The Complete History of the Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet had been in existence 46 years when the legendary Impala was majestically assembled for the first time back in 1957 for the 1958 model year. The Impala, named after the medium-sized African antelopes, was originally introduced as a top-of-the-line Chevy Bel Air, a car that had been in rotation since the 1950 model year. The Bel Air Impala was only built in Sport Coupe or convertible models, and was a departure from typical Chevys at that point with it's shorter greenhouse, longer rear deck, and lower setting on an X-type frame. The top model added many unique features, including the roof simulator extractor vents, a two-spoke steering wheel, and the iconic three-circle tail lights. Starting at $2,586, consumers had the choice between a 235-cubic-inch Blue Flame I6, 283-cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V8, and a 348-cubic-inch Turbo-Thrust V8. Advertisements said the car, "lets you know you're the boss," and for years to come, that's exactly what it did.

In '59, the Impala broke away from the Bel Air and became it's own standing model with a redesign so radical, it's still one of the most distinct-looking vehicles in American vehicle history. Almost a full two inches longer than the previous model, the new Impala had a rear "bat wing" lid with "cat eye" sideways teardrop tail lights that flowed with the protruding lid, a style that didn't last long. The front end also got a makeover with a more spaced grille and long drawn-out eyebrow air intakes that no longer leaned over the headlights. Overall, it made for a leaner, more compact look. Chevy stretched the Impala name to a full line, adding a four-door hardtop and four-door sedan.

After just a year, the designers took it down a notch. The cat eyes were gone, going back to the symmetrical triple circle tail lights, and the bat wing was noticeably less dramatic, no longer connecting in a center "V." Growing from nearly 60,000 built in its debut year, more than 490,000 1960 units were moved at a starting price of $2,590, making it America's No. 1 seller. With the slogan, "Space, Spirit, Splendor," Chevy was pushing features like the rear grille, a parallel bar striped across the lights above the chrome bar, electric brake parking light, electric clock and back-up lights.

The 1961 model year is one of the most important and brand-defining years for Chevrolet, and for the auto industry as a whole. It was the year that Chevy introduced the Super Sport, or SS, the 409 engine, and consequently the first true American muscle car. Marketed as the "highly personalized version" of the Impala, the SS cost $5,380 and had simulated knock-off wheel covers, heavy-duty springs and shocks, metallic brake linings, a padded instrument panel, and a Sun 7,000-rpm tachometer. As the Beach Boys said in the world-famous song, "Nothing can catch her, nothing can touch my 409 ... giddy up, giddy up 409." The first SSes, of which only 453 were made, came with one of two engines: the 348-cubic-inch V8, or the 409-cubic-inch V8, which had 360 horsepower and could hit 60 mph in seven seconds. This was also the last year we saw an extremely tame version of the bat wing, which smoothed into the rear quarter panels, making them much less shocking.

The Impala continued it's fast-paced evolution in '62 with another new redesign, this time straying even farther from the flowing curvaceous lines with a more boxy look. Chevy really took pride in the fact that these cars had a "velvet soft and whisper quiet," which they attributed to four large four large coil springs that "soak up bumps like a sponge," 725 points of sound and vibration dampening. Chevy also made it a point to try to reduce maintenance costs for its consumers, so inner front fenders were added to the Body by Fisher to protect from rust, and the muffler was coated with aluminum and zinc to help protect against corrosion. After the Turboglide was eliminated, three-speed synchro-mesh, overdrive, four-speed synchro-mesh, and powerglide transmissions were available to go along with six engine options that ranged from 135 horsepower to 409. This was also the first year, the all-transistor de luxe push-button radio was offered as an extra option.

By '63, the Impala was offered in six models, including six- and nine-passenger wagons. Even in the regular sedans, Chevy prided itself on how much space the consumer had, both in the cabin and in the trunk, seen in the low, long exterior. Luxury and comfort were just as important as sport and style at this point. Don't think they sacrificed style, though. This is one of the most sought-after models of the Impala, with its pointed front and rear edges, aluminum striped rear, and a sunken instrument panel. The company added "hot or cold" engine lights in the dash,"air-washed" rocker panels, stainless steal mufflers, and "self-adjusting safety-master" brakes to help reduce wear, and introduced all-season air conditioning and Delcotron generators in the Impalas.

This model year became even more smooth. Chevy clipped off the pointy edges and dented in the upper portion of the grille. The tail lights were no longer surrounded by an aluminum strip, but rather trapped in a body color, while the aluminum was bumped above the lights in an upside-down "U" shape spanning the entire rear. Chevy also released refined transmissions this year, making a quieter 3-speed synchro-mesh, and putting an aluminum housing on an all-helical 4-speed synchro-mesh. This was the year that the Chevelle was introduced to the world, showing a shift in importance of the muscle car.

Like the Impala designers had ants in their pants, '65 was another year for a full revamp. The divot in the front grille was stretched to the headlights, the actual lights have a more dominant enclosure, the rear once again has a quarter panel bubble, the hood has a pop-up latch and a windsplit, and it has a tempered rear plate glass window. Chevy also switched from its X-frame to a full-width perimeter base and added a redesigned full-coil suspension. Much like the Impala was created as the highest model Bel Air, the Chevy Caprice was originally introduced as the highest model Impala in '65, sporting features like wood grain interior and specialty door pulls. This was the year Impala set the all-time industry annual sales record with more than 1 million units sold in America.

Technically speaking, the Impala remained relatively the same in '66 with a few exterior changes. Three of the most notable are the use of wraparound tail lights, which maintained the three-light tradition in a flat, boxed setting, the thin-lined whitewall tires compared to the earlier thick-striped feet, and a chrome strip across the lower doors to help prevent door dings. Chevy also premiered a 7.0-liter 427-cubic-inch version of the Mark IV V8 this year that could draw up to 425 horsepower. In the Super Sport, which was now scripted on the driver's side panel, four-way power bucket seats were introduced, as well as vinyl roof covering and a positraction rear axle.

Chevy felt the '67 Sport Coupe was yet another step up in class. It used an undistracted roofline that flows straight into the lid, complemented by "hop-up" rear fenders. The tail lights, still boxed up, were much more set off in the '67 model with a black "cove" and chrome and metal trim surrounding and separating the blocks. This was the first time we saw the wraparound front grille, elongating the lattice through the corners. To keep up with federal regulations, this year saw many new safety improvements, including a fully collapsible steering column, side marker lights and shoulder belts.

The Impala was once again Chevy's top-selling model in 1968, enticing 710,900 buyers that year. The model took on the Custom Coupe trim that had previously been used for the Caprice with some slight aesthetic changes. The tail lights reverted back to a more circular style, but were encased in horseshoe windows giving it a bit more serious look. This year maintained four different-sized engines and had the option between a two-speed Powerglide automatic trans or a three-speed Turbo Hydramatic.

This was the year the Impala wagon was initially killed off. Like Chevy had it before, the wagons took on their own name, in this case, Kingswood. This year also saw one of the most unique and rare options on any Chevy vehicle: the "liquid tire chain." The feature, which spraced traction-inducing and ice-melting juice onto the tires, was only available in this year and was hardly purchased. The unit sat in the trunk, one spray over each tire. Additionally, the ignition switched moved from the dash to the steering column and offered a new variable-ratio power steering unit. The horseshoe lights didn't last long, as Chevy re-introduced the three boxy lights at the sides of each rear.

1970 was the final year of the fourth-generation superstar seller for Chevy. The six-cylinder engine was now only available on four-door sedans as a 250-horsepower Turbo-Fire V8 became standard for bigger-engined trims. Dropped from the Impala this year were the floor-mounted four-speed manual and the Strato bucket seats. At this point, buyer interest in larger sport coupes was dwindling (cough, Camaro, cough), so the Super Sport model was cut after the 1969 model year.

The fifth-gen began in '71 and didn't change again until '76. Already a car known for its massive room and comfort, the '71 Impala was the biggest Chevy ever made at that point and continued to be the best-selling car in the chamber. In preparation for the incorporation of catalytic converters, all engines were configured with lower compression rates that could use both leaded and unleaded fuel. Chevy paralleled some features from the Camaro over to the Impala by including a double panel roof and flush door handles.

The '72 Impala's grille was basically shifted down in its new facelift (we know that's contradictory, but you know what we mean). Instead of a fully aligned block, the grille was offset, showing a bigger presence below the fender. Sadly, this was the last year that Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre would be able to purchase an Impala convertible, as that privilege was given to the Caprice Classic. Overall, Chevrolet began to see a decrease in sales of the Impala, as numbers slid below 600,000 for the year.

After the convertible moved to the Caprice, this was the first all-closed-body Impala year ever. However, the wagon, which had become the Kingswood, returned to the lineup with its Glide-Away tailgate and power rear window. Standard on all Impalas were hydraulically cushioned front bumpers, protective side-guard beams in the doors, and variable-ration power steering. This was also the first year that the Impala did not offer a six-cylinder engine, as that was moved to lower Bel Air and Biscayne models.

This was more of a refining year in this historic line. Although the grille was bumped back up, it was the small changes that were touted. More insulation was added to the interior for a quieter, more confortable ride, the disc brakes now had wear sensors, and the frame was sprayed with a corrosion-resistant coating.

Basically, the '75 was an updated version of the '74 Caprice. "America's favorite car" was equipped with 50-50 retractable seats and had catalytic converters for the first time ever. Additionally, an Early Fuel Evaporation system was installed, along with an Econominder gauge package.

The final year of the fifth-generation was definitely the end of an era for Chevy, the last of the large, dominant sedans. In Chevrolet's increasingly larger fleet, the Impala was now the brand's lowest priced full-size car. It was the final year any Chevys had the 454-cubic-inch V8.

The long and low characteristics that the Impala had become known no longer held true once the sixth generation rolled around. The body was shorter, narrower, and taller, still allowing for a decent amount of interior space. After dropping off in the previous year, increased production of this reworked model once again earned the Impala the top sales spot in the U.S. Starting at $4,876, the new look was offered in a coupe, four-door sedan, and four-door station wagon. As gas prices continued to rise, the I6 was inserted back into the lineup to help with efficiency.

For the '78 model year, 290,744 Impalas were built, and only 33,990 of those were coupes. The '77-'79 years included a double bent tempered rear window and this was the first time a Power Skyroof was available for the "trim, crisp, beautiful" line.

Ironically still using the tagline "The New Chevrolet," the GM branch didn't really make any significant changes to the "American family favorite." The biggest change (like usual) came on the grille, which got rid of its horizontal bars. Production saw a slight dip to 270,907, but price went up to a $5,828 starting price.

The Impala was hit tremendously hard during the gas crisis, tumbling to a low production of only 99,527. The price was raised to $6,535 starting, and there were a few minor changes to the exterior. The hood and front fenders found a slightly lower position, and were just a bit more rounded. Overall, this was the start of a time when Impalas and Caprices were no longer the ultra-popular cars they once were.

For once, the major changes were under the exterior shell, instead of the usual new head or tail lights. GM introduced the Computer Command Control (CCC) emission system to help meet stiffer regulations, and a four-speed automatic transmission improved the 305-cubic-inch V8's EPA to 26 on the highway. The 5.7-liter 350-cubic-inch Oldsmobile V8, which had only been offered for station wagons the previous year, was also made available for all Impalas.

Overshadowed by the rise of the pony car, Impala coupes had completely lost steam. In '82, the sport coupe was finally cut due to low sales, leaving the Caprice sport coupe as the only full-size left standing. The four-speed auto trans that came into play the previous year was adapted for the 4.4-liter 267-cubic-inch V8. Although the Caprice Classic was outselling the Impala by far at this point, the original full-size family sedan was still a solid value at $7,918.

The Impala was a survivor. Wagons were completely cut this year, the last two-door option on the Caprice was showed the door, and the 4.4-liter V8 was sliced. The Impala saw about a 20 percent decrease in sales from the previous year at 45,154 built, but it remained one of Chevy's best sellers and powered through rumors of extinction.

Combined with the Caprice, Chevy's full-size sedans saw a 25 percent increase. Cost was up to $8,895 for the standard Impala, but that was a solid value for the time. Big-news changes came for a relocation of the windshield wiper controls from the dash to the turn signal lever, and you could now increase or decrease cruise control by one mile per hour.

The last year of the sixth generation was full of new things under the hood. The compression on the 5.0-liter V-8 was bumped for 15 more horsepower, the 3.8-liter V6 was replaced with a 4.3-liter V6 for a 20-horse increase, and the suspension was tightened for a stiffer ride.

Chevy stopped production of the Impala for the first time since its intro as the top-end Bel Air in '86, continuing the more successful Caprice.

Sprouting from the 9C1 police package Caprice, GM designer Jon Moss stirred up the auto world when he brought back a Chevy Impala SS concept at the 1992 L.A. Auto Show. The '94 model debuted with a 260-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 LT1 engine, but the public let out a collective moan when it found out it was only coupled with a four-speed automatic trans with the gear shifter on the steering column. The new car, which cost $22,495 was produced only in black on 17-inch five-spoke aluminum wheels with retro Impala badges. It had a lowered sports suspension with De Carbon gas-pressurized shocks, dual exhaust, a high-capacity reverse flow cooling system, and disc brakes.

The '95 SS continued with two new colorways, Dark Cherry and Green-Gray, two options that don't stretch too far from the jet black signature. Chevy took the new SS's "dog leg" rear roof pillar and added it to the Caprice, making it slightly less original, but its high-quality suspension and additional aesthetic features kept it a class above.

Priced at $24,405, the SS lived out its final year in glory before it got chopped once again, this time with the Caprice as well. Despite its imminent demise, Chevy fixed pretty much every bug from the previous models, uplifting an already great vehicle. The instrument panel was completely redone to include a tachometer and they moved the shifter to the floor, making it a more distinct sports car and separating it further from the Caprice.

After its short run as a pure SS, the entire Caprice and Impala production line was stopped for a three-year period.

After a four-year hiatus, GM brought the Impala back to life to take over the Lumina's position with an entirely different attitude. Many purists and car enthusiasts were upset when they found out the new model was switched to front-wheel drive for the first time in its history and no longer offered any V8 options. Yes, one of the original muscle cars no longer had a V8 engine, only 3.4-liter or 3.8-liter V6es. A major achievement for this model was safety, as the company met standards three years ahead of time and had available side airbags.

The '01 year was available in two trims: the base, which started at $19,269, and the LS, which started at $23,345. This year was 200 inches long, had 104.5 cubic feet inside, and had a 17.6-cubic-foot trunk. Although there was definitely some backlash from the front-wheel move and an interior that gave off a cold feel, the new Impalas were structurally sound and provided a rigid drive.

To give the new-look Impalas a bigger range and to celebrate the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, Chevy introduced the LS Sport option. "Sport" meant a new six-gauge cluster, front bumper extension, color-keyed tail light panels, and a chrome exhaust pipe tip. In all models driver and front passenger dual temperature controls were introduced and an AM/FM stereo wîth cassette and Radio Data System became standard.

Chevy only made a few changes with the '03 model, making keyless remote entry standard, altering the look of the wheels and giving consumers the option for high-quality, commercial-free XM Satellite Radio. Although many had solid experiences, there were many complaints about intake manifold, electrical, and exhaust issues.

The SS Impala was back! The supercharged engine saw an increase from 200 to 240 horsepower and was given a tighter suspension for sportier handling, but it was still a V6 automatic.

In the last model year with this styling, the Impala was the highest-selling domestic car in the country at 246,481 units moved. The problem was that the Nissan Altima, the Honda Civic, the Honda Accord, and the Toyota Camry were all selling more (the Camry almost 200,000 more at 433,703). In addition to the SS the previous year, Chevy added the 9C1 and 9C3 Impala Police Interceptor packages that had a few special features like "SURV MODE."

The '06 model Impala was the start of a seven-year span of relatively untouched exterior design was a welcome change from the previously less-inviting models. Built on the GM W platform, the ninth generation gazelle has a much more rounded body type, bigger, rounded headlights, a much lower-centralized grille, and cornered tail lights rather than the big circles. On the inside, the we saw updated audio systems, a redesigned instrument panel, new seats, standard side curtain airbags and an available fold-flat rear seat. Consumers had the option between four trims: the LS, the LT, the LTZ, and the SS. The first two offered a 3.5-liter V6 flex-fuel engine that put out 28 mpg on the highway, the LTZ had a 3.9-liter V6, and the SS had a 5.3-liter V8 with 303 horsepower and 323 ft-lbs. of torque. The new look started out and $21,990 base and topped off at $31,000 for a loaded SS.

For the first time, Chevy slapped Active Fuel Management, a fuel-saving system that automatically shuts off half of the cylinders when not necessary, on to a V6, boosting its resume in a department that it was previously having trouble with. Following up on the eighth generation, Chevy released a police package that helped boost sales with high fleet purchases.

Chevrolet celebrated 50 years of America's best-selling car with a special anniversary edition that had the base 3.5-liter V6 flex-fuel engine. It was also equipped with anti-lock brakes, the SS FE3 sport suspension, 18-inch wheels, and a spoiler. "50th Anniversary" were seen in numerous places, and Chevy added a little flare with two-tone leather seats.

The remodeled Impala was received well by consumers, maintaining its big, roomy reputation, but an issue that repeatedly came up since the 2000 model was "refinement." People felt that the Impalas of old upheld a luxury that the newer models did not hold. The '09 version didn't see much change from the '08, hence it was still seen as a little behind the styling curve.

The Impala family downsized in 2010 from five trim options to three, the LS, LT, and LTZ. The SS was completely dropped, and a convenience package option was introduced that pretty much replaced the LT2 trim. Again, very little was changed in this new year.

Unlike in the first 10 years of its existence, the Impala has been pretty stagnant the past few years. Some trim levels have been moved around and the V8 came and went, but the head and tail lights just aren't constantly getting refreshed, new looks like they used to. That's one reason why the 2014 launch will be so massive for the brand image and the company as a whole. The 3.5-liter V6 for the 2011 produced 211 horsepower, while the 3.9-liter V6 was up to 224.

Remember those 3.5-liter and 3.9-liter engines we just told you about? Those were scrapped in 2012 for a universal standard 3.6-liter V6 flex-fuel with a new six-speed automatic transmission. The new powerplant gave a massive boost, giving its drivers 300 horsepower and 262 ft-lbs. of torque. All models come standard with satellite radio, bluetooth, and MP3 capability. If you were to walk into your neighborhood Chevy dealer right now, you'd be presented with a vehicle that starts at $25,760.