1965 impala 396 4 Speed Bench Seat convertible Parts Car

Description

It was 2005 and I was 18, in the distance, I saw the silhouette of a lumbering impala veiled by a cheap grey cover.  I was there to look at a 1965 Bel Air convertible that had a racing pedigree.  Supposedly she spent her Sundays at Englishtown Raceway Park and nights on the street.  Her previous owner had passed away 20 years earlier so much of the car's history was lost with him.  Most of what I was hearing was second hand, which left me guessing as to what was under the cover.  Peaking out from under the cover were four flat Sonic bias ply tires, narrow in the front and fat in the rear.  I could just barely make out the peeling and rusted finish of the chrome reverse wheels.  Rolling the cover up slightly at the nose, I opened the hood to figure out the mysterious engine it was hiding.  Immediately, the red broad shouldered valve covers answered my question.  In front of me was a 1965 Chevrolet with a big block and I knew it would be following me home.
Carefully unfurling the old cover, the Impala emerged.  Sheffield firemist silver coated the body and a black convertible top traced the outline of the roof.  Through the dirty windows, I could see a green upholstered bench seat and an automatic shifter on the floor.  At the rear, the trunk deck only had two tail lights, a constant source of curiosity.  There were a few spare parts scattered inside the garage, but it was hard to figure out what may have been lost over the years.
Once the car came home, we spent a few weeks getting it road ready.  The oil was immaculate and she ran flawlessly.  As I learned more, it was apparent that the car was originally a bench seat four speed car and an Impala.  Although the protectoplate, window sticker, and and original engine were missing, the car retained enough original clues to support what this car was.  The chassis still has the z bar mount attached to the chassis and the floor pan has the four speed bump attached to the transmission tunnel.  The column is an original floor shift unit.  In one of the boxes was the correct GM shifter with impossible to obtain shift boot as well as the pedal assembly.  In the dash, the original 6k redline tach remained untouched and at the top of the dash, there was visible body work where the holes for the dash top clock was originally mounted.
Large diameter fuel lines and a non-positraction 12-bolt rear help support that this started life as a 396 car.  While the turbo jet cross flags are missing from the front fenders, it appears that the car may have been in an accident at one time and one fender was replaced.  On the other side of the car is an original fender with plastic seeping from the holes where the turbojet emblem once mounted.
As far as options, this car retains its original AM/FM radio with steroplex which worked when I last drove the car.
Currently, the car has a 1968 Police 396 with a cast iron single plane quadrajet manifold and a Turbo-400.  The Harrison radiator was swapped out for a Modine unit at some point and the fan shrouds were lost.  The engine has ancient hooker headers with three bolt flanges that escape into a dual exhaust setup that definitely has seen better days.
This car was built in Tarrytown and spent its life in the New York Tri-State area.  It has rust and rot.  Namely, the rear quarters were patched with copious amounts of bondo from the body line down, the truck pan was full of pinholes, the drivers side floor was very bad, and the pan under the rear seat was basically shot.
Once the car was running, I drove this car at every chance I had.  From the time the salt was off the road until the first snowflakes fell, I enjoyed driving this car.  During this time, I began accumulating all of the parts with the expectation of performing a complete restoration on it, including a completely reupholstered green interior.  This car will come with the new interior, but any other parts that are not mounted on the car will need to be part of a negotiated deal between the Seller and Buyer.
I drove this car until 2014 when one of the rear shock mounting bolts pulled through the crossmember in the frame and I didn't have the opportunity to repair it.  I parked the car planning to fully restore it over the next few years, but that never happened.  Rather than be one of those "Someday I'll fix it people" I see this car go to someone who will give it the new lease on life it deserves.
This car The original trim tag was lost during the repaint but it appears to have originally been artesian turquoise with a white top and green interior.
*****NOTE- The photos in this ad are several years old.  Currently the top is destroyed and an animal has ruined the old front seat upholstery.  I have all of the new vinyl parts for the interior with the back seat, inside quarter panels, and door cards already reupholstered.  I can get photos for interested buyers, seeing it in person would be best.*************
This car is being sold in as-is condition with no warranty.  Prospective buyers are recommended to inquire with the seller for additional photos and information.  Seller will work to accommodate in person inspections of the vehicle.  A deposit of 0 is due at the end of the auction and full payment must be received before vehicle will be released for pick up. Buyer to pick up vehicle within seven (7) days of auction end unless other arrangements are made in advance with the seller.  Storage may be potentially available.  Storage rates should be discussed with seller prior to auction end.
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