1967 Chevrolet Impala 'Pillarless' Sedan (RHD)

Launched in 1958, the Impala was Chevrolet’s full-size offering and led the industry in both styling and performance, becoming America’s best selling large car by the late 1960s.  Sitting above the more basic Biscayne and Bel Air model lines, the Impala shared the same basic styling but offered the buyer more standard equipment.  The fourth generation Impala was revamped for the 1967 model year, the pronounced ‘Coke bottle’ shape still regarded as one of the best looking large American cars of the era.  Chevrolet offered an extensive range of body styles, including the sedan, hardtop, fastback, custom coupe (with formal top roofline borrowed from the Caprice), convertible and station wagon.  There were a myriad of engine and transmission combinations available, ranging from a 250-cid six-cylinder to the classic small-block 327-cid V8, although budding drag racers could still order the Super Sport package with the tyre-shredding 385 hp 427-cid V8.  A total of 575,600 Impalas left the American production lines in 1967.  The Impala was sold in Australia through Holden dealerships alongside the cheaper Bel Air and proved popular in country areas with farmers wanting a big, powerful car for long distance cruising, with the added cache of being fully imported. Right-hand drive cars were sourced from Chevrolet’s Canadian arm and assembled in Australia from knocked-down kits to reduce the taxes and local Impalas had a number of different details, particularly the dash, a modified 1965 item.  All Australian Impalas sold in 1967 came with the same powertrain – the 327-cid V8 mated to a two-speed Powerglide auto, rated at 240 horsepower, along with power steering and were only available as pillarless hardtop sedans.