Back when this fine ’63 Impala was built, some buyers had a clear idea of what they wanted, or didn’t: No automatic for me, but I’ll take the air conditioning instead as well as the optional grille guard. And I’ll bet it’s got manual steering and brakes too. Just the thing for the wide open spaces of New Mexico, where I spotted this in the former gold mining hamlet of Hillsboro.
Have it your way…
I could write a long travelogue about our extended ramble through New Mexico, as well as the stellar days in Moab, Utah and the San Juan Mountains in Southern Colorado on the way there. Let’s just say it was my favorite van trip yet, and if I had to live in a state other than Oregon, New Mexico would be at the top of the list.
And if I had to pick another year of “quad six” (1961-1964) Chevys other than my favorite 1961, the 1963 would be at the top of the list. In fact, on some days it is on top. I’m probably in good company with those that also think the ’63 is the most appealing of the bunch. With its crisp creases and more deeply sculptured rear end, it adds visual interest that was a bit lacking in the ’62. The airy 4-door hardtop is the icing on this angel food cake.
The ’63 front end was also an improvement over ’62, with more dimension and sculptured edges. This one is wearing an optional front grille guard with rubber tipped mini-Dagmars. This is the first clue that this Impala was custom ordered, as it’s a bit unusually equipped.
The tinted windows were a strong hint that this car came with air conditioning, and a look at the dash with its center vent confirms that. The other obvious thing of note is the steering column; this car has the standard three-speed manual transmission. For a nice V8 Impala 4-door hardtop with a/c that’s a bit unusual although not exactly a unicorn. There were folks who just preferred a standard shift, especially if they lived in the wide open country. Maybe even more so in mountainous areas, although I don’t know if this car was originally from here, which is very much mountainous. The upholstery is clearly not original.
I’ll bet it has manual steering too. That would just go with the rest of the package. Someone—a man obviously—knew what they wanted in their new Chevy: style, cool air and a handy way to keep their arm muscles from atrophying.
No more further clues back here; obviously the windows were not electric.
Based on the emblem on its front fender, this came with the newly revised 195 hp versions of the venerable 283 V8. It replaced the somewhat weaker 170 hp versions that had been the base V8 in Chevys for some years. The 195 hp version got the better-breathing higher-compression 327 heads, a perkier cam and a revised (two barrel) carburetor. Combined with the three-speed manual, this was still a fairly brisk car for the times, as in a 10.7 second 0-60 time for a similarly-equipped Biscayne sedan tested by Car Life.
And C/L got 17-19 mpg out of their Biscayne, that was as good as it got for a big V8 sedan. Of course there were the usual negatives, such as 5.8 turns lock-to-lock on the slow and numb steering and the handling mostly wasn’t. Maybe this buyer specified the HD suspension?
This clean Imp was for sale too. One easy way to find out if it has manual steering and brakes. The reality is, its standard transmission probably narrows down the buying pool a bit. There’s an increasing number of folks who would not feel comfortable driving off with a three-on-the-tree, never mind the steering and brakes.
All of that appeals to me, of course. Maybe it even has overdrive? Now that would really be icing on this white cake.
Related CC Reading
Curbside Find: 1963 Chevrolet Impala – Lost In The Boondocks, With Other Curbside Finds by Rich Baron
Curbside Classic: 1963 Chevrolet Bel Air – A Time Capsule, But Not From The Showroom by Eric703
Optioned exactly as my “Old School” Father would had ordered this one to be our family car.
Yup. My dad ordered a ’62 Biscayne outfitted the same way, with o/d. On open highways and with the overdrive in gear, it would easily cruise well over 100.
Yet another example of the extreme customization possible in the 1960s compared to today’s cookie-cutter trims that are take-it-or-leave-it in terms of what equipment you can choose
If originally from NM, the loadout makes sense. A/C for those hot summers, saving some money with the “three on the tree” which would not be a major issue if driving on open spaces
I get that the Japanese had to be more into the “package” thing with fewer options, you gotta fill a container full of these things and they’re on the water a while.
Domestic manufacturers didn’t need to jump on that as eagerly. Yes, doing it made things cheaper and easier for them, but at the expense of a competitive advantage imports would’ve been unable to suitably match.
Paul, you have neve spent much time in New Mexico, quite the opposite of Eugene.
But it is near Hatch, famous for their green chilis & Truth or Consequences, where the grapes for Gruet Sparkling Wine are grown. The cellar is very close to the intersection of I-25 & I-40 in Albuquerque which is quite lovely & a great price performer for Blanc de Blanc & Blanc de Noirs.
As long as I can remember, I have considered the 1963 as the best looking big Chevy of the entire 1960’s, and possibly any year since then. But then I came by my opinion early. If there was a model that could overcome my, um, dissatisfaction with this chassis and the driving position, this might very well be the one. Although having experience with a 62 with the power assist added the manual steering gear, I might have to retrofit proper factory power steering just for the faster ratio.
I am trying to remember the last time I saw an Impala of that era with a 3 speed instead of the ubiquitous Powerglide. If only the interior was turquoise instead of green.
I’m reminded of your ’63 Ford and how much difficulty you had finding a buyer for it.
The ’63 Ford Galaxie you may be thinking of was Jason Shafer’s.
Yep, that was it.
It was. This Impala is sort of the Chevrolet equivalent to that Galaxie in how each is equipped.
Even after a dozen plus years of the Powerglide, there were still some older folks who shunned the “magical self-shifting gearbox”. If you weren’t driving in town and needing to shift gears constantly, I get it. The 3-speed manual provided better acceleration AND better fuel economy. A “clutch job” was a lot cheaper than rebuilding an automatic as well.
Much of New Mexico is at high elevation, which robs a naturally aspirated engine of some power. I’d have absolutely chosen the 3-speed if I was in the circumstances under which this car was purchased.
I have never heard of anyone ever rebuilding a Powerglide.
I drove dad’s ’65 Impala wagon with PG quite aggressively and manged to wear out the transmission well before its time. $75 got a quick overhaul of new seals (from overheating, according to the shop) and friction clutch parts.
Back in the very late 1960’s my dad needed a car for one of my sisters.
He located an orange/red with white top 2 door 1957 BelAir. It had all of the nice features- upgraded cloth and vinyl, electric clock, outside mirror, all the nice exterior trim pieces etc. But then, you found out the truth. It was special ordered with the Blue Flame six and a three speed, no power steering or brakes.
The elderly man who dad bought it from told my dad,
“I always bought the top line Chevrolet. However this year, they wanted me to take their new self shifting transmission and V8! I told them no thanks. I’ve been driving cars long enough to do the work myself!”
Good for him. And good for dad who walked away with a nice low miles 57 for $150!
Sadly, in a moment of not thinking clearly, he sold it in 1979- the year I started to drive- for $350. Oh how i wanted that car and had plans to rebuild the engine. Oh well
I’m with Paul and Jim as to preference for this year (’63) for the “Quad-Sixes”, but waffle a little bit when it comes to the ’61. The Turquoise ’61 that Jim Cavanaugh featured here years ago comes to mind.
The ’62 and ’64 are neck and neck for least favorite of these 4, but this is just my take on them. I’m sure each has its fans.
You’re a bad influence Paul 😀. Since the mid-60’s I never cared for the ‘63 Chevy’s styling, although perhaps better than the slightly bland 1964. And I like both the ‘61 and ‘62. But looking at your great photos this morning, and reading your assessment, maybe you’re changing my mind. The crisp details on the 1963 do look good. Though not quite as good as a ‘65 or ‘66, and after that it was steadily downhill until 1977.
The ’66 is to the ’65 as the ’64 was to the ’63. A bland, whitewashed evolution; a placeholder of sorts.
White, manual transmission (perhaps with overdrive), (probably) manual steering, and air conditioning. Seems like a recipe for quite a few cars back in the day in New Mexico and other relatively wide open flat desert places. My 1976 Volvo was a New Mexico car (Albuquerque) for its entire life until I bought it and brought it back East. It too is white, manual transmission with OD, manual steering, and came with factory air. It had all of the window tinting that Volvo offered, which aside from the windshield (green tint too) was/is not much. Hence the baked vinyl inside of my car. This Chevy seems more fortunate.
Great car and find. Several of my uncles back in the day had 63 Impalas. This one brings back memories.
Did you ever call and see how much the asking price was on this? Guaranteed it is one of the best-preserved 1963 Impalas you’re ever going to find for a reasonable price.
That is a beautiful find, Paul. I also find it interesting that an otherwise well equipped car would still be ordered with a three on the tree. Back in the day in the family shop, there were always a few guys around like this, who didn’t like them thar new fangled automatic transmissions.
I haven’t seen a 63 hardtop sedan in decades. I forgot how stunning this car is.
A lady where I gre up in wstrn “PA” had a “64”, 4dor hrdtop. Was trquoisee// blue gray inside. As you say it was a rather stunning ride.
She was still driving it round “81-2ish”. By then the rust was getting a firmer hold.
My parents bought a new ’63 Impala just before I turned 10. White 4-door hardtop with red interior. Yes, powerglide, power steering/brakes. Very sharp car! Nice memories of simpler times. Thanks.
My rank (best to worst) of the Quad-Sixes: 1963, 1962, 1964, 1961.
Is there any evidence here that this car doesn’t have power-assisted brakes or steering? I know some cars of this era had callouts for power assist on the steering wheel hub or brake pedal, though I can’t make them out here.
I noticed that this ‘stunning’ and increasingly rare ‘63 Impala Sport Sedan has lost its polished bright interior side roof rail mouldings and also its bright interior rear and front window trim. They appear to have been replaced with cheaper looking painted trim.
But over and above all of this, the important issue is that it’s a ‘4 door pillarless hardtop’. A body style that’s attracting ever increasing interest as few survive today.
For a lot of reasons however, I believe the ‘61 and ‘62 Impala Sport Sedans were better than the later 1963 / 1964 versions. That said its great to see any 4 door hardtop given the endless numbers of 2 door hardtops that have been restored.
Nice find Paul. I spent my childhood watching the Douglas family across the street tool around in their Saddle Tan 63 Impala wagon (most likely a PG). The windows had a deep greenish tint my Dad informed me was to help the air conditioner. Something our family car didn’t see for another 6 years.
A very nice car indeed .
I liked the ’63 & ’64 Chevies .
In the late 1970’s a young man drove a two door ’63 Biscayne into my sop, said he was leaving town and needed $130 for his train ticket .
I bought that car, it has the standard 230CID i6 engine and had a T-10 shifter added , never wrecked it was a fine car,I didn’t need it and was offered $500 for it by a fellow who wanted the strong running i6 engine out of it .
-Nate
The 63’s are my favorite look for an Impala. Now given those quirks of the car, and what seems to be a remote and quiet location, I can imagine it will be a very hard sell.
I wouldn’t assume that it was a man that ordered this car. My grandmothers last car was a 1964 Bel Air 4 door. Manual steering, manual brakes, 3 speed on the column. She was a tough bird. She wasn’t shy about it.
Wow, what a fine-looking specimen!
CC effect! I saw a 1963 4-door post Impala V-8 on my drive to work today! It looked mostly stock, but with lowrider-ish chrome spoke wheels.
I hate to ruin the party, but it looks like a Powerglide car to me. The indicator dial is missing, but the indicator itself and the mounting holes remain.
Either way it is a good find, and a well kept car. The seat upholstery is not original, but very well done.
Great catch Patrick. Looks like a Powerglide to me as well. In addition to the shift quadrant holes, it has a Powerglide shift lever. The manual transmission had a different shift lever with a thicker knob on the end.
So very nice, but in my garage, it would have power discs up front. And if it doesn’t have the o/d, that.
In this country, which can be so bloody hot when you leave the coasts where we mostly live, aircon was vanishingly rare. Different times, and wealth.
I think, Mr N, that at least a modest post of your trip would be lovely. Wild America is just not visible, even on the internet – cliched destinations apart, natch – and there’s so much of it I’ve not seen. I’ve always learnt stuff from folks including you via their posts on CC about the vast and unseen places of that great continent.
I mean, cars are nice and all, but it’s where they can take you that matters, no?
Nice.
I had a 63 2 dr 283/pg back in 1985. Bought it for $600. Guy had just fixed the trunk/rear wheel well rust, so, needed paint, but GREAT shape..
If I had known then what was gonna happen to “older” car prices, I would have a yard full of “classics”. (of course they’d probably be rusted out by now, but still).
Don’t know if I could choose an order of favorites. 64 would be the last. Maybe 63 next, I loved it for years, but overexposure might have put it down the list. I guess then we’ll go 62 next, which woulod make my current fave 61 (out of those 4).
Always wanted a 65. AND a 68
Had a 67 (Caprice).
66 Pfft. (Never existed) 😉 . I hope that whoever Signed off on changing the taillights from 6 separate “Round” to rectangle was FIRED. (Yea, 67 wasn’t round either, but was still 100x better than 66).
Carry on.
I thought altered wheelbase funny cars were introduced by the Mopar guys in ’64? Nope. GM beat them to it. The rear overhang on this thing is funny.
Impressive is the condition it’s in. Where I live one would need a shovel to move it around.
The ’63 looks like a pencil on wheels, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The ’64 looks like change for the sake of change rather than leave a sharp design alone.
My family had a ’64 Impala wagon with the 283 and Powerglide. It was similar to one my salesman dad had as a company car, the latest among several Chevys starting from a ’57. All except the last one had three on the tree. Which leads me to believe it was a salesman’s car.
My dad hated manual trannys because he had to shift up and down through New York traffic. The automatic was a godsend and was quickly recognized as a necessity rather than a luxury. Automatics and power assists were a must for anyone who had to drive as part of the job.
He always criticized my choice of manuals for the sportier cars I drove, saying I would come to regret it once I had to deal with traffic. I found it to be a worthwhile tradeoff, as MR2’s and Miatas with automatics flat out sucked.
This car, by the way, clearly has had its seats reupholstered. Good quality work, and too good to be original.