The 1961 Chevrolet Impala is celebrated for its sleek lines and iconic design, but within this classic series lies an anomaly – the 2-door sedan. This body style, typically reserved for Chevrolet’s more budget-friendly Bel Air and Biscayne models, surprisingly graced the top-tier Impala in 1961. This unexpected move resulted in the rarest Impala body style ever produced, with a mere 11,719 units rolling off the assembly lines, representing less than 1% of all full-size Chevrolets manufactured that year.
Image alt text: Front three quarter view of a light blue 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan showcasing its unique roofline and classic design.
Theoretically, this rare 61 Impala 2-door sedan could have been ordered with the newly introduced Super Sport (SS) package in the spring of 1961. Unusually for its time, the ’61 SS package was available across all Impala body styles except for wagons, including 4-door sedans and hardtops, and the 2-door sedan. However, the definitive answer to whether any 61 Impala 2-door sedans were actually built with the SS package remains shrouded in mystery, although some have been presented as such, as seen in a Bring a Trailer auction in 2023.
For enthusiasts who appreciate unique automotive designs, particularly GM’s “flying wing” roofline, the 1961 Impala 2-door sedan holds a special fascination. Its rarity, combined with the sporty Impala trim, makes it a compelling subject for collectors and classic car aficionados. Chevrolet themselves highlighted the “Choice of 3 new Roof Lines” for the 1961 Impala, emphasizing the design variations available to buyers.
Image alt text: Side profile of a 1961 Chevrolet Impala showcasing the “flying wing” roof design and chrome side trim.
Among these rooflines, the “bubbletop” 2-door hardtop undeniably captured the most attention then and continues to do so today. These bubbletop models command a significant premium in the classic car market, often fetching prices at least double that of other 1961 Impala body styles.
Image alt text: Chevrolet concept sketch of a 1961 Impala coupe, exploring alternative roof designs before settling on the production models.
GM’s bubbletop design originated in 1959, and concept sketches suggest that designers considered moving away from it for the 1961 Impala. While the bubbletop was indeed discontinued on the Impala after 1961, the 1962 models took a different stylistic direction altogether.
The 1961 Impala four-door hardtop was arguably the most forward-thinking design, foreshadowing the rooflines of future GM models. It featured a more conventional roof and broader C-pillars, anticipating the convertible-style coupe roofs that would emerge in 1962. This signaled a shift away from the finned and glassy designs of the late fifties towards a more traditional aesthetic.
Image alt text: Rear three-quarter view of a red 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan emphasizing its taillights and rear fender design.
Despite the changing trends, the allure of the “flying wing” roof, which debuted in 1959, remained strong, particularly for admirers of the 61 Impala 2-door sedan.
Image alt text: Side profile of a 1963 Corvair Monza 4-door sedan, highlighting its similar “flying wing” roofline to the 1961 Impala 2-door sedan.
The flying wing roof style continued on the Corvair sedan through 1964, maintaining its appeal throughout the early sixties. While the 1961 Impala 4-door sedans might have appeared somewhat ordinary, the 2-door variant possessed a unique charm, especially in Impala trim with its distinctive faux exhaust outlets and other premium embellishments.
Image alt text: Front view of a blue 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan parked on a street, showcasing its grille, headlights, and overall stance.
The 61 Impala 2-door sedan also offered excellent visibility due to its roof design, a practical advantage compared to the bubbletop models which could lead to sunburn for rear passengers.
Image alt text: Interior view of a 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan, emphasizing the spaciousness and dashboard design.
The 1961 Chevy models, including the Impala, were slightly more compact than their predecessors, reflecting Detroit’s response to a recession and shifting consumer preferences towards more fuel-efficient cars. Despite being trimmer externally, the 61 Impala actually offered improved interior space utilization. Perhaps the economic climate of the time influenced Chevrolet’s decision to offer the 2-door sedan in the premium Impala range, providing a touch of luxury in a more practical body style.
Image alt text: Close-up detail of the rear fender and taillight of a 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan, highlighting the chrome trim and badging.
Considering the production numbers, the 1961 Impala 2-door sedan’s rarity is undeniable. Out of approximately 1,194,000 full-size Chevrolets built in 1961, the 11,719 2-door Impala sedans represent just under 1% of the total and slightly over 2% of all Impalas produced. Finding an unrestored example today is a challenge, making well-preserved specimens like the one pictured from North Shore Classics incredibly valuable to collectors.
Image alt text: Side view of a light blue 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan parked on grass, showcasing its long body and classic lines.
This particular survivor is equipped with a common 170 hp 283 V8 engine with a two-barrel carburetor and Powerglide automatic transmission, along with power steering. While some might envision a more performance-oriented 61 Impala, perhaps with a 230 hp 283 and a 4-speed manual, the charm of this original example lies in its authentic, unmolested condition. The larger 348 V8 and the even rarer 409 V8, introduced later in 1961 with only 142 units produced, were less common choices for these cars, with the 409 primarily going to racing applications.
Image alt text: Engine bay of a 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan, displaying the 283 V8 engine and engine components.
Before moving on, it’s crucial to address the allure of the 1961 Impala SS and the misconceptions surrounding a purported 61 Impala SS 2-door sedan.
Image alt text: Rear view of a light blue 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan, highlighting the Impala badging and rear styling.
The ’61 Impala SS package differed significantly from subsequent years. In 1962 and later, the SS became primarily a trim package, lacking mechanical upgrades and even available with six-cylinder engines. However, the 1961 SS was conceived as a genuine performance upgrade, rumored to have been influenced by Zora Arkus-Duntov, a key figure in Corvette development.
Image alt text: 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS badge on the front fender, indicating the Super Sport package.
The performance intent of the 1961 Impala SS is further illustrated by Dan Gurney’s attempt to race a modified 61 Impala in the British Saloon Championship. He even put his Impala on pole position at Silverstone, outperforming Jaguar MkIIs, before a wheel failure forced his retirement. Despite being banned from subsequent races, Gurney’s endeavor underscored the performance potential of the 1961 Impala with the SS package enhancements.
Image alt text: Collage image featuring Dan Gurney and his racing 1961 Chevrolet Impala, highlighting its racing heritage.
Gurney’s race-prepared 61 Impala was eventually restored and brought back to the United States, a testament to its historical significance.
Image alt text: Restored 1961 Chevrolet Impala race car driven by Dan Gurney, showcasing its racing modifications.
The 1961 Impala SS package was surprisingly available on all Impala body styles except wagons, even featured in brochures with the 4-door hardtop. This further emphasized the “sports sedan” image Chevrolet aimed for, rather than solely targeting drag racing, where lighter Bel Airs and Biscaynes were typically preferred. The SS package included a choice of powerful 348 V8 engines (305, 340, or 350 hp), a 4-speed manual transmission, special badging and trim, a passenger grab bar, a tachometer, unique wheel covers, upgraded tires, power steering and brakes, and heavy-duty suspension. Interestingly, bucket seats, which became synonymous with later SS models, were not included or even available in 1961.
Image alt text: Brochure image highlighting the 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS features, including badging and trim details.
This comprehensive and ambitious SS package, however, proved to be relatively unpopular, with only 453 1961 Impalas produced with the SS option.
Image alt text: Front view of a 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS coupe, showcasing the SS grille badge and front styling.
The vast majority of these ’61 Impala SS models were 2-door sport coupes, with a smaller number of convertibles. Reliable production figures for each body style are scarce, but consensus suggests no 4-door SS sedans were ever built or documented. Similarly, despite some claims, there is no concrete evidence that any 61 Impala 2-door sedans were factory-built as SS models.
Image alt text: Side view of a red 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS coupe, emphasizing its sporty stance and SS badging.
It’s plausible that racers seeking the lightest possible platform for performance upgrades favored the Biscayne 2-door sedan. The components of the 1961 Impala SS package were available as individual options on all ’61 Chevrolets, making the SS package essentially a bundle of mandatory options with a nominal additional charge, primarily covering the unique badging and trim.
Image alt text: Close-up of the “SS” rear fender badge on a 1961 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport.
Image alt text: Interior view of a 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS, highlighting the tachometer, passenger grab bar, and unique trim.
The tachometer in the ’61 Impala SS was an aftermarket unit sold through Chevrolet, offering better readability compared to later console-mounted tachometers. A small console housed the 4-speed floor shifter, and exclusive silver trim adorned the doors and interior.
Image alt text: Front three-quarter view of a modified 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan, presented as an SS replica.
The Bring a Trailer auction of a purported 1961 Impala SS 2-door sedan in 2023 highlights the confusion and potential misrepresentation surrounding these rare cars. Despite claims of racing history and SS authenticity, closer examination revealed inconsistencies and likely fabrication.
Image alt text: Documentation presented with a purported 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-door sedan, later revealed to be questionable.
The “documentation” provided with the auctioned car, claiming a Pikes Peak racing history and SS status, lacked verification and contained factual errors. Claims of 22 61 Impala 2-door SS sedans being built and the assertion that all “Supersport” Impalas had 409 engines are demonstrably false. Such inaccurate “fact sheets” are unfortunately common in the classic car world.
Image alt text: Upside-down build plate of the questionable 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-door sedan, indicating potential tampering.
The build plate of the auctioned car was mounted upside down, suggesting it may not be original. Furthermore, the build date predated the SS package’s availability, and a bogus “sticker” with further inaccuracies was presented as proof of authenticity. The claim of a 409 engine paired with a Powerglide transmission was also incorrect for 1961.
Image alt text: Bogus sticker presented as documentation for the fake 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-door sedan, containing numerous inaccuracies.
The rear seat, with a speaker grille not found in sedans, further cast doubt on the car’s Impala origins, suggesting it may have been constructed from a more common Bel Air or Biscayne 2-door sedan using salvaged Impala parts.
Image alt text: Rear interior view of the purported 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-door sedan, showing the incorrect rear seat with speaker grille.
The front bucket seats were not original to a 1961 Impala, likely sourced from a later Chevy model. The original Powerglide transmission had been replaced with a modern 700R4 automatic, and numerous chassis and brake upgrades were also evident.
Image alt text: Front bucket seats installed in the questionable 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 2-door sedan, not original to this model year.
The likelihood of the 409 engine being original is extremely low, given the limited production of 409s in 1961 and the car’s overall lack of originality. It is more probable that the car began as a Bel Air or Biscayne 2-door sedan, modified to resemble a 61 Impala SS, albeit with deviations from a stock or authentic restoration.
Image alt text: Modern aftermarket wheels and upgraded brakes on the modified 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan.
For those who appreciate originality, like envisioning a dream ’61 Impala 2-door sedan with a fuel-injected 283 V8, the existence of genuine, unmolested 1961 Impala 2-door sedans remains a comforting thought. Even without the elusive SS designation, these rare sedans offer a unique glimpse into Chevrolet’s design and marketing choices of the early 1960s.
Image alt text: Head-on view of a light blue 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan, highlighting its front grille and headlight design.
Image alt text: Another front three-quarter view of a light blue 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-door sedan, emphasizing its rarity and classic appeal.
Despite the lack of definitive proof of a factory 1961 Impala SS 2-door sedan, the standard 1961 Impala 2-door sedan remains a captivating and exceptionally rare classic car, worthy of appreciation for its unique place in automotive history.
Related Reading:
- Bring A Trailer: 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 2-Door Sedan
- Vintage Car Life Road Test: 1961 Chevrolet Impala 348 V8 With Turboglide – “A Triumph Of Contemporary American Car Design”
- Curbside Classic: 1961 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Sedan – The Last Bel Air Four Door Hardtop
- Curbside Classic: 1961 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe – Wherein The Author Meets His Nemesis And Finds Love by JPCavanaugh
- Curbside Classic: 1961 Chevrolet Impala 4-Door Hardtop–Staying Close to Home by S. Pellegrino
- Automotive History: The Two Door Sedan (1920-2010) – Its Origins and the Last 2-Door Sedan For Each American Brand and Model
- Vintage Ad: I ‘Built’ My Chevy To Handle Like A Sports Car…For Five! Another Not-Niedermeyer-Mobile
- Concept Classic: The 1961 Chevy Impala Coupe That Wasn’t
