The 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 featured in this article is a modified powerhouse of a muscle car. It's a beauty and a legendary car. Here is a car that was made even more famous by the Beach Boy's song and represented Chevrolet's introduction of a full muscle car during the early 1960's.
1961 Chevy Impala
Chevy Impalas were popular among a wide range of buyers aside from those looking for performance. The 1960 Chevrolet was the best selling car in the U.S. and was so for ten years. This was Chevy's top of the line model.
During the entire 1961 model year production run, Chevrolet built just under 500,000 Impala models. Out of that number only 450 were built as SS models. Out of the 450 SS models only about 100 were built with 409's. Needless to say, the 1961 Impala SS 409 is a rare automobile.
The 1961 Impala has it's triple taillights and crossed racing flags.The new design which came on the scene with the 1960 Impala was so very much different from those latter 1950's automobiles with their big tail fins and excess chrome. This new Chevy Impala design had uncluttered lines.
To be sure, muscle cars come in many forms and usually with plenty of modifications. The 61 Impala SS 409 featured here is truly a muscle car and has many such modifications. These include...Dual Edelbrock AVS four barrel carburetors...Corvette Rally Wheels...Spin Tech mufflers...Crane Roller Rockers, performance shocks and sway bar and more.
The 1961 Impala SS Specifications
There were two engines available if you were a Chevy Impala SS buyer in 1961. A 348 cubic inch four barrel V-8 which could deliver 305 HP and a tri-carburetor set up putting out a rated 350 HP. These comprised one engine offering. The other choice you would have had was a 409. Both of these engines had a very respectable record on the racing circuit. As the 409 later evolved it would eventually deliver a big 425 HP.
The Chevy 409 was essentially a 348 cubic inch engine with a bigger displacement. The engine had 409 ft-lbs of torque. The 409 had a wider cam shaft and forged aluminum pistons. Thicker cylinder sidewalls. This and a four barrel carburetor had this engine delivering 360 HP and reportedly could do the quarter mile in about 15 seconds. Zero to 60 was rated at 7.8 seconds although some have the car rated at about 6.8 seconds. All of this Impala SS powerful performance was in what really was considered a full size family car. One thing is apparent. From the beginning of the 1950's to the end of the decade, engine sizes just about doubled.
Gearbox for the SS 409 was a floor mounted four speed manual.
The 61 Impala SS 409 had a wheelbase of 119.0 inches, an overall length of 209.3 inches, width of 78.4 inches, a height of 55.5 inches and a weight of about 3,600 lbs.
Suspension for the car is heavy duty but still rides quite smooth with easy steering.
The Chevrolet Impala SS 409 came out of the factory with "Positraction" limited-slip differential, a DeLuxe air conditioner, an AM radio, tinted glass, two-speed wipers with washers, and a deluxe steering wheel.
New car price for the Impala SS 409 was about $3,900. As a side note, Chevrolet also built a station wagon named the Nomad which was available in both a six cylinder and eight cylinder version.
See our additional featured muscle cars on the links below...
A Red Hot 1953 Studebaker Street Rod
The 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
The 1967 Chevy Nova II SS
One good book regarding the Chevy 409 is titled... How to Rebuild and Modify Chevy 348 / 409 Engines.
The Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Collector Car
If you happen to own an original 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 you have a rare and very popular collector car, especially among performance enthusiasts. There were only about 100 of these originals produced so the numbers are on your side.
As of this writing, you'll likely see prices in the $50,000 to $70,000 plus range for any original Impala 409 available for sale. The convertible model when available will be priced on the high end because out of these very few 409's built, even less were convertibles.
(Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online)
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| 1961Chevy Impala 409 |
Chevy Impalas were popular among a wide range of buyers aside from those looking for performance. The 1960 Chevrolet was the best selling car in the U.S. and was so for ten years. This was Chevy's top of the line model.
During the entire 1961 model year production run, Chevrolet built just under 500,000 Impala models. Out of that number only 450 were built as SS models. Out of the 450 SS models only about 100 were built with 409's. Needless to say, the 1961 Impala SS 409 is a rare automobile.
The 1961 Impala has it's triple taillights and crossed racing flags.The new design which came on the scene with the 1960 Impala was so very much different from those latter 1950's automobiles with their big tail fins and excess chrome. This new Chevy Impala design had uncluttered lines.
To be sure, muscle cars come in many forms and usually with plenty of modifications. The 61 Impala SS 409 featured here is truly a muscle car and has many such modifications. These include...Dual Edelbrock AVS four barrel carburetors...Corvette Rally Wheels...Spin Tech mufflers...Crane Roller Rockers, performance shocks and sway bar and more.
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| 409 engine |
There were two engines available if you were a Chevy Impala SS buyer in 1961. A 348 cubic inch four barrel V-8 which could deliver 305 HP and a tri-carburetor set up putting out a rated 350 HP. These comprised one engine offering. The other choice you would have had was a 409. Both of these engines had a very respectable record on the racing circuit. As the 409 later evolved it would eventually deliver a big 425 HP.
The Chevy 409 was essentially a 348 cubic inch engine with a bigger displacement. The engine had 409 ft-lbs of torque. The 409 had a wider cam shaft and forged aluminum pistons. Thicker cylinder sidewalls. This and a four barrel carburetor had this engine delivering 360 HP and reportedly could do the quarter mile in about 15 seconds. Zero to 60 was rated at 7.8 seconds although some have the car rated at about 6.8 seconds. All of this Impala SS powerful performance was in what really was considered a full size family car. One thing is apparent. From the beginning of the 1950's to the end of the decade, engine sizes just about doubled.
The 61 Impala SS 409 had a wheelbase of 119.0 inches, an overall length of 209.3 inches, width of 78.4 inches, a height of 55.5 inches and a weight of about 3,600 lbs.
Suspension for the car is heavy duty but still rides quite smooth with easy steering.
The Chevrolet Impala SS 409 came out of the factory with "Positraction" limited-slip differential, a DeLuxe air conditioner, an AM radio, tinted glass, two-speed wipers with washers, and a deluxe steering wheel.
New car price for the Impala SS 409 was about $3,900. As a side note, Chevrolet also built a station wagon named the Nomad which was available in both a six cylinder and eight cylinder version.
See our additional featured muscle cars on the links below...
A Red Hot 1953 Studebaker Street Rod
The 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
The 1967 Chevy Nova II SS
One good book regarding the Chevy 409 is titled... How to Rebuild and Modify Chevy 348 / 409 Engines.
The Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Collector CarIf you happen to own an original 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 you have a rare and very popular collector car, especially among performance enthusiasts. There were only about 100 of these originals produced so the numbers are on your side.
As of this writing, you'll likely see prices in the $50,000 to $70,000 plus range for any original Impala 409 available for sale. The convertible model when available will be priced on the high end because out of these very few 409's built, even less were convertibles.
(Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online)
