(by PRNDL, driving his namesake car in 1968)
Here I am in ’68 getting ready for my driver’s test – well, not quite yet.
This white with red interior 1963 Impala Sport Coupe ignited my Chevy gene and serves as the inspiration for my handle, PRNDL. This was a 327 Turbo Fire with Powerglide. Does anyone else remember that cool PG whine at idle?
Dad had this one from 1966 until the summer of ’70 when it was t-boned on the passenger side by a ’68 Impala wagon. Luckily, my shotgun-riding oldest brother (not the one in the 2nd pic) escaped unscathed, even though the passenger quarter panel & window folded quite neatly into the rear seat.
I recall shopping for body supplies at the local NAPA store with mydad a couple of years before the accident. It’s amazing what a can of Martin Senour putty, some primer, a few cans of rattle can Ermine white plus a chunk of 2×4 for backup can do to hide bite marks from the tin worm.
Cheers!
PRNDL
(the CC Kids queue is getting low, so send in your kids/teen pics to curbsideclassic (at) gmail.com or via the Contact form.
Ah, yes – that whine in Park. Not just the Glide, but in the 2 speed Jetaway in our 64 Cutlass as well. The other noise I recall (that was unique to the Glide) was that noisy linkage. We had neighbors across the street who had a 64 Impala convertible. I used to hear them back out of the driveway, then “CLACK CLACK” with that shift through neutral and into Drive. Or, after pulling into the drive, it was “CLACK CLACK CLACK” up into Park. That was one noisy damned linkage. 🙂
I spent wheel time (with the car off, of course) in my dad’s white 63 Bel Air wagon, also with red interior. The high steering wheel and low seat always made me feel about 2 years younger than I really was.
Nice and much faster/cooler than my first drive in a ‘car’. The pic is on the cohort Paul of me and a vehicle Ive sent the blurb see what you can do. No automatic for me just 3 pedals and 3 shift levers
The one with you & the Austin Gypsy? That looks like one cool ride!
For a short period of time, I had a terminal rusted-out 1969 Impala Custom Coupe with the 350-4 and powerglide — it had that distinctive whine too! I thought the pump was shot until someone told me that’s just how the Powerglides sounded.
Funny you should mention that!
The replacement for this ’63 was a demonstrator ’69 Impala Custom Coupe that dad purchased in the summer of ’70. Also a 350 and PG. Not sure if it was a 2 or 4 bbl, though. The color was called Burnished Brown and it was without a vinyl top.
Even the new one had that whine.
The engine options for the full size ’69 Chevies were a bit odd:
Besides the 6, the base 327 and optional 396 were only available with 2bbl carb while the optional 350s & 427s were 4bbl-only.
The ’69 Chevrolet was a very handsome car on the outside, especially the Custom Coupe.
Your mother looks absolutely thrilled in that first photo!
Okay, when you were a kid, pretending to drive, did you make engine noises or Powerglide noises?
Why the past tense?
I still make the engine noises… usually when nobody’s looking. 😉
The 63 Impala was a great looking car,there were some good lookers from the opposition also especially Ford.