VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions 1969 Impala Custom, the story of a love

Hi Guys, here my story, a personal love story.
All started about 3 years ago,in a cold fall evening, i passed over a used cars dealer here in Italy, and a pair of headlights caught my attention, i stopped my Fiat, i walked away from the parking lot and, slowly i start to realize...An old classic probably was waiting for me, the headlights, tired, were staring at me like a pair of old eyes, struggled from the past. I get on my knees, with my long-sleeve shirt i polished a bit the old papillon, the mark of Excellence, the Chevy Bowtie. Yeah, because no other brand from the GM company is full of glory like the good, old, BLUE bowtie.
Blue 'cause is a 69, baby.
My mind was full of joy, full of words, no one exit my mouth.
I started walk around the big sleeping beauty, black dirty paint. a look inside, not bad, the red and white interiors were a lil bit dusty, due to the rear glass open..a hole in the back of the front bench, i can fix it, i think.
Then a huge yellow sign on the back glass "FOR SALE" . Here we go.
Exactly after 4 month the car runs away the old lot, steering wheel under my hands, a chop-sounded V8 under my butt.
The TH350 runs grat, it's been sitted for a while, i was thinking.
The engine revs...it's a 350, the Greatest engine of all time. (it's also a 5700cc, with the gas at 3 dollars/liter, great deal) no one can describe how i feel, nobody.
When at home, a rapid look at the vin plate and at the cowl tag open me 2 ways.
the first, a custom showcar,nothing original, all hi perf..a "sleeper"
the second one, which i adopted, a nuts and bolts resto, factory original car.
So, now, after 2 years (circa) the buying process, i'm here to share, and, why not, ask some additional infos.
I'm 20, i'm a young man...probably the most young here. but i'm full of willpower, that's is really important for a winning finish. Now the car is completely disassembled, chassis has been blasted (also the body)and sprayed with a nitro black paint, parts arriving from the us next week, directly from NC, Impalaparts.com
WIP
Real men drive on a bench seat, with a '3 on the tree, right?, i'm just a guy. but it's the same huh? The car will exit my garage only with the factory specs, engire-related, body-related, color-related and interior-related.
Passion, That's ALL.

Thanks for the patience. and sorry for my english. CYA!

I like your story! But, we need pictures!! Good Luck, Al W.

I am sure the Impala will turn heads where ever you drive it. Most of us on this site have your passion even though most did not get it until much older.

Your English is so much better than my Italian. Ciao.

Great story! Sounds oddly familiar...I also had a thing for a certain 69 Impala,my first car.For a while I didn't think much about anything else.....ah memories! Good luck with the restoration.

Dave

Can I post photos? i understand that you have to be a member, i'll try on that later, anyway, thank you for the posts...is always a pleasure to share...
HER is my first car, and obviously is a bit unconfortable to drive here in Italy where the largest road is a quarter of an american average road.

Wow! That car puts my Caprice to shame.

Oh, please, all the Chevy, more or less, are outstanding, this is the BEFORE, now is Work in Progress, but, trust me, with the Champagne original paint and the Dark Green interiors, will be a queen.
And don't forget about the parchment vinyl top. !

Rain scoop. LOL

Yeah, that's me, and, if you don't notice that, i'm a 1969 impala superfan.
Red one 1969 Impala Conv 327.

complete restoration, of a good car. that's italian.

Keep us informed on the restoration, Stigmae.

pieces coming from the usa...new images soon!

Goodmorning guys, i'm back with some news.
Now the car is out on preparation for painting... I've installed a new driver's side floor pan and closed some holes in the floor.
The sides now are ready for paint and all the holes in the metal have been treqted with brass (in the critical points)


All the Chassis parts were changed new or nos (as the steering bar) or has been rebuilt

Now the bodywork








Rate and comment guys!
Hope you like.

What can I say but a Craftsmen at work. Great job.

Great work! What a beautiful car!

Thank you Andys29, now the car is going on prep for the paint, no filler will be use on the body. Just plastic coating (specific for old cars) and iron-based coating, to sand and resand at least 3 times with fine sandpaper.
Stay tuned for ups!

Thanks brewster, she is my baby.
Now i'm waiting for some parts i need, then the body is complete and ready for a new life.