Photo: eBay seller route66classics
While its condition is horrible and could make many people walk away, I won’t focus much on what the eyes can see. You can easily determine the Impala’s condition in the attached photos, and it’s obvious this 1960 convertible is not aimed at the faint of heart.
The 348 engine is still in the car, but you can’t expect good news after 55 years (that’s right, 55 years) of sitting. However, the engine isn’t seized, with eBay seller route66classics claiming the car can still be put in gear.
Now, here comes the best part.
The Impala was purchased by none other than Orval Faubus, the governor of Arkansas between 1955 and 1967. He bought the car from Chevrolet and used it on multiple occasions, so it’s believed that even John F. Kennedy stepped inside during one parade.
The government eventually sold the car back to the Chevrolet dealership, where it was purchased by someone called Phyllis Looper. The car was paid off in June 1965.
It’s where the sad story begins.
The Impala was moved outside after Ms. Looper’s passing because her daughter needed the garage space. The car was sleeping under the clear sky, and the owner explains that it was eventually rained on for 55 years.
You can easily tell the car needs a complete restoration, and you should assume it needs everything. The metal is extremely rusty, but considering the five decades spent outside, this isn’t a surprise. The floors, trunk panels, and rockers are all wrecked by the years of sleeping under the rainy sky, so your priority should be resolving the metal issues before anything else.
It’s a rough convertible, there’s no doubt about it, but considering it was owned by the Arkansas governor, I have no doubt it won’t remain available for long. The 348 engine under the hood could still have some lift left it in, so with a little luck and a lot of work, this convertible could one day return to the road in tip-top shape.
The selling price is as mysterious as possible, as the owner posted the car on eBay with a reserve. The digital fight starts at approximately $2,000, but given the reserve, I expect the selling price to be much higher. You can find this Impala in Fruita, Colorado.
