'65 Impala Stocker

[Straightliner59]

I had one of the Hasegawa '65 Impalas lying around, years ago. I wasn't sure what to do with it. I decided to build a stock car, with it. Because there have recently been a few on the WIP board, I decided to get it out of the display case and spruce it up. While it was out, I decided to take some new photos of it. It's a simple "slammer"--no interior, engine or chassis detail. Decklid graphics are hand painted. Suspension was lowered. The wheels are from the parts box. I wish I'd used MPC tires. Since they're a bit larger, I think they might look better. As you can see, the paint is flaking from the inside of the windshield and backlight. Anyway...Questions, comments and critiques are always welcome, at my place! Thanks for looking!

[afx]

Looks pretty good Daniel. Bigger/wheel/tires would be an improvement.  Another suggestion would be to bringing the rear wheels out closer to the fender, increasing the rear track width. 

[Tom Geiger]

You made something from a poor kit, to be commended!  It looks good!

[Straightliner59]

2 hours ago, afx said:

Looks pretty good Daniel. Bigger/wheel/tires would be an improvement.  Another suggestion would be to bringing the rear wheels out closer to the fender, increasing the rear track width. 

You're so right, JC. It would look much better, in either or, ideally, both instances. Maybe I'll get it out, and see how difficult it would be to accomplish those things. Thank you, sir!

2 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

You made something from a poor kit, to be commended!  It looks good!

Thanks, Tom. Yeah,  not too bad, considering! ?

[PappyD340]

Looks great!

[TransAmMike]

Looks pretty darn good Daniel.  I like the colors.

[catpack68]

Nice work! Kinda looks like Smokeys’ 65 Impala.

[Straightliner59]

4 hours ago, PappyD340 said:

Looks great!

Thank you, Larry.

1 hour ago, TransAmMike said:

Looks pretty darn good Daniel.  I like the colors.

Thanks, Mike. Like Scott said:

16 minutes ago, catpack68 said:

Nice work! Kinda looks like Smokeys’ 65 Impala.

Smokey's car just might have been an inspiration!? Thank you, Scott.

[bbowser]

Love this era, nicely done.

[Snake45]

That's pretty cool! Model on! 

[MarkJ]

Looks good. Is the Hasegawa kit 1/24 scale? 

[slusher]

Great looking stocker!

[ABNSPR]

Looks real good and the Smokey/Ricky tribute paint job is spot on.

[Straightliner59]

On 1/12/2021 at 7:03 PM, bbowser said:

Love this era, nicely done.

I do, too! Thanks, Bruce!

On 1/13/2021 at 7:22 AM, Snake45 said:

That's pretty cool! Model on! 

Thank you, Sir!

On 1/13/2021 at 7:53 AM, MarkJ said:

Looks good. Is the Hasegawa kit 1/24 scale? 

Thanks, Mark. That's  what the box says!

On 1/13/2021 at 9:12 PM, slusher said:

Great looking stocker!

Thank you, Carl.

10 hours ago, ABNSPR said:

Looks real good and the Smokey/Ricky tribute paint job is spot on.

Thanks, JD. I always liked Smokey's paint scheme.

[Straightliner59]

I pulled this thing out, again, and changed its tires. I switched to a set of '80s-'90s AMT NASCAR tires. These required new inner wheel sleeves. 1/2" PVC to the rescue! Since this is a slammer,  I simply turned the outside diameter, until the tube fit snugly in the tires, and cut it to length. I didn't even bother painting them, because they're difficult to see. 

That said, with the lathe, it would be simple to turn out even a set for a fully-detailed build, using the PVC.

I sanded one side of each tire, to remove the markings. Lettering was replaced with some of Fireball's decals. I can't say, enough, how excellent his tire markings are!

As JC originally suggested, the bigger tires are a help, in filling the wheelwells, but nothing short of major surgery could fix the rear wheel openings! I wanted the rear to sit a tad lower, but, ended up with more than one tad. Oh, well! Back in the case. Thanks for looking!

[MarkJ]

Daniel, those wheels and tires are a great improvement over the originals. Black and gold is always a great two-tone combination because of the nod to Smokey Yunick.. He had a number 22 65 Chevy   that he campaigned in late 1965 early 66 before he switched to the Chevelle.  You've done a great job on this build and should be proud of it.

[Volzfan59]

Good looking Impala, before and after.

[ChrisR]

Nice!

[Dragline]

You went with Smokey. Good call and great slammer. Very convincing.

[Straightliner59]

On 6/15/2025 at 6:45 AM, MarkJ said:

Daniel, those wheels and tires are a great improvement over the originals. Black and gold is always a great two-tone combination because of the nod to Smokey Yunick.. He had a number 22 65 Chevy   that he campaigned in late 1965 early 66 before he switched to the Chevelle.  You've done a great job on this build and should be proud of it.

Thank you,  Mark! I was pretty impressed with the difference the tires made. Heck, I didn't even have to repaint the wheels! I did apply a wash of Vallejo Oiled Earth, to them. 

Smokey's cars always looked cool. And he was a "bit" of a rebel, for sure, and I have always admired those folks--Garlits, Muldowney, Grump--those who pushed the rules. You may have noticed that I borrowed from his "Best damn garage in town", for Conrad's Engine Service, too. I appreciate your kind words!

On 6/15/2025 at 8:30 AM, Volzfan59 said:

Good looking Impala, before and after.

Thank you!

On 6/15/2025 at 8:45 AM, ChrisR said:

Nice!

Thanks, Chris!

25 minutes ago, Dragline said:

You went with Smokey. Good call and great slammer. Very convincing.

Can't go wrong with Smokey's colors! Thank you, sir!

[Jim N]

Your original looked real good.  The changes with the tires and the overall stance have knocked it out of the park.  Great work!

[Rattlecan Dan]

Definitely has that Smokey look. Nice stance to boot. Great job.