1963 Chevrolet Impala NASCAR Coupe

The Mark IV 'big block' engine was destined for greatness. First appearing in Junior Johnson's 1963 Chevrolet Impala on the NASCAR circuit as an engineering prototype, it may have had 409 cubic inches of displacement, but didn't look at all like the truck-based 409 that was a factory option in full-sized Chevys that year. No, this 409 was a new breed of engine for Chevrolet. It was so far ahead of its time in 1963 that NASCAR outlawed it. The impala was banned from the track largely due to this then-exotic mystery motor. Never mind that during the 1963 season, it won 7 Grand National victories and nine speed records - and it sure got NASCAR's attention.

Taking what Chevrolet had learned from the crucible of racing in that season; the motor was ready for regular production during the middle of the 1965 model year with 396 cubic inches of displacement. In full-sized cars, it replaced the beloved but truck-based 409. A limited run of 200 were installed as the Z16 package in the Chevelle SS-396, whetting that market before the stampede of SS-396s to come starting in 1966. As for the Corvette, it replaced the 375 horsepower fuel-injected engine in mid-1965 and continued to be available in America's Only Sports Car until 1974.

This 1963 Chevrolet Impala Race Car is a Junior Johnson-built replica of his world-famous #3 1963 NASCAR. This '63 had been built by Junior Johnson for a hospital charity, raffled off in 1984 to help out a 15-year-old cancer patient named Gene. This is the only authorized replica known to exist, the original car residing in the International Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame in Talladega, Fl. It is complete with racing decals and documentation. The inspection sticker shows registration over 38 years ago.