assembly line, and it was missed by quality control.

 

There is a person in Bristol Connecticut that has a 1961 Impala two door sedan, ( long roof ).

 

One of the most popular 1961 Chevy models was the Impala 4-door Sport sedan. It cost $2,769 and was considered Chevrolet's style leader. The Sport Coupe model cost $2,704, and the Impala Convertible was priced at $2,704.
A great advertising campaign was used to promote the new 1961 Chevrolet models, featuring taglines like “Jet-Smooth Chevrolet” and “No need to look farther than your Chevrolet dealers to find the car you're looking for.”



From here:

https://www.motorcities.org/story-o...1-chevrolets-were-big-winners-in-sales-for-gm

 

Looking through this thread again and the original post pictures. I think what happened was when the artwork for the advertising and brochures was done they we going to offer the 4 door hardtop with the SS option, but by the time it was to actually build the cars a last minute change came in and they went with 2 dr hardtop and convertibles. Supply issues might have also played a role in limiting what cars would be built. The mix up in marketing literature is nothing new. Chevy would do the same thing in the later 60's with the Camaro. The smallest motor you could get with a SS car was a 350, but in 68 they put ads out with a car clearly a non SS with 327 badges but then the description said it was a SS car. W

 

Wasn't 1962 also the first year for the 409/w the 348 being the largest engine available in 1961?

 

I guess I'm not too old to learn. According to Wikipedia, Chevrolet announced the 409 and Impala SS on December 17th, 1960.

 

Only 453 Impala SS models sold in 1961/w only 142 of those having the 409. If you are lucky enough to own one/w 409, you probably know what it's worth.

 

Can someone enlarge the shifter photo and text, that shifter box sure looks odd.



Partial text from link below.
"This is a vintage photo of a 1961 SS interior. Note the height of the stick coming through the console. Sometimes damage will be found around the opening for the shifter on the console form the shifter stick striking it during hard shifts".


From an interesting article on early oem GM four speed shifters.
Here:
https://www.angelfire.com/ia/chevysupersport/shifters.html

 

My brother bought this last year. Spent most of its life in a garage.
Has SS badges and the original 283.

 

I ain't seein' it Pete...?

 

are you referring to the little console around the handle? 61's were unique to 61 only. 62's are different. the pattern on top was different and then the seat side was flat across for the bench.

That second photo of the guy holding the shifter, that handle looks like a bucket seat handle, the one from the add is a bench seat handle as it had more curve to clear the bench. I have heard stories of the handles getting bent during hard shifts over time.

 

From my prior post.
This page is aimed at shedding some light on the factory, 4-speed shifters used in full-size Chevrolets from 1959-1964.
https://www.angelfire.com/ia/chevysupersport/shifters.html

 

Yes, the page about the four door SS, photo on the lower far right shows an odd little box type shifter enclosure, it just doesn't look like the regular 61 console like the one in the photo with the guys hand on the shifter.
I do know the engineering and marketing guys would get "creative" when running late for the brochure printing on the next production.
I recall something about early literature for 67 Novas mentioning an optional 396 engine.

 

Interesting video on a 61 SS Impala sedan.
Note Oregon plates.
https://images.app.goo.gl/7u9asXZKK5c9QiuTA

 

You know. Me either. Now that I look closer. I’m now wondering if it really is.

 

^^^The emblem by the tail lights is from a last or next to last gen Impala.

 

I remember this dealership, I don't think that car was real if I remember correctly. It was at least was not a factory 350hp car. I was big into tracking 61's a decade ago when CJ had a 61 Impala. We did everything we could to verify his 61 as a SS car.

 

Clearer photo on shifter cover.

 

Was the 61-409 a single or dual quad engine option or both like 62-up?

 

How cool would a 61 Chevy wagon be with a factory 409/4 speed?
Sorry, no photo, like the Impala SS four door, I have not seen proof that they ever made any.
However, I stumbled onto this in my search of the ultimate Impala "Unicorn".

1961 Chevrolet Parkwood Station Wagon 409 V-8 Turbo-Fire 4-speed close (man. 4) (model since October 1960 for North America U.S.) car specifications & performance data review
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/...n_wagon_409_v-8_turbo-fire_4-speed_close.html

Trick question warning.
Do you know how to tell the difference between 1961 BelAir, Biscayne, Nomad and 1961 Impala station wagons?
There never was a 61 Impala station wagon from the factory.
However there were some built in 62.