Beautiful survivor with original paint and interior. L36 427/385 with TH400 automatic transmission. Bucket seats, console, and rare tachometer gauge package. Nicely optioned, including factory A/C, tilt column, and AM/FM radio. An unusual full-sized cruiser with plenty of punch.

The guy who ordered this 1968 Chevrolet Impala with a 427 didn’t do it to win street races. The L36 wasn’t designed for all-out performance, but rather effortless power and a torque curve as flat as Nebraska. That isn’t to say the guy behind the wheel doesn’t enjoy speed, but he’s just more grown-up about it, maybe preferring the kind of performance that lets him pull away from a pesky Mustang on the highway without even a downshift. That’s what this Impala is all about. Look it over and you’ll see a fairly amazing survivor—that’s original paint, original black vinyl top, and an original interior that’s in fantastic condition. The car has lived an easy life, and if you’re a fan of untouched, original cars, this is a great choice. Sure, there are some bumps a bruises, some scratches and nicks, but original paint also means that there are no nasty surprises waiting for you underneath. There’s laser-straight factory sheetmetal, doors that fit the way the factory intended, and no signs of rot, suggesting that this car spent its years someplace warm (it was originally sold in Alabama). Frost Green is an awesome sleeper color, blending in instead of standing out, and with a black vinyl top, it looks every bit the gentleman’s hot rod. Speaking of the vinyl top, it is also original and in excellent shape with no signs of bubbling underneath. There’s also some nice chrome and stainless trim, including those all-important ‘427’ emblems on the front fenders. If you like the soft patina of a quality survivor, this Impala should talk to you loud and clear.

The black interior is in remarkable condition, so nice that we were just sure that it has been restored. Nope, that’s original stuff, just properly maintained. The carpets have been replaced, of course, but the door panels, seats, and headliner appear to be factory-issue with the kind of detailing that the repro stuff just can’t quite match. The woodgrained steering wheel adds some warmth to the all-business interior, and you’ll find a nice list of options, including factory A/C (still R12 but in need of a recharge), a tilt steering column, and a full set of gauges that includes a factory tachometer—a rare find! Buckets and a console are a nice find in a big cruiser like this and there’s a factory AM/FM radio still in the center of the dash. Don’t be fooled by the mileage—this is not a 2900 original mile car—but the condition of the soft parts is rather remarkable and suggests that this car has always been a favorite. And, as a full-sized Chevy, there’s a massive trunk in back with original spatter-finish paint, a correct mat, and a matching spare tire assembly.

The L36 427 cubic inch V8 wasn’t built to be a screamer—with a hydraulic cam and modest compression, it idles smoothly and just goes about its business without any fuss. But you get the impression from the first turn of the key that there are rather substantial reserves of power on tap, and that’s what luxury was all about in 1968. When it was new, this car could just walk away from some pretty serious hardware without any drama. Today it remains a lot of fun to drive with big block torque and a smoothness that’s hard to describe but easy to understand. It fires up easily, idles nicely, and pulls the big coupe around without ever seeming to work hard. It makes a healthy V8 burble but never gets boy-racer annoying—this is a car for grown-ups, remember? We believe the engine was rebuilt, as it has a rebuilder’s stamp on the pad, and it certainly acts like a much fresher engine than the mileage would indicate. No chronic leaks, no signs of deferred maintenance, and it stays nice and cool on the road. It’s correctly detailed with Chevy Orange paint, chrome valve covers to match the air cleaner (with original ‘Turbo-Jet’ decal), and even little things like tower hose clamps. Cast iron manifolds dump into a mellow dual exhaust system that has that heavy cruiser V8 sound that stays quiet at cruise. Power steering and power disc brakes are part of the package, and they work with the TH400 3-speed automatic transmission to make this car easy to handle. The beefy 12-bolt rear end was standard equipment behind the 427 and carries what feel like 3.36 gears, so it’s punchy but also easy on the highway. The suspension is luxury car soft and it sits on a set of Rally wheels with fat 215/70/15 blackwall radials for the perfect low-key look.

Extras include the original owner’s manual, warranty booklet, and a set of accessory fender skirts.

The proverbial iron fist in a silk glove, we love luxury muscle like this Impala. We also love survivors, and this car has all the hallmarks of a car that has never been apart—doors that close with authority and that intangible feeling of quality going down the road. If you’re through with your need for spoilers and stripes, then perhaps this clean Impala fits the bill. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends or welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.