1973 Chevrolet Impala: Family Yacht

Assume fast: What’s the most prevalent loved ones auto today? If you guessed some assortment of domestic entire-sized pickup or imported crossover, you’d be suitable. Among the the additional well-liked loved ones cars and trucks these days are the Forester, Silverado, and Explorer. As it has for quite a few a long time, the top rated pet dog, income-intelligent, is the Ford F-150.

But as soon as on a time in the 1970s, the gross sales kings had been substantial and domestic and incredibly untrucklike. The particular luxury auto was king, but there was nevertheless high curiosity in whole-sized coupes, sedans, and station wagons from the Minimal-Priced A few: Ford, Plymouth, and Chevrolet.

In the 1973 product 12 months, Chevrolet Motor Division offered 2,365,381 models. Of all those myriad Vegas, Malibus, Novas, C10 pickups, and Corvettes, 941,104 have been whole-sized Chevrolets. That’s a ton of land yachts.

Sure, the midsize Colonnade Chevys—especially the personalized-lux Monte Carlo, all new for ’73—were selling very well, as were being the other Chevy traces, but the significant automobiles nevertheless held their very own. And numerous driveways held some range of Caprice, Impala, or Bel Air. Caprice, of program, was prime pet dog, and the Bel Air was usually taxi/law enforcement fodder, but the Impala, as it experienced been for many years, was just correct for a lot of.

The Impala experienced been a favored for a long time. Excellent for the nuclear households of the ’50s and beyond, Impalas were modestly priced and had a lot of home for 6, furthermore a gigantic trunk. Fantastic for individuals Clark Griswold-esque family vacations from a time when traveling was considered a luxurious. No, really. Situations have surely altered.

The ’73 Impala was much more or considerably less the same car or truck as it was when the all-new significant Chevrolets appeared for 1971. The expected trim, grille, and upholstery shuffles have been in evidence, of course Detroit was continue to in the yearly facelift era. Impalas arrived in 6 products: Custom Coupe (with a formal roofline), Activity Coupe (with a ‘faster’ roofline), Sport Sedan, pillared sedan, and six- and nine-passenger station wagons.

The most distinguished improve was the new federally-mandated 5-mph entrance bumper, offering major Chevys (and most other domestic ’73s) a enormous look up entrance.

And you experienced possibilities again then. Coloration, for instance. Folks have been a lot less timid and could select lots of diverse exterior and inside shades. Such as the attractive environmentally friendly with eco-friendly interior and the “slick top” (that means no vinyl roof, to those people of you not immersed in Broughamdom) on today’s featured auto. Or potentially silver with dazzling red interior and black vinyl roof? Or a convertible in brilliant crimson with white interior and black prime? Triple navy blue? Gold with brown prime and interior? No trouble.

Manufacturing facility color choices involved Tuxedo Black, Mild Green Metallic, Midnight Blue Metallic, Taupe Metallic, Antique White, Chamois, and Dark Pink Metallic. Offered engines included a 250 six, 350 V-8, 400 V-8, or the brawny and optional 454 V-8. Impalas like this a person came standard with the two-barrel 350 and Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmission.

Also standard were energy brakes (front disc/rear drum) and variable ratio electric power steering. A 3-pace handbook was also out there, but only with the six, which alone was only readily available on Bel Airs. Caprices and Impalas bought triple taillight clusters Bel Airs only experienced two for every aspect.

These have been large cars. An Impala 4 door experienced a 121.5-inch wheelbase, a width of 79.5 inches, and an overall length of 221.9 inches. For comparison’s sake, a 2022 Cadillac Escalade is 211.9 inches long, with the stretched Escalade ESV getting 227 inches. In retaining with their dimensions, Impalas experienced a 26-gallon gas tank. The four-doorway pillared sedan (the Activity Sedan was Chevrolet’s expression for four-door hardtop) weighed in at 4138 pounds. Base rate was $3752 ($24,431 nowadays).

This magnificent illustration was spotted back in June 2017 at one of the Quad Towns Cruisers’ monthly cruise evenings at South Park Mall in Moline, Illinois. I typically go to them all, and even though in some cases you see the similar cars and trucks more than and over, other periods you are going to spot some thing really awesome and attention-grabbing, then by no means see it once more. This was a person of individuals cases I haven’t noticed this vehicle considering the fact that. Fortunately, I took a ton of images.

It was offered new at Bob Eriksen Chevy Centre, which nevertheless exists as Eriksen Chevrolet-Buick and is an approximately 8-moment travel from exactly where this Impala was sitting. A genuine time capsule for sure—right down to its ’73 Illinois license plates.