1963 Chevrolet Impala Series

The Impala was Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 and was one of the best-selling cars in North America at the time. It would remain one of the top-selling mid-sized vehicles in the United States until the 1980s. Coupled with the upcoming debut of the new midsize Chevelle Malibu, the Impala graduated to 'full-size model' honors.

Chevrolet used high-performance and fully loaded models to attract prospective buyers into the showrooms. The full-size Chevrolets were completely restyled for 1963, featuring two crisply defined horizontal body-side character lines in place of the diagonal accents featured on 1962 models. These third-generation Impalas were built and designed on the GM B platform, with styling changes coming in the form of more trim and a boxy style. The trim and treatment were similar to the contemporary Cadillac but emphasized the sheer length of the Impala. The similarities to Cadillac were attributed to Cadillac stylist Dave Holls, who stood in for Chevrolet Chief Designer Clare MacKichan while he recuperated from a road accident. They were well-configured with a broad stamped grille and a trio of tail lamps on each side.

The Impala models were very well equipped, with vinyl upholstery, extra-thick foam seat cushions, paddle-type armrests with lift-up door releases, additional insulation, and a sport-style steering wheel. Body styles included a sedan, Hardtop Sports Sedan, Hardtop Sport Coupe, convertible, and a 6- and 9-passenger station wagon. The base six-cylinder, overhead-valve engine displaced 230 cubic inches and offered 140 horsepower. Optional 327, 409, and 427 V8 engines were available in various states of tune, with power ranging from 250 to 430 horsepower.

At the top of the performance option list was the 409 available in two forms of tune, the 4-barrel 340 horsepower version and the dual-quad 409 horsepower variant that inspired the chart-topping hit by the Beach Boys.

Super Sport
The Super Sport option (RPO Z03) came with bucket seats, a center-shift console, and plush carpeting. In the back were twin sets of triple lights set upon a background of bright textured aluminum. They had full wheel covers, SS emblems, cove inserts, and either a Powerglide or four-speed manual transmission (wide- or close-ratio gearboxes were offered). A total of 153,271 Chevrolet Impalas were fitted with the 'SS' option, and around one-in-ten received the Turbo-Fire 409 engine. Other options included a tachometer, power steering, and power top on the convertibles.

The SS, or 'Super Sport,' option was added to the Chevrolet catalogue in 1961 (it was documented in a February 1961 amendment to the passenger car engineering specs first published in October 1960), and the following year, it became a separate sub-series within the Impala lineup, offering both coupe and convertible models. The additional $53.80 added bucket seats with console, side molding inserts, special badging, special wheel covers, and an engine-turned rear cove molding. Chassis enhancements, power steering and brakes, metallic brake linings, a prominent column-mounted tachometer, 'spinner' wheel covers, thin whitewall tires, and beefed-up springs and shock absorbers completed the package.

409 cubic-inch Turbo Fire V-8
The 409 cubic-inch Turbo Fire V-8 engine was a version of General Motor's big-block 348 that had been introduced for the 1958 model year. Bored and stroked to 409 CID, the engine offered 360 horsepower with a single Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor. It had a new forged steel crankshaft, solid lifters, distinctive wedge-shaped combustion chambers in the block, 11.25:1 compression, and a more aggressive camshaft. The only transmission fitted to the 409 was a four-speed manual. By 1962, the engine gained a pair of dual quad-barrel carburetors, and its factory-issued horsepower rating jumped to 409, the perfect cubic-inch-to-horsepower ratio.

Z11 Impala
In 1963, Chevrolet offered the Z11 Impala, a lightweight model that was built using lessons learned from Super Stock and A/FX class racing. It had a Spartan finish with an aluminum front end and bumpers. The 427 CID V8 had an aluminum dual quad intake and carburetors, and a distinctive air cleaner that drew air from the passenger-side cowl vent. This was certainly a rare option, as only fifty (as many as 57; 25 left the factory on December 1, 1962, and an additional 25 left a month later, on Jan 1, 1963; it is believed that seven more were later built) RPO Z11 cars were produced at the Flint GM plant.

Five Mark 11 NASCAR 427 'mystery engines' (closely related to the 409 and the 427) were built and were the prototype of the 396-CID V8 of 1965 that was tuned to 427 CID in 1966 and 454 CID in 1970. They had the same piston rods and crankshaft as the Z11, along with the same 4.312 x 3.65-inch bore/stroke, but they had the combustion chamber in the cylinder head and the cylinder block surfaces angled to parallel the piston dome. They also used a stagger-valve (a.k.a. 'porcupine') valve layout. At Daytona, the 'mystery engine' won the two 100-mile preliminary race and set the track stock car speed record.

The RPO Z11 option ($1,245) included aluminum front fenders (reducing weight by 112 pounds) and were devoid of center bumper backing and bracing. This, along with other weight-saving measures, reduced weight by another 121 pounds, giving the Z11 an overall weight of about 3,340 pounds.

Junior Johnson (Robert Glenn Johnson Jr) and his 1963 Impala were very successful in NASCAR competition, with a total of seven wins, nine pole positions, 13 top-5 finishes, and 14 top-10 finishes in just 33 races that season. Other individuals, such as Bill Jenkins and Ronnie Sox, found success with their limited-production stockers on the drag strip.

Changes after this model year would be General Motors ending any visible involvement in racing, making this the final body to compete as a factory-designated race vehicle.

1963 Chevy Model Lineup
Chevy II / Nova (4-cyl/6-cyl) $2,000 to $2,520 (2- and 4-door sedan, station wagon; the Nova 400 was a 4-door sedan, hardtop sport coupe, conv, and station wagon)
Corvair 500 (club coupe) $1,990
Corvair 700 (sedan $2100 and club coupe $2050)
Corvair 900 (sedan $2,320, club coupe $2,270, and convertible $2,480)
Corvair 900 Monza Spyder (club coupe $2,600, convertible $2,800)
Corvette (fastback coupe $4,260 and convertible $4,035)

Biscayne (6-cyl/V8) $2,320 to $3,810 (2- and 4-door sedan, station wagon)
Bel Air (6-cyl/V8) $2,450 to $3,030 (2- and 4-door sedan, station wagon)
Impala (6-cyl/V8) $2,660 to $3,065 (4-door sedan, 2-door hardtop sport coupe, 4-door hardtop sport sedan, convertible, station wagon)

A prototype of the new intermediate-size Chevelle was introduced to the press in July 1963.

1963 Impala Mechanical Specifications
The 1963 Chevy Impala rested on a 119-inch wheelbase platform with an overall length of 210.4 inches (the Chevy II had a 110-inch wheelbase and a 183-inch length).

6-Cylinder Engine
The 230 cubic-inch six-cylinder (Turbo-Thrift) engine had overhead valves, a cast-iron block, 9.25:1 compression ratio, hydraulic valve lifters, a Rochester one-barrel carburetor, seven main bearings, and delivered 140 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. It had a 3.875-inch bore and a 3.25-inch stroke. This engine, with thinwall castings, would remain the standard engine for Chevrolet cars through 1979. The use of the cast iron crankshaft in this engine was a first for Chevrolet.

8-Cylinder Engines
The 283 cubic-inch (4.6 L) V-8 had overhead valves, a cast iron block, hydraulic valve lifters, 9.25:1 compression, five main bearings, a Rochester two-barrel carburetor, and produced 195 horsepower at 4,800 RPM. It had a 3.875-inch bore and a 3.0-inch stroke.

The 327 CID (Turbo-Fire) V8 was an enlarged version of the 283 with a four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust. It was priced at $191 for the 250 horsepower version, $245 with 300 horsepower, and $349 for the 340 hp version.

Chevy discontinued the 348 CID (5.7 L) (Turbo Thrust) V8 in 1962 and replaced it with the 380 horsepower 409 CID V8.

The 409 CID (6.7 L) engine had dual exhaust, high-lift camshaft, and solid valve lifters and produced 400 horsepower. In this configuration, it was priced at $428. With dual four-barrel carburetors, dual exhaust, solid valve lifters and high-lift camshaft, output rose to 425 horsepower ($484 option). The Beach Boys produced a hit single titled '409' (recorded April 19, 1962) referring to the Chevrolet.

The 427 cubic-inch V8 was a version of the 409 CID and available under Chevrolet Regular Production Option (RPO) Z11. The big-block engine received a .100 stroke increase, resulting in an extra 18 cubic inches of displacement. It had a 4.312-inch bore and a 3.65-inch stroke.

Intended for drag racers and NASCAR, the aluminum engine had a cowl-induction air intake system, a high-rise, two-piece aluminum intake manifold and dual Carter AFB carburetors with a 13.5:1 compression ratio. The new dual four-barrel intake manifold isolated the intake runners from the engine valves, which were covered by a separate valve cover. It produced approximately 430 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque.

Transmissions
An overdrive transmission was available for $108 with the six-cylinder or 283 CID V8. The Powerglide was priced at $188 on the six-cylinder and $199 on the 283 or 327 V8s. A close-ratio four-speed manual was priced at $188 for the 327 V8 (250 hp), and a four-speed transmission ($237) was offered on the 409 and 427. It was also available on the 340 horsepower version of the 327.

Performance Options
The Positraction rear axle was priced at $43, a Delcotron 52-amp generation was $32, a Delcotron 62-amp generator was around $65 to $75, and a Delcotron 42-amp generator (standard with air conditioning) was $11 - the same price as a heavy-duty radiator. A heavy-duty battery came standard with the 340 HP 327 V8, and optional on others for $8.

Options
Among the vast list of options available on the 1963 Impala included a driver seat belt ($10 / $19 for both front seats), tinted glass ($38 / $22 when only on the windshield), Deluxe steering wheel ($4), power windows ($102), six-way power seat ($97), power brakes ($43), power steering ($102), a padded dash ($18), Comfort and Convenience Group ($31), and two-speed electric washers and wipers ($17). The deluxe air conditioning (which included a heater) was priced at $364 and the Cool Pack air conditioning at $317.

Body Styles and Pricing
The prices listed are for the six-cylinder engine. The addition of the standard 283 CID V8 boosted the base price by approximately $105.

The four-door sedan was priced at $2,660, the two-door hardtop sport coupe at $2,665, the 4-door hardtop sport sedan at $2,730, and the convertible at $2,915. The six-passenger station wagon was $2,960, and the nine-passenger version was about $40 higher.

1963 Chevrolet Full-Size Vehicle Production
Production figures are for the combined 1963 Chevrolet full-size vehicles, which included the Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala.

135,636 : two-door sedan
561,511 : four-door sedan
399,224 : two-door hardtop Sport Coupe
194,158 : four-door hardtop Sport Sedan
82,659 : two-door convertible

198,547 : four-door station wagon

The total 1963 Chevrolet automobile production, including the full-size and Chevy IIs, was 1,947,300 (calendar year production was 2,303,343, which included the Corvair and Corvette).

The 1963 Chevrolet full-size vehicles were avaialble in dealer showrooms beginning on September 28, 1962.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2020