1962 Impala SS Revival: Metal By Ken Stadele – Photos by Ken’s Klassics Old Cars Guide To Auto Restoration recently took a trip through the rural countryside of southwestern Wisconsin to visit Ken’s Klassics, a top-shelf restoration shop near the tiny town of Muscoda. Ken’s Klassics has been around for more than three decades and has made a reputation restoring high-end classics – Pierce-Arrow, Packard, Cord,  Auburn, Porsche, Cadillac, Ferrari – you name it, it’s probably been through Ken’s doors. The shop gained a reputation early for its work on several Pierce-Arrow projects, but owner Ken Stadele takes on all kinds of projects, from vintage muscle, to 1950s favorites, to trucks, resto-mods and hot rods. Most of the projects involve a total ground-up restoration, and that was the case with a 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS the shop took on this year. BAD Dust® Containment Systems Reusable, modular containment bags designed to shield airborn dust and friable materials created by treating surfaces with media-blasting equipment or other mechanically operated hand held tools.

Color Spray Can Leader 2120 West Nordale Drive The project vehicle was a solid but weather-beaten hardtop that was located in Arizona. It was immediately ticketed for a complete rebuilt that would eventually include a new Ferrari Red paint job, tan interior, new GM crate motor and modern automatic four-speed tranny. We had Stadele narrarate the major steps the shop has undertaken to get the Impala’s exterior ready for final bodywork and paint.custom interior doors pittsburgh Ken’s Klassics takes no shortcuts when it comes to making a car look its best…garage doors prices doncaster Gauge Repair & Restoration – Bob’s Speedometer has been repairing and restoring gauges since 1929 – For over 80 years. home depot door plaque

No other gauge shop in the world can make this claim. We service most brands and types of gauges – speedometers, tachometers, clocks, oil, fuel, amp, volt, pressure, and a host of others – for all American makes/models & years, and most foreign, no matter the vehicle – Automobiles, Boats, Buses, RV’s, Fire Trucks, Tractors, Motorcycles – Anything with a gauge! An old time parts store since 1946 with 4 buildings full of old inventory of antique and classic parts for the quality minded owner who wants to avoid off shore products. aluminium patio doors stickingEngine, chassis, ignition, and brake parts shipped world wide. lambo doors kit bmw e36Machine shop and babbiting also. liftmaster garage door opener remote where to buy

From Model T, A to Early V8 Ford Reproduction parts, supplies, books and manuals. Stocking over 3000 parts, from nuts and bolts to grilles, gas tanks, running boards and more. Monthly specials, Model A shocks, speedometers many street rod items. 1-855 – 785- 5988. If you liked this article on metal repair and restoration, you might be interested in our other restoration products:buy funny doormats online More Resources For Car Collectors: 1955 And 1957 Complete Door Assembly Left Hand 1955 210 Delray Seat Cover Sets -Beige and BlueCompare a beautifully restored muscle car with shiny paint to an unrestored, weathered-paint example. Both have their place, but only one can be replaced. The restored car can always be restored again, but the original, unrestored car is only original once. Like the research project that rightly depends on primary sources, the original, unrestored car is the best resource for a proper restoration.

Call it rolling history, a time capsule, or a miracle, leaving a car alone might be the best course of action. An untouched muscle car provides the ultimate history lesson for OE assembly-line methods and procedures.The Pennsylvania-based original owner of this unrestored 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS wanted a muscle car, but needed both a family car and a tow vehicle for his small fishing boat. For that reason, the sporty Corvette and midsize Chevelle were deemed not practical. However, the newly designed 1965 Impala SS seemed to address most of the needs of the Vietnam veteran and his young family. Smart work on the order sheet and 24 years of meticulous care resulted in the preservation of a remarkable automobile.In the summer of 1989, Tom Dietz of St. Charles, Illinois, was at the car show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He spotted this Regal Red Impala SS on the road to the car corral. Noting that the car rolled backward on an incline start, Tom realized the car was stick and jogged over to speak to the owner.

Thanks to the original owner’s job perk of a company truck, the big four-speed Chevrolet showed only 8,900 original miles. The 327ci, 250hp, four-barrel engine transferring power through the Muncie M20 four-speed to the 12-bolt open rear with 3.55 gears was certainly adequate for miles with smiles. Dietz worked out a number with the owner and drove his newly acquired Impala SS home.In addition to the aforementioned drivetrain, this Impala SS is nicely equipped. The bucket seat SS interior with center console is dressed up with optional two-spoke wood wheel, tachometer-and-gauges package, tilt wheel, AM/FM radio with rear speaker, shaded Soft Ray glass, and factory floor mats. Additional options include painted pinstripes, power steering, power brakes, heavy-duty suspension, and factory air shocks. This car was properly equipped to handle occasional fishing trips.The condition of the Impala SS combined with its fastback styling make for one of the best-looking big cars ever produced by Chevrolet.

Chevrolet’s fullsize line set record sales for 1965. The styling looks as fresh and exciting as it did back in 1965. This particular Impala SS is certainly one of the best-preserved examples on the planet. As far as Tom knows, only the water pump and tires have been replaced. Every other component is original and properly preserved. Though there are a few imperfections on the car from its limited road trips, the Regal Red Chevrolet is regal in splendor.Built during the fourth week of February 1965, Dietz’s Impala SS might have been perfect had the original owner opted for either the 409/340 or the 409/400hp engine. Had he waited a couple extra months, he could have checked the box for the newly introduced big-block 396/325 or even the 396/425 monster motor. Regardless, this car is astounding just the way it sits, with a very desirable list of options and the pedigree of two owners who have properly left the car untouched for 51 years.At a Glance1965 Impala SSOwned by: Tom Dietz, St. Charles, ILRestored by: Unrestored originalEngine: 327ci/250hp V-8Transmission: Muncie M20 wide-ratio 4-speed manualRearend: 12-bolt with 3.55 gearsInterior: Black vinyl bucket seatWheels: 14×6 factory steel with SS hubcapsTires: P215/75R14 Sentry MachoSpecial parts: 11,335 original milesThe 1965 Impala SS came standard with the sporty SS hubcaps.

New styling for the 1965 model year retained the 119-inch wheelbase but saw the overall length of the car grow to 213 inches. The larger girth was supported by a newly designed perimeter frame, replacing the previous X-frame design.Tom Dietz’s original unrestored Impala SS is equipped with the optional 327ci/250hp engine. The single-snorkel air cleaner sits atop the unrestored, not rebuilt, engine. As far as Tom has been able to tell, only the water pump has been replaced. Everything else is factory original. Even the original 51-year-old exhaust system is still in place.That white paint on this data plate is factory original and was applied after the firewall had been painted black. The white paint apparently made the plate easier to read as the car made its trip down the assembly line. The code “O2D” reveals that the car was built the fourth week of February, 1965.The Impala’s interior is spectacular, especially since it was augmented by the OE wood wheel and tach-and-gauges package.