May, 2007, Cruise News 

STORY LINE:  MY ALL TIME FAVORITE CHEVROLET CARS; 456, Z16, L78 Nova, SS427

 

Fondly it is that the 1961 Impala SS is embedded in my cranial cavity; RPO-456. How well I remember the original Malibu SS396, released in early 1965; RPO-Z16. The 1968 Nova SS with the 375HP/396CID solid lifter Corvette engine-when found between the fenders of a 1965 Corvette it was called 425HP; RPO-L78. And the SS427 Impala-not to be confused with an Impala SS fitted with a 427, two distinct vehicles-the Impala SS427; RPO-Z24. Ah yes, the order form … a formidable piece of paper to the Chevrolet buyer when the correct RPO box was marked with an X.

EARLY 1961 in front of Detroit’s Ver Hoven Chevrolet on the corner of 6 Mile and Van Dyke. About 4 pm in the afternoon I was hitchhiking a ride back home from my girl friends school, when at the red light came a 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 2dr ‘bubbletop’, Honduras Maroon with a Grey cloth interior trim and yes I heard the solid lifters of that engine. A ride I got and told by the owner it was the 350HP/348CID solid lifter 11.25:1 CR 3x2 barrel option … and a 4-speed with 4.56 axle. Not fast, just a ride and a car that I never forgot. The 1961 Impala SS was introduced in January of that model year to showcase the new 409 engine, with all SS build Impalas fitted only with 305-350HP/348 or the new 360HP/409. The new RPO 456 SS package consisted of: SS trim, instrument panel pad w/passenger grab bar, special wheel covers, power steering/power brakes, 348-409 engines only-305H/348 available w/HD Powerglide all others w/4-speed manual only, HD springs/shocks, sintered metallic brake linings, 7,000-RPM tach and 8.00x14 narrow band whitewall tires. Fast forward to 1991 when I meet Horace Totty and his wife Patty at the world famous ‘Eddie’s Drive-In’ … Horace has a Honduras Maroon with Grey trim interior ’61 Impala ‘bubbletop’ SS with a 4-speed dual-quad 409. It takes more than 10 years, but I buy that car from Horace in May of 2002.   456 Impala SS models built in 1961, only 142 were  fitted with the new 409 engine. Recently sold at Barrett-Jackson, Red ’61 Impala SS 409 ‘bubbletop’  $68,200.00.

I have only seen maybe five Z16 Chevelle Malibu SS396 cars, of which only 201 were ever built for 1965 as a prelude to the forthcoming and full production 1966 SS396-and reportedly but 1 convertible in Sierra Tan color. The Z16 consisted of a 375HP/396 listed as an L37-identical to the 425HP L78 but with hydraulic HP camshaft, 4-speed manual transmission, HD suspension w/sway bars, convertible frame, power steering, Impala 11-inch power brakes(drum), Gold line tires mounted on 14x6 steel wheels w/mag style wheel covers, padded dash, 160 MPH speedo, 6,000 RPM in dash tach, oil gauge, clock on top of dash, 4-speaker AM/FM multiplex stereo system and custom front/rear seat belts. Only three exterior colors were available; Red, Black or Yellow and most all with Black vinyl roof covers. Interior colors were Red, Black or a White vinyl with Black accent carpeting/dash, front bucket seating/floor console. Front fenders wore 396 badging and Malibu SS markings were moved to the front fenders behind the wheel opening. Rear decklid mouldings, markings were different from typical Malibu SS models to distinguish the Z16. A Z16 once owned by Dan Blocker of Bonanza TV fame recently sold at Barrett-Jackson … $286,000.00.

1968, long standing MHRA member Loui O’Conner took me for a ride in his then new acquisition, a 1968 Nova SS 396. Black with black vinyl bucket seat/console trim, L78 375HP/396 solid lifter with a Turbo 400 and 4.56 axle … this is the same engine Corvette called 425HP in 1965 when Corvette got it’s first ‘big block’. Loui knew how to drive this car very straight and very fast. Bill ‘Grumpy’ Jenkins had one too … and won a lot of races. Never forgot that ride either …and soon the almost completed Forest Green 1970 solid lifter  ‘big block’ Nova will be roaming the streets. It has been a long time since I wrenched this hard, but with the partnership of  noted master wrench Dick Vanderworp, the undertaking of this fun project is-to say the least-an absolute blast. During it’s heyday the L78 Nova when in proper tune and a competent ‘handler’ behind the tiller … was pretty much unbeatable. A 1968 Nova SS L78 sold recently at Barrett-Jackson …. $165,000.00. A 1969 Nova L78 sold at $71,500.00. Three recreation Nova L78 ‘clone’ models sold from $31,900-$51,700.00.

NOT to be confused or mistaken as an SS Impala with big engine, the SS427 Impala was available only as RPO Z24. Any Chevrolet could be ordered in the late ‘60s with a 427, but the SS427 Impala was a special high performance vehicle. The SS427 Impala was first introduced in 1967 and was build produced through model year 1969. 1967/68 RPO Z24 shared the Impala SS trim options but was fitted with HD components; the L36 385HP/427, special badging, front bucket seats/console as the Impala SS and special instrumentation-optional was the 425HP/427 L72 solid lifter-V8.  For 1967 a special ‘V’ sculptured hood with three chrome air duct ‘pots’, SS427 grille/deck badging and special  ‘V’ flagged 427 front fender emblem. Available in both convertible and 2dr hardtop versions, the SS427 Impala was billed and marketed by Chevrolet as,  “For the man who’d buy a sports car if it had this much room.”  1968 saw a facelift and new SS427 ‘domed’ hood with chrome vent at the windshield, and front fender vertical chrome louvers. It should be noted that the Impala SS as a model was dropped at the end of 1968. 1969 was anther facelift with the RPO Z24 SS427 Impala as the only big Chevrolet to wear SS markings. Emblems consisted of the front fender Chevrolet big car family 427 marking, SS emblem below the front fender Impala script, black accented grille with SS marking and SS rear deck emblem. Interior trim was the same as the standard Impala with SS emblem on the steering wheel center-bench seating and column shift were standard fair with front bucket seating and floor console now optional.  L72 425HP/427 was an option again for 1968-69 and along with the hardtop and convertible body style, for 68/69 the Impala Custom Coupe was also available with RPO Z24 SS427 package. The only transmissions available with RPO Z24 were the Turbo 400 or 4-speed manual. RPO Z24 build; 2,124/1967, 1,778/1968, 2,455/1969. Recently sold at Barrett-Jackson 1967 SS427 Impala convertible $85,800.00. 1968 SS427 Impala convertible $73,700.00.

The difference between men and boys, are simply the price of their toys.

Life should not be measured by the breaths that you take each moment,

 but by the moments of living life’s thrills… that take your breath away.