My 68 Impala 9 Passenger Wagon

.....Admin, I don't see a forum for just Members Rides that a guy can post his story on the car along with pictures, and members can reply etc . , so am just posting it all here. If not right place then delete or move please, thanks.


......This is my 1968 Impala 9 passenger wagon. Back in '68 my uncle Bill's early
60's Rambler station wagon was not meeting the demands of his growing family of 6
kids. So that fall of '68 he happened to be in Calgary and seen this Impala on the
show room floor at Jack Carter Chev Olds. Wow, a much needed third seat plus all
the luxury of a Impala. On aug 26, 1968 he bought the car at a discounted cash
price of $4090.00. On return back home to Saskatchewan he had to pay the
provincial sales tax of $204.50. before the car could be licensed. He took very
good care of his car. It always sat in the garage when not used, or when parking
somewhere he always looked for shade to hide it from the sun. The 327 demanded
premium fuel so that is what he fed it. He added the dual exhaust to it, and also
drilled holes in the air cleaner so that the 275 horses could breath more air. He
said he could get 21-23 mpg with it on highway trips. I remember the tires he
would wear down on the car then he would give them to me and that is what my 58 chev
4 door would run on cause I couldn't afford new rubber. I still remember the first
ride he gave me in this 68, man did it ever have power, and that needle would just
climb fast when he kicked that turbo 400 down into passing gear. It was 1981 when
premium leaded fuel was getting hard to find and expensive so he ended up buying a
new Impala sedan that didn't have the high compression engine like his 68 and so the
wagon's life had come to a end serving his family . He knew I always liked the
car, and I would take care of it like he did. He sold it to me for $200. So I
have owned it now for 32 years and it is still like the day basically like when I
got it. The original lacquer paint is cracked up on the hood typical of GM cars of
the era. Pictures make the car look abit better that it really is but there is some
rust starting to show bottom of front fenders and the windshield is cracked. But
overall it is a very nice all original car with 136,024 miles on it now. The
interior is excellent condition for having 6 kids . I took off the original wheels
and put on a set of Olds chrome 14x6 's with SS centers, so it looks more like a
Super Sport now. Everything works including the buzzer when you leave the key in
the switch and open the door. Both rear seats fold down so there is a ton of room
back there if needed. The rear seat faces backwards so that was one heck of a thing
to ride in. You'll notice on the rear bumper there are steps to aid in climbing
into the back. The 327 runs so fine and the duals have a nice stock muffler gurgle
to them. Only thing I don't like about the car is the hood latch opener. The guy
who designed it never thought of old ladies and us guys with a bad backs, it is one
awkward thing to open. She rides really nice, has plenty of power on demand and is
one head turner today where ever I take it. I have the bill of sale and papers from
the car as pictured. The optional third seat is fairly rare as these cars with them
were imported into Canada according to the GM parts book.
The light wasn't the best when I took the pics but it gives some idea of how it looks
being nearly 45 years old. Notice my pic at the gas pump filling up with B/A 98 octane
leaded , ahh the good old days.
A fine example of a family owned original car.

As equipped from the dealer :
Basic Calgary delivered price......4214.00
Roof Molding...................................18.00
Remote mirror..................................10.90
327 V8, 4bbl 275 hp.........................118.20
Turbo 400.....................................267.35
Positrac.......................................49.10
Power brakes...................................48.00
Power steering................................108.05
Deluxe belts...................................17.45
Radio..........................................83.70
Tinted w/s.....................................29.45
Floor mats.....................................11.80
WSW tires 4 ply...............................77.89
Wheel covers...................................23.55
Undercoat......................................35.00
________
$ 5113.00

Cash Price no trade......................$ 4090.00

 

more pics :

 

and more :

 

a few more...

 

Great story and some wonderful pics; thanks for sharing!

I remember when my Dad's 69 Impala 327 got the same "swiss cheese" air cleaner treatment from our local mechanic.

 

Welcome aboard! Thanks for sharing the pics and the story - great wagon!

 

One of my personal favorites. It looks to be in great shape. again and thanks for sharing.

 

now thats an intro

great looking car and equally great story !!!

once again I'll say ... from the WetCoast
and if you start lookin for that windshield....let me know

 

Welcome! And thanks for the great story. Beautiful survivor you have there!!

 

Welcome to the nut house! Great story, and fantastic car! Nice to see one that is so well loved, and has been kept so unmolested over the years! I would not worry about the crazing in the paint, just keep it waxed to protect it. I would get the rust stabilized, if not repaired, though, so it doesn't go any further. Keep up the great work with that wagon! Obviously you know what to do to keep her looking and running her best!

 

Very nice looking wagon!

 

I wouldn't do a thing to it! The '68 Impalas are my favorite year. I had an ugly green '68 4 door hardtop back in the 80's that I bought from my boss at the repair shop I worked at. He'd taken it in on a trade.

It had the same 327 you have but unfortunately had the Powerglide. It was hard loaded with power windows, power bench seat, am/fm radio with rear speaker, A/C, remote trunk release, and tilt wheel.

Bad thing was Iowa winters weren't kind to it, and the frame was broken under the driver's floor. I fixed it once, gusseting it up by welding in a piece of channel iron. I drove it that way for about 2 years. The body and frame were too far gone for a restoration.

Eventually she gave up her powerful 327, which I rebuilt and installed in my '75 Nova LN.

Mike

 

Nice wagon. Love those 60's Chevys.

 

That's a beautiful wagon!! Welcome!

 

....thanks guys for the welcome and comments. I have no plans on doing anything to the car, as a car is original only once and this one is still nice enough to drive as is and not worry about another stone chip in the paint. I bought a new windshield years ago but never put it in as this one is still not that bad so will let it ride yet. The 68's heartbeat is still strong...