Why Are These So Cool?

"Thunderface" (thunderface)
12/17/2014 at 12:34 • Filed to: impala ss

I love 'em!

DISCUSSION (21)

BeaterGT > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 12:38

More torque than horsepower is a pretty good reason.

T5Killer > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 12:39

Comfy full sized car with good HP for its day and tons of attitude . Super cool. I looked for a good condition one before I bought my Cobra in the late '90s.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 12:40

Because you can't hate a badass looking, big, RWD, V8 sedan.

Thunderface > BeaterGT
12/17/2014 at 12:41

and........ that bigness!

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 12:45

I just wished they stuck around long enough for an el es juan. Granted the LT1 isn't bad and the swap isn't that difficult, it just would have been nice to have the better engine.

BeaterGT > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/17/2014 at 12:46

Such beautiful words..

Skamanda > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 12:47

Because unlike other cars of their size in that era, this one doesn't roll like a cruise ship when you turn the wheel.

Plus, it's fast as heck.

T5Killer > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 12:50

Yeah GM should not have killed the B-body and kept it around for a while. Same with the G body GNs.

camaroboy68ss > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 12:52

nice cars but I couldn't get the LT1 out fast enough. I hate them, worst designed small block ever.

T5Killer > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 12:52

Damn you now I am checking craigslist for one!

guinessboy2013 > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 13:11

Guilty pleasure. I want one of these and a crown vic.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > T5Killer
12/17/2014 at 13:14

To this day I still don't understand why GM killed the B-Body. They just conceded defeat to Ford essentially and gave them all of the Livery and Law Enforcement sales. Not to mention at the time, the Caprice was the far superior vehicle to the Crown Vic. I know some forces use SUV's, but by and large it's still a car based market.

Rock Bottom > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 13:17

Go find one and drive it. You'll love it. I know I always did. And no, they don't need a T56 swap (like so many misguided souls will tell you). The 4L60 in these was smooth and fits the character of the car perfectly.

That "LT1" on the other hand... to me resembled a cross between a truck engine and a real LT1 (as found in F-body cars and Corvettes). The heads and cam were more like Vortec truck parts, but it got the terrible LT1 ignition mess on the front of the engine. I'd bet an LS2 would be the cat's ass in one of these! Smooth as silk, 400hp out of the box, cheap (they're all over Craigslist), and easy to tweak.

T5Killer > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
12/17/2014 at 13:20

Profits. The profit margin on B-bodies with dwindling sales was not where close to the rising sales of SUV with a HUGE profit margin. Once the Bbody was dead GM was trying to get police to buy Police spec Tahoes.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > T5Killer
12/17/2014 at 13:30

While I get that, and profits make sense, it also really doesn't make much sense. What R&D really went into the B Body? How long did Ford keep the Crown Vic around virtually unchanged (except for the occasional body refresh)? Fleet sales are where a lot of manufacturers make their numbers. Even if they made the vehicle fleet only it would have made sense to me to give Ford some competition there.

But, that was the short-sightedness of GM. And the fact that at that time the union had them by the balls and they needed to maximize profits as best they could.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 13:30

I want a Roadmaster wagon so bad.

Thunderface > guinessboy2013
12/17/2014 at 13:42

Agreed, although personally I'd rather have the CV

Agrajag > Rock Bottom
12/17/2014 at 14:18

I had an unmarked 9C1 and can attest to the ignition mess. Was way easier to replace than I had anticipated, but a retarded design none the less.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 14:22

Someone at my school (parent I think) has a mint ones in purple. I need to get an SR20. Very cool.

Rock Bottom > Agrajag
12/17/2014 at 15:31

Yeah, they're not the worst ignition mess ever (looking at you, 2.5 Iron Duke), but they're pretty bad compared to pretty much every other SBC ever.

SJGeorge94 > Thunderface
12/17/2014 at 19:06

There is a really mint looking daily driven one (rare for NY) parked in one of the handicap spots near the campus administration buildings on my campus. Funny thing is I think the owner of the ss is a little old lady which is bad ass. Also those wheels