Question for those in the know about 60's GM Cars

"Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast." (twostrokesmoke) 11/02/2015 at 14:06 • Filed to: None

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So, my wife is interested in us getting a ‘67 Impala. Probably because she has a thing for Supernatural,

but whatever, I get to have an old car to tinker around with...anyway, the price of that particular model is through the roof...so that’s not gonna happen. My question is, which other GM car was the same basic car as the Impala? Buick? Pontiac? Another car I’m just missing? My thinking is, with not a whole lot of effort, i could change out the front clip to give it the appearance of the Impala....or is this just madness? Help me Oppo, you’re my only hope. (Not really, but it fit.)

Chariotoflove > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 14:11

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I got nuthin’ for ya. I just dropped in to thank you for the gorgeous car pics. Good luck!

crowmolly > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 14:13

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It’s a GM B-Body.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_B_plat…

Take your pick of vehicles. Be aware that BOP (Buick Olds Pontiac) have a few unique quirks that makes parts not swap over exactly as they would in later years.

shop-teacher > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 14:16

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You might be able to get a 4-door ‘67 Impala for a decent price ... maybe, but you’ll find a much better price on a ‘67 Buick Wildcat.

Or Oldsmobile Delmonte 88

Or Pontiac Catalina

El Rivinado > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 14:17

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It’s not possible. GM was such an autonomous corporation back then, and all of their division’s cars were different. Not only do they all look different, they all have different engines, interiors, and on some cases sheet-metal. There’s really no way to pick another GM car and try and dress it up as an Impala and pass it off as the real thing, it’s just not going to happen. The only way I could see it is an engine swap, ripping out the interior, and completely reworking the car’s body, but all of that is way too expensive.

But, the closest GM car equivalent to the Impala back then would've been the Oldsmobile 88, for whatever it's worth.

youshiftem > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 14:20

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There are other GM B-bodies of that year but the sheet metal is not interchangeable. You’re looking at far more cost than finding an Impala in bad shape and restoring it.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > El Rivinado 11/02/2015 at 14:27

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I didn’t think about the 88. I had a ‘72 with the 455... What a beast of a car that was.....

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > youshiftem 11/02/2015 at 14:29

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Even the basket cases for that particular model seem to start around $5k.... one in decent shape is areounf $25k, and probably because of that damn show. The year before and the year after you can get a pretty good example for around $5k....

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Chariotoflove 11/02/2015 at 14:29

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Yeah, that lemans is pretty sweet. No way I would rip one of those apart.

KnowsAboutCars > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 14:36

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Try finding a cheaper ‘67 Chevy model. A Biscayne for example.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 14:50

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Nice name.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 11/02/2015 at 14:54

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‘Tis the season. Roll Tide!

64Mali > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 15:09

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Go A body? 1967 Chevelle 4 door?

They run pretty cheap running/driving for the 4 doors. I’m working on a 64 one currently.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 15:11

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Just buy a ‘66. Way cheaper than a ‘67. I payed $3k for mine.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 11/02/2015 at 15:15

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I’m down for that. it will take some convincing for the wife-y though.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 15:16

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It’s one of those cases where you get 80% the style for 50% the cost

camaroboy68ss > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 15:17

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Sadly, as others have stated, the impala is unique is styling compared to the other GM big cars. Nothing sheetmetal wise will swap. The A body cars (Chevelle, GTO/Lemans, wildcat, 442) shared the same platform but only the chevy and pontiac shared a little bit of sheetmetal. Mainly go look at 67 Acadian Beaumont (canadian) they were a mash up of Chevelle and GTO/Lemans with some unique styling. Though 67 camaro/firebirds can be made into the other though because I've seen a few birds converted.

desertdog5051 > El Rivinado 11/02/2015 at 15:26

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Good answer. Glad I waited to read a few comments before posting.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 11/02/2015 at 15:31

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I think I may have found a decent one, as of today, but there are 5 days of bidding left, so I’m going to watch it and see where it goes, if it’s not too far, who knows....It may be mine!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 16:13

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You should shower a pile of full size 2 door hard tops and try and find something other than the Impala. They’re crazy expensive and you can have the exact same experience in a different car.

I mean, even the Montego is basically the same shape (a smidge smaller than the Impala I believe though, the Montego was a “mid-size”). You could pick up a Ford Fairlane or a Galaxie 500 for cheap as hell in comparison.

She’s probably just in love with the overall style.

Also, I just got into that show. 1. It’s awesome. 2. the car on the show is a 4 door, I guarantee those go cheaper than 2 doors.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/02/2015 at 16:25

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I will admit that last week... I was searching for Montegos. Lower priced Torinos, as far as I can tell, still cool.... I blame you for that actually.

edit: In this case, the 4 doors are more expensive.... I blame Dean & Sam.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 16:35

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Hahaha, well if I’ve converted anyone to enjoy some Mercury’s I’m doing good work! It is exactly that, a lower priced Torino. And when they were knew, it was the higher priced one.

Check out: Montego, Torino, Fairlane, Galaxie, Marauder, Comet (68 Comet is the same body as the Montego), Cyclone (stand alone model like the Comet, same body as Montego, though fastback so probably doesn’t fit this need).

The best part is, unlike the GM one’s you’ve been considering, all the engine and suspension parts are direct swap from Ford to Mercury, part sharing is gooooood (body stuff doesn’t match).

And for the final, yeah that’s 100% Dean’s fault (I don’t blame Sam, it’s Dean’s car haha).

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/02/2015 at 16:46

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I’ve always liked the boxiness of the Galaxie.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 16:55

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And the one I posted above has the badass stacked headlights.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/02/2015 at 17:11

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I thought it was Papa Winchester’s car.... Dean just got it.....damnit, I will not talk about this show!

sdwarf36 > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/02/2015 at 20:09

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Do it. Do it now. If they’re worth $25k now, they are going to be worth $30-35k in a few years. And you’ll be saying “I shoulda got one 5 years ago.”

Get a ‘cheap’ one + start fixing.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/03/2015 at 09:24

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I may not have learned that yet, I’m only in season 1.

ANYHOW

You really gotta find out if she’s in love with that particular car, or if she’s into a black hardtop (aka just not a fastback) muscle cars.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/03/2015 at 11:45

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Nope. It’s that particular car. I showed her the ‘66 & ‘68 last night and she could tell by the roof lines. (She’s good)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/03/2015 at 12:02

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I guess she better get a second car.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/03/2015 at 12:24

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I found one that’s going to need some love to get back on the road, there still a few days before the auction comes up though. i think I will try to get it for her if the price doesn’t go through the roof.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 11/03/2015 at 12:47

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I typo-ed on second car, I meant to say second job* haha

Mind sharing a pic? Have you owned a classic before? (I have no knowledge of your current or previous cars, or even how old you are)