Every time I road trip to Georgia to visit family, I stop at one of my two favorite Atlanta eating spots as I pass through town; the original Dwarf House restaurant across from the old Ford Taurus plant by the airport, or The Varsity, which is right across I-75/85 from my alma mater, Georgia Tech. The “V” still has car hops who hang your food tray on your window, and the atmosphere is as much a part of the experience as the food is. It’s not unusual to find an uncommon car or two in the lot, and I was rewarded this latest trip with a well-patinaed survivor 1970 Impala four-door sedan with its unique one-year-only rear bumper design. Comparing this old boat to the sea of Volvos we’ve had this week on CC is like comparing a light salad with a meal at the V (heavy on the grease, and pass the defibrillator pads, please!).
So, “Whadya have?” Something Swedish, or a heaping plateful of classic American fare?
I’d like swedish meat balls please. Too much grease in the pork on that impala.
Seriously have been impressed with the Volvos. The Duett or the 1948 Ford Volvo would be high on my list compared to anything.
Back in those days every bumper design was a unique one-year-only rear bumper design.
How about some Swedish-Yankee fusion? Take the 350 out of that Impala (or I hear a 5.0L Ford fits better) and stick it under the hood of a 240 wagon. Or I still often daydream about an Amazon done up to more strongly resemble a ’55 Chrysler 300 and powered by a Dodge Red Ram “baby hemi”.
I participated in a shade-tree project of stuffing a Ford 302/C4 combo out of a junked Galaxie into a Volvo 144. The only problem we really had was fabricating headers to clear the steering.
The Varsity is a great place. I have had the old fashioned car hop experience there during two trips to Atlanta and would do it again in an artery-clogged heartbeat.
I would like to think that this Impala has been stopping there for 42 years, wearing the same original wheel covers every time!
Those wheel covers are not original to this car. They look like an aftermarket generic style to me, similar to the ’67 full-sized Chevy covers. And then, of course we have the non-original dual exhaust system. It seems to be required equipment on all vintage cars. Pickups and hot rods are OK, but four door sedans? Come on…
Those actually look like 1971-72 Chevy wheel covers.
Chevy, please, please, please bring back the three taillight motif. Your new Impala is a great car but looks like a Biscane/Bel Air from the rear.
+1
If they added a third taillight akin to the dual-light setup on the rear of the current Malibu, it would NOT be an improvement. I saw a black Malibu on the road the other day and thought, “Y’know, that’s a good-looking…” and then saw the taillights and finished, “…why?”
The Google advertising knew my preference: “Find your Dream Boat… with our boat selector!” I could get behind this ’70, clean styling and less filling than the 76 Cad 🙂
Been to The Varsity once, had no idea they had a drive-up! Never thought to look, as they are very much in the middle of downtown Atlanta.
I’ve never driven (or even ridden in) a Volvo before, but they still qualify as my favorite Swedish car, for whatever that’s worth.
Very much the sort of car I was surrounded by in my earliest car recollections. It seems like I’ve seen an up tick in my local sightings of basic automotive fair like this. Maybe ’60s and ’70s sedans like Impala, Malibu, etc. are finally getting old enough to be interesting to people again, or anew for younger people.
Not that I would ever drive the 150 miles down I-85 for some onion rings and a frosted orange, but I hope you had some. . . . I have a dear relative working their way through eternity in Westview Abbey, I may have to pay a visit to both.
Nice ride and I would love to think it’s been visiting for all these years.
I am really enjoying these Curb Side Classic threads .
You need to come to Los Angeles , Ca. and drive ’round The Ghetto a while , I was rattling along in my ’59 Metropolitan FHC in Compton and East Athens the other day and marveling at all the old daily drivers there are here where no one who lives a scant 5 miles away , will ever see them .
Seriously , some neat oldies dating back to the 1950’s are in daily use here , un restored , not Hot Rodded , just old cars and trucks chugging along doing what they were designed and built to do .
-Nate
I love this photo. The afternoon haze, and the soft glow off the roof and trunk looks like it could be a hot afternoon in July 1970.
In that one parking space, at that particular moment, it was.
I have fond memories of Impala four-door sedans. Practical folks in the midwest used to order them for that little touch of luxury but with the solidity of a B-pillar – no air or water leaks for them. One of our neighbors, an elderly woman of means, ordered a new Impala sedan for 1961. It was a loaded black four door with red interior and twin rear antennas, very sharp.
Nate, I’ve lived in SoCal since 72 and never stop marveling at the old cars I see on the streets and freeways, a rolling museum of the auto industry. I was on the 5 heading north out of San Clemente on Easter Sunday evening and saw an elderly woman driving a pristine 66 Ford Galaxie sedan with original black and gold plates. She had the seat moved so far forward she was practically on top of the steering wheel, which she gripped tightly with white gloved hands! What a time capsule…
The combination of no road salt and onerous emissions checks for post 1974 cars has led to an almost Havana-like preservation of old iron here.