Our featured automobile is a beautiful 1960 Chevrolet Impala Convertible. This is a real classic and very popular with collectors.
The Impala started out as a sporty trim package for the top of the line Bel Air. In 1958 the Impala debuted as it’s own stand alone model and was the top of the line full size Chevy. Models offered for the 1960 model year included the Sport Sedan, Sport Coupe, 4 Door Sedan and Convertible.
The Chevy Impala took off and proved to be a huge success for Chevrolet. The company sold some 1 million Impalas for the 1965 model year which achieved a record. The Impala became America’s best selling car and continued that pace through the decade.
1960 Chevrolet Impala Styling
The 1960 Chevy Impala was part of the second generation Impalas. The model came out in 1958 and that year alone stood for the first generation. The second generation included the 1959 and 1960 Impala models.
Styling for the 1960 Impala was similar to the 1959 model. Tail fins, which were a trademark of the 1950’s, were basically flat horizontal. They had a wing like appearance. While the tail fins were fairly the same for both years. The 1960 model had a flat V-type tail fin where the rear of the 59 models formed a perfect V. The tail lights were quite different between the 59 and 60 models. The Impalas always known for it’s triple tail lights on each side, were placed in a chrome oval on the 59 models and were separated as three round lights in 60 without being enclosed in the oval.
Additional styling changes for 1960 was a square like front end and grille. The Impalas quad headlights were incorporated into the grille
1960 had the distinction of being the last model year that Chevy’s sported tail fins.
The Chevy Impala and the Ford Galaxie
Both were full size family cars and both were vying for the same car buyer. The Ford Galaxie was produced from 1959 through 1974. The Impala was produced much longer from 1958 to 1985, 1994-1996, 2000 through 2019.
Chevy Impala production for 1960 totaled 512,000 vehicles. The 1960 Ford Galaxie production totaled 461,000 vehicles.
1960 Chevy Impala Specifications
The standard engine was a 235 cubic inch inline six putting out 135 HP. The base V-8 was a 283 cubic inch which delivered 170 HP. There was also a four barrel 283 V-8 with 230 HP. Also available were several choices of a 348 cubic inch V-8. These put out from 250 to 335 horsepower depending on it’s configuration. All in all, Chevrolet offered eight different engine configurations for the 1960 Impala.
Transmissions available were both a three and four speed manuals along with a two speed Powerglide automatic. There was also a heavy duty Powerglide automatic for use with the 348 V-8. A two speed Turboglide was also available with certain engines.
Brakes were four wheel hydraulic drums with a power brake option available.
Vehicle dimensions included a 119.0 inch wheelbase, 210.8 inch overall length and 79.9 inch width.
A total of 512,000 Chevy Impalas were produced for the 1960 model year. Of that number about 80,000 were convertibles. The 1960 Impala outsold the Ford Galaxie of that year by about 200,000 units.
Related Auto Museum Online articles are found on the links below…
1963 Chevy Impala SS Convertible
Reference material for this article includes..Reference material for this article included…Chevrolet: The Complete History by the editors of Consumer Guide…100 Years of Chevrolet by Ralph Kramer and Jerry Burton…The Complete History of the Chevrolet Impala by Tony Markovich.
1960 Chevy Impala Collector Car Popularity
Chevrolet produced their share of classic cars and this 1960 Impala Convertible is certainly one of their best.
The 60 Chevy was a milestone car in as much as this was the last model year of the tail fins. The next generation of Impalas would have a much more squared rear end with of course the Impala triple tail lights.
This generation of Chevy Impalas were big full size automobiles with plenty of Detroit sheet metal.
The 1960 Chevy Impala Convertible is a sought after collector car with strong valuations. Current asking prices for convertible Chevys are in a general range of $60,000 to $90,000. Hardtop 1960 Chevy Impalas are generally in a range from about the $30,000’s t $550,000.
(Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online)