1968 L72 M21 Impala Custom Coupe

[budnate]

Custom Coupe big block big cars are flat out cool rides, Nice score Steve

[CC Rider]

That will be one cool ride when you're done with it.

[Tarrytown SS427s]

Thanks for the encouraging words! The important parts of the car are solid (frame, cowl, pillars, rockers, roof skeleton, and rear wheelhouses. Everything else can be replaced around that, and It looks like it will need to be lol.

68 is my favorite year, and I love that it is a red smooth roof car rather than vinyl top. It's also interesting to me how a car sold in Texas was built in Michigan. Perhaps the closer Arlington TX plant couldn't do the order for some reason. There were two Steakley Chevrolet dealers, the one in Temple and a large one in Dallas. I assume they are somehow related. Since there is no original engine/trans I plan to move slightly away from completely original with the addition of factory head restraints and a parchment interior. I also plan to drive the car daily once I finish it.. as long as the roads are dry, but I haven't figured out the best engine configuration to allow that yet.

Randy, thanks for sharing those pictures. Last I saw the car was in original condition. Arnold has a great collection of big block big cars, and the best part, they're all 4 speeds!

Steve

[scuncio]

What a neat car! Glad to hear you're saving it.

[300deluxeL79]

wow an L72 custom coupe!
i thought cars rotted badly up here but i've never seen a roof that bad.
good luck with it steve, please post your progress.

[Postsedan]

Steve,

Thought you`d enjoy a few more pics of another nice 68.... not a 427, but a very nice Custom Coupe.











Dan.

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I love that it is a red smooth roof car rather than vinyl top.

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't that chrome trim between the roof and body for a vinyl top? I would think a rotting vinyl top is why the roof panel is so cancerous?

[Tarrytown SS427s]

I've been pretty busy since I went back to school, but I did get the car completely stripped and off the frame before I left. Forgot to post some pics up. The bare body shell is like a rock!





Bill you are correct, the car had a vinyl top, however it was not factory, but added on at some point between 1968 and 1972-3. The aluminum strips were some cheap setup that were pop riveted on.. I'm sure this is why the roof got as bad as it did. Here is the cowl tag:

[quik9r]

Is that a white 65 biscayne in the back ground? what is the story on that one

kevin

[Tarrytown SS427s]

[ QUOTE ]
Is that a white 65 biscayne in the back ground? what is the story on that one

kevin

[/ QUOTE ]

That's my father's 65 L31 (409/400) M21 4:10 Biscayne, which we've been working on for years. It's slowly starting to look like a car though! Got about half the interior in a few months ago.