Chevy Impala history, 1958 to 2020

Chevy Impala history

Chevrolet introduced the Impala for 1958 as the most luxurious Bel Air, and it quickly became a model of its own. After a 1965 redesign, the Impala set an all-time U.S. industry annual sales record of more than one million units.

The Super Sport option debuted for 1961, introduced on December 17, 1960; the new 409 cu in V8 was rated at 360 hp that year, and only 142 1961 Impala SS cars left the factory with it. The full-size Impala was downsized for 1977, and after 1985 the base full-size Chevrolet was renamed Caprice.

The Impala SS returned for 1994–1996 as a 5.7L LT1-powered version of the Caprice built in Arlington, Texas. The name came back again for 2000 on a front-wheel-drive sedan built in Oshawa, Ontario, and the tenth generation of 2014 earned a 95-out-of-100 score from Consumer Reports. GM built the last Impala, a 2020 Premier, at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant on February 27, 2020.[1],[2]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The 1994–1996 Impala SS LT1 used cast-iron cylinder heads and was rated at 260 hp, paired with a 4L60E automatic.
• The 2006–2009 Impala SS put a 5.3L V8 in a front-wheel-drive car, rated at 303 hp.

Sources:[1],[3]

What changed, generation by generation

1. 1958Impala debuts as the top Bel Air model.
2. 1961Super Sport option introduced; the 409 V8 is rated at 360 hp.
3. 1965Redesign; more than one million U.S. sales in a year.
4. 1977Downsized full-size Impala goes on sale in September 1976.
5. 1985Impala name dropped after 1985; the base model becomes Caprice.
6. 1994–1996Impala SS returns as an LT1-powered rear-drive sedan built in Arlington, Texas.
7. 2000Name revived on a front-wheel-drive W-body sedan built in Oshawa, Ontario.
8. 2014–2020Tenth generation; the last Impala is built at Detroit-Hamtramck on February 27, 2020.

Sources:[1],[2]

What to check before you buy one

• For classic Impala SS and 409 claims, have a specialist check the original documentation and engine numbers — SS clones are common.
• On 1958–1976 cars, inspect the frame, floors, trunk and lower body panels for rust and repair quality.
• On 1994–1996 Impala SS sedans, ask about the LT1's Optispark distributor, cooling system and 4L60E transmission service.
• On 2000-and-later front-drive Impalas, check transmission behavior and service records, and confirm recall work.
• Run any 1981-or-later VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls).

How to verify a Chevy Impala's factory options

For a 1981-or-later Impala, including the 1994–1996 Impala SS, the factory build record shows how the car was ordered. CarWhere's GM build sheet lists the ordered-option RPO codes on record for the VIN when that data exists; it is not the complete Service Parts Identification list.

Standardized 17-character VINs began with the 1981 model year, so pre-1981 Impalas are identified by their original serial numbers rather than a modern VIN.[4],[5]

For pre-1981 cars, the body (trim) tag and engine stampings carry the original factory codes, and the GM Heritage Center publishes vehicle information kits for many past GM models.