1964 Impala Non-SS

[1964 Impala]

Starting the rebuild of a 1964 Impala. I originally built the model when I was about 9, so it’s glue city. But with revell 64 Impalas being as expensive as they are it’s not too bad. I am hoping to replicate my real first car, a 1964 Impala Sport Coupe. The car has been in my family since new and I restored it with the help of my family over the last 4 years. I now drive the car to high school everyday and it has never let me down. It is a 6 cylinder, “3 on the tree”, with a radio delete. Great grandpa was not a big spender. I now have the model stripped and going into primer. Below are pictures of my real car before and after restoration and with a photo we tried to recreate of the car in 1971 and today.

Thanks,

TR

[Airwreck]

Sharp job on the restore and it's great to hear you get to drive it daily.  I have a 1964 Bel Air as my daily driver and really enjoy it.  

[NOBLNG]

Of the early 1960s Chevys, I think the ‘64 Impala has THE nicest lines of them all! The only problem I had with the Revell Lowrider kit I built is the tail lights weren’t right, so I made some from scratch.

Edited October 6, 2021 by NOBLNG

[Zippi]

Nice start and both 64's look great.

[carrucha]

Nice job on the restoration of the Impala.  I also own a 1964 Impala coupe with a 6 cylinder engine and three on the tree.  I bought it in 1993 and was my first car.  It is awaiting restoration.  Nice to see another six cylinder 1964 Impala out there.  In 1995 I built a scale replica of my Impala using the AMT kit.  I had to scratch build the side trim and interior.  It took a lot of work but it could be done.  I plan on building another scale replica of my Impala using the Revell kit. I will be using the standard Impala emblems from the Model Car Garage photoetch 1964 Chevrolet Impala detail set and the resin 230 engine from MCW Finishes.  Good luck on your project and I look forward to seeing the finished model.

Edited October 10, 2021 by carrucha

[1964 Impala]

Thanks for all the kind comments and support. Glad to see I’m not the only one who regularly drives a 64 Chevy. Carrucha, very happy to see I’m not the only one who enjoys this engine and transmission setup in their 64, I thought I might be the last one. More progress has been made on the model, paint stripped SS chrome sanded off, primed and base coat painted. Clear coat comes next and I’ll have to order a 250 straight 6 from mcw. Oddly enough without realizing it I painted the model of my car exactly one year to the day to when I painted my real 64. Any suggestion on what styrene to use for side trim?
 

Thanks,

TR

[carrucha]

Nice progress so far.  I pulled out the AMT 64 Impala that I built in 1995 and it appears that I used .010 inch sheet styrene for the side trim.  

[David G.]

There's so much more satisfaction to be had in building a replica of a favorite car. Looks like you have a great start on this one.

David G.

[Oldcarfan27]

Wow, looks like you had your work cut out for you on the real one! Glad you were able to save it.

The model will be a piece o' cake compared to that.

[1964 Impala]

Got the car clear coated and am pretty happy with the results. Not perfect but good enough for me. I’ll also have to get some styrene for the side trim as well. Got all the trim on the car painted as well. Now for interior work…

Thanks,

TR 

[1964 Impala]

Slacked off on the work for a while but am back on the Impala now. Got the interior modified and completed. Also decided to use some left over old headliner material in my car on the headliner in the model. Completely disproportionate but I thought it was a neat touch. More updates to come.

Thanks,

TR

[mustang1989]

This is looking pretty spiffy TR. Like the work that you're putting into this.

[Olskoolrodder]

Really cool project, you're off to a great start

[David G.]

Neat idea for the headliner.

David G.

[1964 Impala]

A few updates, ClassicGas was kind enough to send me a 6 cylinder for the build. It is now painted, assembled, and installed in the car. I also have mounted the body to the frame, and it turned out pretty good. It’s looking pretty close to when we first got the paint finished on my car, before the side trim was installed. More updates to come.

Thanks,

TR

[David G.]

Looking pretty good.

David G.

[steveracer]

TR is that your grandpa in the photo with the fish?   

This is so cool to see you restoring this model to replicate your daily driver subject, a straight six Impala!  

Keep up the good work, I am subscribed to this build.

[1964 Impala]

Steveracer, that is actually my great grandpa, he bought the car new in 64. He passed away in 1971 soon after that picture was taken. My grandpa inherited the car thereafter and proceeded to drive it back and forth to work everyday until 1991. The only reason he parked it was that the rear frame was so rusted out that the whole rear end would move while driving. It sat in his field until about 2015 when I pulled it out. With the help of my family I restored it over the next 4-5 years. My grandpa who is now 82 years old even repainted the car for me, the 4th time he has painted this very same car. I'll leave the link to my youtube video of him painting the car, which got over 300,000 views, go figure! 

Thanks for the interest and support!

TR

 

 

[1964 Impala]

Probably about time I wrap this thread up. I did not like the look of styrene on the side of the impala. I instead used a paint pen to create the side molding effect. It turned out good enough for me. Then, as with all of my models it becomes a slot car. It still utilizes a full engine bay, interior, and in this case a trunk floor. I have included a video of it running on the track as well.

Thanks,

TR

 

[Joe Handley]

Wow, I’m impress that you were able to save the real car, that looks worse that a lot of the vehicles we’ve had to scrap due to rust…..combined!

[David G.]

It must be nice to have it finished up.

Well done.

David G.

[carrucha]

Cool that you finished it!

[Oldriginal86]

The model looks just like the 1:1. Now that magical transformation of the real car is amazing.