I went to the impalas.net site but there is not enough traffic or opinions on that site to get good advice and I've been a member here for a while and I trust everybodies opinion,its a little long winded,so here goes.Recently my father past away and he left me his 63 Impala SS convertible. He bought the car brand new,it has never been wrecked,garaged its whole life and is in very good shape...327/300 horse with a 4spd factory.What has been done to the car is this: New paint which had to be done due to 45 years old and just normal wear,its on its second convertible top,and the interior was redone back to original about 2 years ago...also much needed do to wear and tear and fading out to a dull gray from its original "Fawn" color.Otherwise the car is completely original,its never had a bolt turned on anything except the shifter was changed from a muncie to a hurst by the dealer my dad bought the car from because of ongoing problems with the factory muncie shifters of that time.My questions are how far do I take a car like this from a restoration stand point and maintain the value of it. It really needs springs all the way around,it also needs to have a new power steering pump...do I rebuild the original one?,the brake lines need to be blown out and I want to change out the single reservoir to a dual for safety purposes but do I dare because of the originallity of the car? Also the motor runs great...no smoke and the transmission is smooth as silk,BUT, I know at 97K(original)miles its bound to need a valve job soon.Do I go ahead and rebuild the motor and trans to potentially head off a catostrophic failure that ruins the original block or not? Should I have this car appraised? I know its rare, even at shows I've only seen one and it was a trailer queen. All opinions are welcome and thanks in advance

i know it is a impala. but they are just as valueable as a camaro. also well sort out to get. for safety purposes on the brakes. i would upgrade but keep all old parts so as when you sell you give parts to them. or have the master and power steering rebuilt. at 97,000 on motor i would at least freshen it up. back then you didnt see cars like today with more than 100,000 on motor. i googled and they come up 25,000 to around 60,000 restored wise.

A '63 Impala is still a ''63 Impala... and the vert is a big big plus. But to be on the safe side, I'd have a bud with experience look it over as well before you dive in. The parts can be gotten, but just how much can you do yourself? Remember, once into a total restore, the $ can mount up if you have to farm most of it out. It's the labour that kills ya, esp if it's a full ground up... and done right. But if done right, you've got one great investment.

cap68

I yearn for the days of yesteryear. (I used to watch the Lone Ranger) ;)Anyway, cars were fun because they had intrinsic coolness. And that coolness was determined by the circumstances unique to each car. Take your pick. And hotrods and muscle cars were expected to perform. Guys would ask "What'll it do?". But now? All you hear is "What's it worth?" Sad.
Pat, if the thought of selling your car never entered your mind, then I hope you just use the coolness rule. Don't do anything weird, get it as clean as possible and just enjoy. Maybe install an anti theft system of some sort. Those are always out of sight anyway, so coolness won't get messed with. Yeah, get it appraised too. Ya gotta know how much to insure it for. Enjoy.

When I was 16, a good friend had a 63 Impala SS vert, white / red interior, 283 pg. Beautiful car, and lots of fun at the drivein.

What you describe is a very special car. With a repaint, it won't be classified as a survivor, but still a very nice original. It's a desirable model and body style, and a performance model with the hot engine and 4 speed.

It's a piece of history to everyone who see's it, and even more so to you since it was your Dad's and he took such good care of it for such a long time.

I would sell it before I caved in to my personal urge to mod it in any way. Do the repairs and maintenance it needs, but leave everything stock, including the brakes. Change the fluids, repair what needs it, replaced that pump (just the pump, keep the orignal reservior) and enjoy. You can tell your kids all about Grandpa while you're cruising with them on a wamr summer evening.

Guys would ask "What'll it do?". But now? All you hear is "What's it worth?" Sad.

Mostly what I hear is how great my '68 looks... especially from married women for some reason?

But when I look at it, I see missing windshield trim, bondo starting to pull loose, lots of little dings and waves, none of front panels lined up right, etc...all that way when I bought it, except for the bondo pulling loose--I think it was fresh bondo when I bought the car. I'm waiting to start on body work until after I've finished doing mechanical mods.

Back to the original topic, +1 for do what you'll enjoy. If it was mine, I'd feel bad about changing anything on a survivor that's so correct and probably sell to someone wanting a musuem piece (not me) instead of a driver (me). On the other hand, I don't feel bad at all about changing things (read as: cutting) on my '68 since it's been through so many hack jobs before I owned it.

Answering back a couple of questions...I can do all the work that needs to be done myself,I'm about finished with my frame off on my camaro and I know this 63 well having grown up around it.I would never sell the car,too many memories and way, way too much fun to drive and the head turner/conversation piece is just a plus.What about about the springs replace,is there any way to "re-temper" the originals or is this even something I should worry about as a "survivor" car. JimM I trust your advice alot,because you've given me some in the past and i've read your comments on other post...you think the single master cylinder is okay?

Master Cylinder! That!, reminds me of a Story!
I'm headed home, waiting at a stop light. I've had my 61 Chev bubble top 348 w/tripower for a year or so. (1967)Suddenly, I think of all the work I've had to do to it. The only thing that comes to mind that I DIDN'T have to do to it was repair the brakes. The light changes and I move out to the next light that turns red and I have to stop. Don't think you're a genius! Everyone here knows what's going to happen! Yep. Put my foot on the brake pedal and it went all the way to the floor.
And THAT reminds me of a story!:yes:

I love a 61 bubble top! WELL...so what happened?

A great momento to remember Dad. IMO, I'd leave it and fix what safety items needs to be made safer. Otherwise, enjoy the ride with your sons. Improve on what's there, the patina. Father is still there, you'll feel him every time you drive, so will your kids when they drive it.

Maybe a change of master cylinder, but remember, you will have to split front & back, add in a proportional valve, residual valve, and extra lines for the hook-up. Fixing what ain't broke could go against you.

A 327/300 HP, Carter AFB, 2.5 inch exhaust, Muncie four speed, 3.36 posi. rear gear. What a rush! Only downfall is the center driveshaft bearing. Factory tachometer on the dash?

I had a 64 Impala hdtp, no SS, so I had a bench seat. Loved it! Grab the shifter at the floorboard and flick the wrist for the next gear - Awesome! Cherry Bombs weren't made yet, so it was Walker Continentals for mufflers(?).

As said, Enjoy the ride, Dad would like that.

What would DAD do should be the first thing you ask. what a rare trip you are able to enjoy and share for a lifetime!

I visit Nashvegas regularly from Louisville. I'd love to see that sometime.

sean

What would DAD do should be the first thing you ask. what a rare trip you are able to enjoy and share for a lifetime!

I visit Nashvegas regularly from Louisville. I'd love to see that sometime.

sean

Good post, there! If you plan to drive the car much at all, then I wouldn't hesitate to upgrade the brake system, I would hate to wish later that I had. Like a previous poster stated, keep the original parts if you plans with the car ever change, it could always be undo. I might even consider a Pentonix type ignition upgrade as well, made a HUGE difference in driveability in my 69 Camaro. Upgrade for safety and drive-ability only to the extent that it could be undo, and enjoy it! My 69 Z11 was my grandfathers, and is as much a part of the family as a car could possibly be. I think of him every time I catch a glimpse of the car, let alone drive it!

Well,since he was almost 81 my dad has not done alot with the car in a few years,45 year old cars with 4 speeds and legs that were full of shrapnel from ww2 do not mix well. But he did what he could he ran it once every couple of weeks but nothing major. The car has always been a driver and I'm not much on trailer queens...if I cant drive it I dont want it,and I know that to be his feelings as well. Everett#2390...it does not have the dash mounted tach and believe it or not it was ordered with a bench seat as well which has a long,and funny story behind it that i'll tell if anyone is interested.I dont know how rare a 63 SS vert is with a bench seat but i would say there cant be many.Keep em coming guys this is good advice!

I love a 61 bubble top! WELL...so what happened?
Sad. Picture this; It's 1969. I'm just a working-kid, twenty one years old. In my driveway, I lineup, side by side, my three vehicles for a picture. 1. My nearly new 68 Suzuki 500/5speed. (Gold,of course) 2. My 61 Chev bubble top 4 speed. I'd swapped a nearly new 66 360 horse 396 by then. 3. My Camaro. It was originally an L78 car. It still has the same TH400 (CX) and the 12 bolt 4:10's (high impact)
All three could (or potentially could) do 13 second quarter miles.:thumbsup:
Well, my brother and I decide to drive the coast highway (101) down to Tijuana and back on out motorcycles. We want to copy 'And Then Came Bronson" TV show. But just before we head out, a 'friend' of my brother (me too, sorta) asks me to borrow my bubble-top while he's doing a valve job on his 64 GTO so that he might be able to BEAT my 61 in a street race! (NO WAY he'd ever beat my stuff!) Well, me being a nice guy, says yes but I warn him to be careful with it because there was no longer insurance on it. He said he would.
Next Chapter;
We're calling home from Disneyland. I learn that the bubble-tops' Z bar broke while my buddie was driving down the highway. He didn't know how to drive a stick without a clutch so he stupidly pulls to the shoulder and stops. He then hitch hikes home ABANDONING the car for four days on the shoulder. Thieves push it into the woods and rip off the Keystone Classics and wide redline tires. They leave the car on blocks. They were going for engine stuff too but must have been scared off. Our 'friend' says "Don't worry! I'll pay for ALL the damage!"
We come home. (that's another story) I call him. He said that his dad told him I should have had insurance on the car and they aren't going to pay for anything! Too bad. So sad. I sold the car, on blocks, for $750. The buyer paid the tow.
The 'friends' name? Bud Holler. South Kitsap High- 1966. (Port Orchard Washington) He's remained a complete and total A-hole to this day! I hope google picks-up the name and links it to A hole!:hurray:
But he did me good! I learned a valuable lesson; If we really value a friendship, DON'T ask to borrow a car. I'll pay the cab fare, lone my wife! Just don't ask to borrow my car.
I gotta million of these.:o
Edit: Are you asking what happened to the car with no brakes? Nothing, I took a right into a gas station and had them replace the worn-through brake line on the rear axle. The shock was rubbing against it. In those days you could actually get your car worked on at a 'service' station.

it does not have the dash mounted tach and believe it or not it was ordered with a bench seat as well which has a long,and funny story behind it that i'll tell if anyone is interested.I dont know how rare a 63 SS vert is with a bench seat but i would say there cant be many.We have nothing but time.

Have you started to make an album?

it does not have the dash mounted tach and believe it or not it was ordered with a bench seat as well which has a long,and funny story behind it that i'll tell if anyone is interested.I dont know how rare a 63 SS vert is with a bench seat but i would say there cant be many.
Well, there might be more than you think. I know of a 'purchased new' 64 Impala vert, yellow, (loaded) with a bench seat. One of my classmates father was going to order it with buckets but my classmate freaked when he heard of the buckets and pleaded with his dad to get the bench. Can you guess why boys and girls?:D

We have nothing but time.

Have you started to make an album?

The story of the car is,my folks had my oldest sister who was 7 my next oldest sister who was 2 and my brother was just an infant...I wasnt born until 1965.My folks and my oldest sister went to the Chevy dealer after work one night to see about getting a new 63 station wagon...obviously needed with a family of that size. My dad said that it was late March of 63,close to Easter and when they get to the dealership there is a light blue 63 convertible up on a turntable display with spotlights shining on it...the tops down and a giant stuffed Easter bunny is sitting in the back seat with a sign that read "what do you want in your Easter basket?"...gotta love those 60's display ads for car sales huh? Anyway he heads to the back where the sales guys are and turns around to see that my mom and sister never made it past the 63 vert display on the turntable. My dad said my mom basically begged him to get the vert...Now my dad had 7 verts in a row after he got home from the war so I dont know how much my mom really had to push,but he agreed with a couple of stipulations. He had the car ordered with bench seat...much needed again with a family of the size they already had.He never planned on keeping the car more than 3-4 years tops, so he ordered it with the 327/300hp/4spd/SS so it would have good re-sale value...get this the SS option was something like $70.00 extra I think and he paid $3200.00 for the car and thought he was out of his mind for giving that much for a car. He always called the car the last hotrod he ever owned and it had a normal life as a passenger car until about 1973 when he realized how rare it was to see one anymore and it started to live a more charmed life and was babied from then on. I grew up with the car and it was always a head turner...I always thought I was cool when my dad or mom would take me to school in it and all my buddies would ask about it...but thats the long story of the bench seat!

Thanks for the story. Yep, buckets and console were an option and $3200 was a lot then, considering cars were going for $2400-$2800 fully equipped.

I loved the OE close-ratio 4-spd in the Impala I had. Mine was triple black. Women loved driving it - 4-spd.