1961 Chevrolet Impala Bubbletop – Bubbletop Redux
Detroit was producing performance cars long before someone coined the phrase ‘muscle car’. They were larger and heavier than their mid-size counterparts, but had amazing powertrains. By 1961, the Chevrolet Impala was maturing into one of these classic models.
1961 marked the beginning of the third-generation Impala, and needless to say, it witnessed the introduction of several important changes, both in terms of styling and as far as engines are concerned.
Lowriding revolves around classic cars, thus leaving us with the task of bringing back to life cars that are some 30-plus years old. Some are decent, others are rust buckets, but regardless of what you get into the only thing that’s promised is that there’s always something to fix.
Pop the trunk and the setup features two custom pumps, three Adex square dumps, four solenoids, three Parker slowdown faucet valves, Stucchi check valves, machined aluminum blocks, and four Optima batteries—a tandem effort between Locos for Life Hydraulics and A1 Hydraulics.
Underhood, the preexisting 350 was fitted with CFR chrome, the side pipes were replaced, disc brakes were installed, as well as a sway bar and Y-Bone. From there he went on to have the hoses of the hydraulic system hardlined, while the frame was boxed and the A-arms were extended and molded.
The interior has been redone at some stage during its life from the vinyl it would have originally been, to a cloth style trim in orange. The seats are in good condition as is the floor carpet.
A tedious process that required plenty of wet sanding, polishing, buffing, and waxing, brought it back to near perfection.
1961 was a pretty big year for the Impala nameplate. After its debut in 1958 as the top-of-the-line Bel Air, the Impala graduated to a standalone series in 1959, though this second generation remained on the market for just two years.
In its final form, this bubbletop is what dreams are made of, and now that it’s been granted a second lease on life, it’s a showstopping piece of Americana that represents a heritage and tradition that was built on the perseverance of the founding fathers of lowriding.
