1961 Chevrolet Impala

WEST COAST Sedan

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

11839L118038

Gasoline

Hello and welcome to another Houseofhotrod auction! Today I am listing a very stock 1961 original paint low mileage survivor Chevrolet Impala Hardtop - Sport Sedan for a friend of mine.This is a really cool, amazingly original and really clean car that you can just hop in and drive - no muss, no fuss, no worries - a neat old driver class and largely original classic Chevy. I consider it a survivor. We have put some 'extra' pictures in - way more than the 24 or so that eBay normally lets us - so you can get a good overview of what the truck is. I use lower resolution so that anyone in the world can download them with relative ease. The pictures are taken at McMinnville Oregon's Evergreen Aviation Museum - home of the one and only Spruce Goose. They are very nice folks that let me snap my pictures there at the museum. The plane behind the car is a 1944 Douglas C47A Skytrain. Not just any C47 Skytrain - it's one that flew troops that parachuted into Normandy on D-day, as well as flying various missions before and after that day in history. If you're ever in town, stop by and see this awesome pair of museums - there is an Air and Space Museum there, as well as an Imax theater and a newly completed and newly opened water park . Please be aware that this car is advertised and for sale locally, nationally and globally, and we do reserve the right to end this auction at any time if the vehicle sells before auction ends. If you are SERIOUS about this car - please call my cell # 503.580.6225 If I don't answer the first time - try again later - if I am at work I may not be able to answer your call. Please be considerate of the time. We have little ones that need to get their sleep. Someone's gonna get a pretty cool old Chevy Hardtop in their garage or shop! This is a unique opportunity to own a car to enjoy, to show, to drive, restore, customize - and most of all have fun with. The value is here, the timing is right. You will never lose. Buy it today and be the envy of those who hesitated and lost. 1961 - This is a unique year - we were still in that time of innocence, cruising and Rock and Roll were big - and Chevrolet was building some of its most classic designs ever. 1961 for Chevrolet was a one year thing - hardly anything was carried over from the 60's, and hardly anything got carried into the '62's. Meet Bessie. Bessie is a survivor. She is 51 plus years old, and still wears most all of her original paint, original interior, original glass and windshield and has about 88k original miles. This is an amazingly solid and rust free car - it is not perfect, but probably one of the most solid unrestored '61's on the planet - and it's priced right. Make no mistake - this is a turnkey driver just like she is - with no work at all, could be a daily, or a fun weekend cruiser. It's dependable, runs and drives great. This isn't just a project car - most of those are NOT drivers. This is. Here's the thing with Bessie - she could be restored, preserved as a survivor, left alone, made into a custom cruiser, a tail dragger or a hot rod - it's just anybody's desire what she will become, but she will do it with style and grace, and hopefully with a family that treats her well - and enjoys what she is about. Tried to find production numbers for the pillarless hardtop / Sport Sedan - but couldn't find any - do any of you know how many produced, and if the body style was relatively rare, or do we just not see a lot of them anymore? Any info on this topic would be appreciated. I know a lot of full size Chevs were produced, so rare may be just a relative term. Let's go through what we know about Bessie - This car was sold new in 1961 at Lyman Slack Chevrolet in Portland Oregon to Harry and Shizue Iwatsuki. The license plates on the car - Pacific Wonderland plates - are the original ones the car got on it's first registration, and come along with the car, that's where they belong. That I know they have never ever been off, and are still registered to it - as they have been for the last 50 plus years. The color code is 965C - which is Twilight Turquoise - with a SeaMist Turqoise top and cove. The interior is Turqoise as well which is actually (or at least was) a neat light and dark turquoise combination, which is actually quite pleasing. The car has an 11A build date - which would have been the first week of November, 1960. The option code reads EZW. The family wanted that new fangled air conditioning thing, so right away the car had aftermarket A/C put in by the dealership (Hood River gets warm in the summer 100's quite often, and a hot dry wind, which is why it's now a haven for windsurfers, more than the fruit growing mecca it once was) and so the Jet Star Customatic A/C was put in - the original owners manual for it resides in the glove box too, along with the original owners manual. The A/C compressor, it's brackets and pulleys were all removed (see pic) when the new engine was installed - the reason here being the alternator (O.E. would have been a generator on the left side) which went on the right where the A/C compressor mounted. Also note that all the plumbing for the A/C is still in place, and the compressor along with all bracketry comes with it. The car was garage kept, and lived up the Columbia Gorge in a bit dryer climate than Portland - Hood River Oregon. They owned this car until December of 1990 when the car went to a family member Robert, who sold it about two years ago. So, it's a 3 owner car. The car has been garaged for most all of it's life and the condition reflects that - it's not been climate controlled, or museum kept - but being in a garage has protected it from the elements well. The engine is not the original one - the motor that is in it was replaced in the early 80's - it's from a 1978 truck, and is most likely a 4 bolt main engine. Both the engine and trans - which were 'tired' so they said - (the transmission was a Turboglide) were replaced at the same time - so the trans is now a Turbo 350. The engine and transmission are completely stock except for the Accel coil on top of the HEI ignition. The carb is a 4 bbl and is a Rochester Quadrajet. The radiator was redone about two years ago - and it's the original Harrison radiator - recored. The car drives super well - has plenty of power and spunk, doesn't smoke, ping or knock and this engine and transmission move the car well. Starts first time, every time. The exhaust manifolds are stock, and the exhaust is a true dual system - older, but functional. If it were me - I would replace, but it's not neccesary - just would be prettier, and I kind of like the sound of glasspacks on these cars - but hey - that's just me. The driveline has had a new support and u joints in the last year or so, the rear end is not noisy, and is geared nicely for highway driving at comfy freeway speeds without any toil or trouble. The suspension is stock, and the car has stock power sterring and still is equipped with original power brakes (note the canister on the left front inner fender) The car drives straight down the road, isn't wandery - stops straight and sure, and really surprised me. Seriously - get it up to freeway speed and 'plant' your foot on the brakes it stops dead straight, no pulling, not swerving, just a great straight stop. I have had the chance to drive 100 miles or so in the car, and I was absolutely impressed with how nice it drives. Very solid - and as nice as any late 50's/early 60's Chev I have ever driven. The car sits a little higher in the rear than most I have seen - no air shocks or anything, but not the 'droopy rear' that most of them have. I have to completely agree, after driving and totally looking the car over, that the car is a low mileage one. The tires and wheels are 15 inch chrome reverse (6's in front - 7's in the rear) with baby moons that were put on in the late 60's or early 70's - the chrome on the wheels is pretty amazing for the age, a couple of the center moon caps have some pitting, but these are cheap and plentiful if one stays with the reverses. The tires are near new, with plenty of tread, are 205-15 and 215-15 radials, and drive out nice. It would be easy to go back to stock wheels and hubcaps, change wheels - however you wanted to go, this is an easy change - if wanted. The gas tank was replaced last year, had the typical gunk inside - so a brand new one was installed along with a new sender, that is jumpy sometimes, but once you're driving it settles down. You would be amazed at how solidly - and nicely this car drives. Inside - the car is all original. Original upholstery, original door panels, carpet - which is a salt and pepper type - is original. It's not like new, but the amazing thing is it isn't rotten, and is decent, though showing it's age, as are the seats. The seat upholstery is tired, and is ready to be replaced, and from what time it has spent in the sun, and mostly just time - again - shows it's age. The cool thing here is it could be done stock, or modern, or vintage - say a nice white tuck and roll? The headliner is original and nice, as are the visors. The dash is all original, and uncut - never has had a stereo or speakers installed. This has never been a hot rod, or a kid's car. Adult owned all it's life. This dash is super straight and clean - the glove box (which holds the original owners manual, and always has) is like new, it has a light, but the bulb is not working. The glove box door - which is a work of art in it's own right - is like new, check out how cripsp the lettering on the dash is. The steering wheel - unique to the '61 - is like new, and as nice as I have ever seen, right down to the cherry Impala emblem in the middle. Super nice - and one of my favorite steering wheels ever. The factory radio still belts out the tunes - I was listening to oldies the whole time I drove it!! The speedo works, odometer works, temp and gas guage work, turn indicators work, heater works, horn works, doors and glove box lock with the same key that works the ignition and trunk. The ignition lock works - which is pretty unusual for these cars, even when restored. Dome light on one side works with the headlight switch, I am sure that the other side needs a bulb. All the weatherstripping is original - and at some time will need some replacement, but it's all there. If it were me - I would do the seats and carpet, and leave it alone inside. All the tins on the seat, and the aluminum trim around the windows is super nice and in place. The tissue dispenser appears to be a Chevrolet dealer accessory, and the family says it was there from the begining - my bet is a Chevrolet parts department accessory. The cardboard in the rear window must have been replaced at sometime, as it looks like new. The wipers worked for me intermittently, so may need a little attention, but I noticed repair kits available right here on eBay. Notice in the underhood pics that the car has a windshield washer pump and also even still has the original OptiKleen bottle in place on the left side of the core support. An accessory right hand mirror graces the right door, and the left mirror has a crack in the glass. Both of these mirrors appear to be original, and wear the Chevy Bow Tie on them. Two of the headlights are original T3's. One thing to remember is that in Oregon - we have a pretty mild climate, and it doesn't degrade plastics and such like a hot desert climate does - nor do we have salt - which is the reason this car is so solid, and rust and rot free. The floors - just super solid, and not a sign one of any rot or rust - same goes for the trunk. It appears to have it's original spatter paint, and though it's a had a little moisture over the years - there's just not rust in the trunk. See pics - this hasn't been detailed - just is as kept. Even the trunk matting is all original. The original spare wheel is on a B.F. Goodrich Silvertown whitewall, which has been on the ground, but may be original.) note the original color of the wheel - matching the car) Jack is in place, and the trunk has the optional light - which still works - see pics. So - the body of the car - you will note no rust, no bubbles, no perfs. Most all the paint appears to be original, though at some time there was some paint done on the rear 1/4's and maybe trunk lid. I see no signs of any collision damage though - anywhere on the car. It all appears to be laquer, and it would actually all buff out. The top - again - would buff, but it's gone thin - note the red oxide primer showing through on the roof in spots. The right door paint is peeled from a tiller which was started and ran, and the exhaust heat bubbled the paint, way back in the day. The jambs , door openings, trunk etc - show no signs of overspray or any paint repair and are all really really nice. The trunk lid had a couple things set on it - so there's a couple of spots. If it were me - I would find a good painter, and spot in all the places that need it, paint the roof, and buff the rest out - but - one could heavy flake the roof, drop the rear, add skirts, make it a cruiser, a lowrider, a street rod, or just keep her completely stock. The sky's the limit here, but it would be cool to preserve it to original - how many are still out there? Check out all the original phospate coatings on the underhood hinges, latch etc - and the same on the door latches etc. You will see if you look that the paint still has a sheen - this car has had no waxing or detailing, or touchup of any kind for years and years and years. This is as honest a car as you will find - anywhere. the rockers, rust free. The floor pans - rust free, the trunk, the front, the fender bottoms - that always rust - none. The front sheet metal is amazing. The grille is incredibly straight. The chrome and stainless is all original, and the chrome has next to no pitting - it's as nice as I have seen for an unrestored car. All of the emblems are in place - and in nice condition. All of the rockers are nice - with all their original drain holes etc intact. The back bumper - yes, has a ding, but is still decent, and a great candidate for a rechrome. Both bumpers are one piece, and are what I call 'California' bumpers - the rest of the plants had three piece bumpers front and back that I know of - this would be correct for a Los Angeles production car, which this is. The little panel under the bumper on the left has a dent - but the body is straight - take a look at how well all the panels line up, there is pretty much no dents or dings on the body at all. Amazingly straight sheet metal all around. We have the right rear chrome trim lip molding for the trunk lid that is nicer than the one on it, and a couple of extra pieces of door trim that come with the car. Think about it - this is 51 year old paint! This car isn't any show car, but it's unusual, and it's as solid as you will find, anywhere. Is it perfect? Heck no - but they weren't perfect new, and the price point of this car is miles from where a perfect car would be too. Please keep in mind also that the car hasn't been detailed, hasn't been even washed for nearly a year - there's nothing hidden, nothing phonied, fluffed or buffed, and the car has never had a 'used car dealer detail' (rattle can special) in its entire life. Every finish is honest - and we wanted you to see EXACTLY what the car was, no hype, nothing 'glossed up'. We really hope that someone out there will give Bessie a new home - and treat her to what she deserves, which is another 50 years of life, and some TLC and tinkering that will provide family fun for years to come. This car isn't for the shy though, I got a dozen or more waves, smiles and thumbs up just getting to the museum for the pictures, and when there, everyone wanted to talk. That's how you roll in a vintage vehicle - tons of smiles per mile - and so much more fun than a 'late model'. If I have left anything out, please ask - I will do my best to answer for you. The one thing I know for sure - is in these days of economic unsurety, stocks, 401k's and markets doing crazy things - a classic Chevrolet is better than money in the bank - and a heck of a lot more fun. Thanks for looking and bidding! Now for the nitty gritty: DO NOT BID IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO PAY! Your bid is a contract and will be treated as such. If you have zero or negative feedback - please contact us first. We reserve the right to cancel bids to those who don't adhere to this request. If you need to get permission of any sort to buy - PLEASE GET IT FIRST. Excuses such as - I had the money now I dont, My spouse doesn't like the color, Gee I got sick as soon as I won the bid in the last 30 seconds of the auction, Oops I hit buy it now by mistake, My kid bid not me, My attorney says etc etc will not be tolerated or excused. PLEASE think before you bid! A 500.00 deposit is required within 72 hours of auction close, the balance in full due within 10 days of auction close. Paypal will not be accepted on any part of the auction unless agreed upon in advance, other than the deposit. Payment is by bank wire, cashiers check or cash. No overpayment scams please. If paid by any form of check - check will clear bank before vehicle leaves it's present location. Winning this auction does not qualify you to fly in and inspect the vehicle then decide IF you want it, or to renegotiate. The vehicle is available for inspection by appointment, so if you aren't sure - come see it first! Shipping is at the expense of the winning bidder. Vehicle must be picked up near McMinnvile, Oregon. This car is 50 or more years old, and so is sold as is. We have possession of and guarantee a free and clear title to the vehicle, with no brands or anything of that sort. Vehicle is titled in Oregon as a 1961 Chevrolet 4S, just as it should be. Vehicle is sold as is with no warranty either expressed or implied. Vehicle is being purchased from the car's owner, not Houseofhotrod, and the bill of sale will be from them. We will help you arrange shipping any way we can, winning bidder pays for all shipping charges. We have recently been using a service called Uship - I can give you the info to get to it, but eBay won't let me post the link in here, butit's a neat site which is a spot where you can insert a shipping request, and shippers will bid to do your shipping - these shippers are rated on feedback just like eBay rates their sellers. Pretty cool. We will help with shipping any way we can. Sorry if we sound snotty here - we just want to communicate that we take our eBay seriously - all we really ask is that you do the same!! This makes it much easier for those of YOU who are also serious about bidding and buying. I have bought many vehicles here and understand your concerns - we've been there! PLEASE ask questions if you have them - I will do my absolute best to answer honestly and quickly. Thank you for looking and bidding