1960 Chevrolet Impala Coupe (LHD)

Description

Chevrolet’s 1960 line-up featured revised styling for GM’s design chief Harley Earl final year at the helm, with a more angular rendition of the previous years dramatic ‘batwing’ tail fins, new missile-inspired sculpting along the sides and an oval shaped grille with enclosed quad headlamps. Chevrolet retained three distinct full-size models, the entry level Biscayne, Bel Air and top-of-the-range Impala, the latter with additional bright metal moldings and triple tail lights. Boasting a comprehensive array of standard equipment, plus the addition of a parking brake and an electric clock, the Impala was set apart from lesser models with its distinctive anodised aluminium trim. There were no major mechanical changes to the 1960 line-up, the base 235-cid six-cylinder or 283-cid V8s could be had with no less than seven different transmission options, while a 348-cid V8 was offered for those with drag strip pretensions. Once again, the Impala was built around the familiar X-frame chassis introduced in 1958, with coil sprung front suspension and a wheelbase of 119-inches. The Impala was available in five different body styles, including a four-door Sedan, Hardtop Sport Sedan, Nomad Station Wagon and Convertible but arguably the best looking of all was the Hardtop Sport Coupe, priced at $2,704 in V8 guise. Described as the ultimate in speed and style, the Sport Coupe with its dramatic ‘Bubble Top’ roofline and ‘Batwing’ fins remains one of the best looking American cars of the era and popular with collectors of all generations.