There’s a reason the legendary Chevy Impala is a staple at car shows across the country: the Impala appeals to the low rider crowd, while the Impala SS sits well with muscle car fans. Not to mention that the Impala is big enough to be a family car! The 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS even goes down in history as the first American muscle car, even before the legendary Pontiac GTO came to be. If we had to pick though, it’s the 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS that gets our vote as one of the best-looking generations thanks to its mean demeanor.
In imagining ways to improve perfection, this Impala SS restomod created by 3D artist Rostislav Prokop exclusively for HotCars Renders, has become a modernized classic that could take SEMA by storm. It’s got all the hallmarks of the kind of build that becomes a favorite at America’s leading classic car show: dramatic styling, unbelievable attention to detail, and mods to make you look twice.
This 67 Impala SS Shows How To Design An Award-Winning SEMA Classic
The first rule of a successful SEMA build is to stand out. This 1967 Impala SS restomod in the popular pro-touring style does that with a tweaked fascia that builds on the menacing look of the original. Gone are the twin circular headlights below the chrome hood shut line, replaced by twin LED light bars that mimic the look of the original’s egg-crate grille. The effect is spectacular, making for a front end that dominates the show without even trying!
Of course, the shaved bumpers and complex dark burgundy/black paint job don’t hold back punches either. Shaved bumpers could just be the single most important part of any muscle car restomod to truly make it look modern. While purists may moan the removal of all the acreage of lovely chrome that set the Impala apart back then, there’s no denying that seeing a muscle car with seamless bumpers feels so wrong it has to be right! Especially on a nearly 18-foot long car.
Plus, there’s enough brightwork up top on this restomod to make up for it. The custom five-spoke wheels sport plenty of intricate work on them, in gold to offset the dark paint. Show-winning SEMA builds aren’t necessarily the most outrageous cars on the floor, so builders take note.
Which Impala SS Is The Rarest?
The Impala may have been one of Chevy’s most popular full-size cars in the ‘60s, but the Impala Super Sport is a rare beast in comparison, even if it’s on the tip of everyone’s tongues. The very car that started it all, the 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409, is one of the rarest, with only 142 cars being sold. For the ’67 Impala, a little over half a million were made. Of which about 74,000 were the Impala SS, which just shows how popular the Impala Super Sport had become. Even rarer were the Impala SS 427 models, of which just a little over 2,000 were built.
Of course, with big block V8s powering the Impala SS, it was only a matter of time before they went racing. The 1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11 was a competition special with a 427 cubic inch V8 (based on the 409) before they were even a thing. Only 57 of the stripped-out specials were made, and one of them named Old Reliable has set a record for the most expensive Impala SS out there too, having sold at unbelievable $525,000!
How Much Is A 1967 Impala SS Worth?
1967 Chevy Impala 4-door Hardtop courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
The 1967 Impala SS with a 427 cost about $5,000 when new, or about the same price as a Chevrolet Corvette. Now, expect to pay well over ten times that! The 1967 Impala SS is worth a lot of money, often selling for anything between $55,000 to $115,000. Prices for the rare Impala SS convertible are even harder to stomach. For many though, it’d be worth it. Considering the Impala SS is a slice of muscle car history.
Of course, a fully restomodded muscle car won’t be any cheaper than an all-original one. In fact, with all the money that’s gone into the mods, expect to pay way more. But when the end result could look as mean as this Impala SS restomod render, we’re pretty sure it’s money well spent. Anyone can buy a Ferrari and look cool. But a custom, show-stopping Impala SS? Now that’s priceless.
