1970 Chevy Impala Review - The Harsh Reality Of The 1970's!
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- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
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DISCLAIMER!
The thoughts, feelings, and opinions expressed in this video are the sole thoughts of Zack and no one else. The thoughts expressed in this video do not reflect the owner, dealership, or organization that owns the vehicle featured. The purpose of this video is to provide entertainment with the hope that you will take what you see and formulate your own opinions. DO NOT make a financial decision based off of this video.
#Chevy #Impala
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
0:55 - Drivetrain
2:55 - Interior
4:46 - BFB Test
4:54 - Seats
5:26 - Back Seats
6:47 - Trunk / Cargo Space
7:25 - Exterior
8:02 - Final Thoughts
10:29 - Outro
11:00 - Bonus Footage From 1982! 
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Didn’t you notice those front seat shoulder belts hanging from the ceiling? 😂
Believe it or not, that’s where they stored the seatbelts when not in use.
fake belts
Yea I noticed Tham, and thay were the same both year's.
I love how he never even noticed the shoulder belts for the rear passengers that were hung from the ceiling lol.
Those shoulder belts are for the driver and front passenger. Although rear passenger shoulder belts were a dealer installed option. They mounted to the C pillar.
That’s not nitpicking. They were an important mandatory feature beginning in 1968. I used to love to knock them loose and watch how in a flash the adults would whisk them back into the clips overhead. I would then ask, why do don’t you use them? “Oh, we won’t be needing those, I’m a safe driver.”
Pretty amazing video for 1982! Dad has a good sense of humor and had some good tech skills as well for back in the day. Love it!
This is more of a 60s car than a 70s car. This generation of Impala was introduced in 1965, a new and even larger generation came out in 1971. Interestingly, the 1971 frame would end up lasting with minor modifications through 1996. I like this car. It's big but simple and purposeful. I like the straight-forwardness of the interior. Everyone wants coupes and convertibles so those were saved often. Sedans and wagons were family transportation built to be used and disposed and these cars weren't built to last so it's nice to see a 4-door survivor.
I love how GM has a hole for the clock adjuster and the decals but no clock. The old-school equivalent of a blank switch, if the blank switch was labeled. It's to remind you that you could have a clock here but you didn't pay for one.
Your dad was quite a filmmaker back in the day as well. Back in the day these were cheap rusty beaters with a V8 or a big I6. The hubcap flying off as he takes off is classic.
My personal favorite is the '71-72 full sized Chevy. Ford too!
I thought the frame introduced in 1965 lasted until 1976. The 77 B-body was a significantly downsized vehicle from the 76.
@@lincmerc1581 especially the clamshell wagons!
I read somewhere - the '70s were a new chassis with an evolution of the old body.
My early childhood years were in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In those days I had an elderly aunt and uncle who lived down the road and drove a 1970 Impala. Seeing this car makes me think of them. As kids we were so glad to see their car coming down the road. We loved them dearly.
7:34 it was actually cheaper to have a vinyl top from the factory over painting them. its one of those weird things like the 3 on the tree was cheaper from the factory but a floor shifter was extra even though it was less parts to just stick a rod through the floor and into the tranny. they did a lot of weird shit like that cuz most ppl wanted a floor shifter and they figured they could make extra money with the "sport shifter option" plus bucket seats were cheaper to make than a bench seat but they charged extra for that too!
I never saw a full sized Chevrolet after 1966 without factory air (in Alabama). If someone was cheap they could buy a Nova. I could tell from the heater controls it has no air. The heater only car used Bowden cables instead of vacuum actuated controls.
Great vid, and I love the old footage of "Da Cah!" Man, you really are the spitting image of your pops. If you hadn't said anything, I would have just assumed that was you with a lot of video filters turned on. 😄
The clock may have been an extra option on higher trim levels. It’s still there probably because it was less of a hassle and cheaper to just put the clock’s minutes there as opposed to adding a filler piece in that space.
But the markings on the clock face show 16 hours instead of 12?
I had a 69 Caprice Custom Coupe and one thing you were wrong is that they don't just have a lap belt, there is a shoulder belt was well if you looked up it's right there in it's storage brackets. BTW your dad's car, is a 1970, not a 69.
Back in the day, I actually wore those separate shoulder belts.
The harshness of the 1970s, wasn't until the big gasoline crisis, which started in 1973, IIRC, and there was another one in 1979, seemed they couldn't get enough of a break!
True story. The 70s didnt come into itself until 74, when the government imposed a 55 mph speed limit
It’s sad that we can never have cars as stylish or easily modifiable/repairable with a simple drivetrain that an average person could afford anymore.
its possible takes $$
@@Dankcatvacsmoney is one thing but the emissions and safety standards killed off the old body on frame, rear wheel drive, sleek American sedan with seating for 6 and smooth V8 to cruise. Closest to that now is a v8 crew cab truck with seating for 6, and even that may not have much of a future left.
@@vr4787just buy an old car. I'm 23 with a 1988 f250, a 1970 f100, and soon... A 1966 Chrysler.
@@bldontmatter5319 I had my share of the cars & trucks from that era. Truck’s paid off so just working on saving up for a house next.
I grew up in one of those. As far as crank windows, people today have problems believing that there was once a time when no car had power windows. People also can't believe that when we went swimming at the YMCA, we weren't allowed to wear swimsuits. They told us the fibers would clog the filters. We were also told that our parents smoking in the front seat with all the windows closed wouldn't hurt us kids in the back seat.
Oh, and thanks for the bonus footage!! Your dad was way cooler than you. No offense!
I remember the first time my family got a car with power windows - a 1983 Olds Cutlass Ciera Brougham. I thought it was great. They were considered a luxury feature at the time.
My first car was a 1969 Chevy Impala, in 1975 when I was 16. 70 thousand miles and big rust holes. 327 cubic inch smallblock V8, 2 speed automatic transmission. About 8 to 12 miles per gallon from the high revs. I paid $200 because it was a 4 door grandpa car. The insurance was $500 a year. I got the cloth seats out of a junkyard Caprice to replace the torn vinyl. Very reliable for its time, no air conditioning and a junky suspension now. My next car was a 1972 Plymouth Barracuda with a 318 cubic inch smallblock V8 and a 3 speed manual transmission, more low budget than a 426 hemi.
was it a 3 on the tree? my friend had a 72 nova 350 with a 3 speed stick on the hump and that was pretty bad ass
This is essentially the same as the 65 model with cosmetic changes.
The chassis and body changed into 70's mode with the 71 GM models.
4:51...I like how you also give metric equivalents. Good video! BTW, four doors are SOOO underrated.
Oh man, Zack... talking about footage of fathers... My dad bought his current house when he was my age, and I recently saw a video he recorded on a VHS camcorder (one of the big ones you'd set on your shoulder) with picture and sound of him giving a tour of his new house to show to his family on the east coast. And it wasn't just that he sounded exactly like I do. It was that every single thing he said, what he filmed, how long he filmed it, what he commented... it seriously felt like I was watching a recording that I made before I was born. It was eerie.
P R N D L indicates a Powerglide and not a Turbo-Hydramatic that would have gears L2 and L1. Powerglides were available thru 1973, mostly in Nova and Vega models. I believe 1971 was the last year of a full-size Chevrolet available with a Powerglide. By the way, you could still get a full-size Chevrolet Biscayne, Bel-Air and certain Impala models with the 250 inline six through 1972. In 1973, you could still get a Bel-Air with the six, but only with a three speed manual transmission.
I love older cars, but a two-speed?! Dayum, GM!
Here and gone
Growing up, yes I'm old now, we had a1966 Impala SS 2 door with a little 283 CID with a two speed powerglide transmission. Whish I still had that car. Thanks for the video!
Your dad's car was a '70, not a '69. The '69's had a wrap around bumper that enclosed the entire front grill.
Last year for the 1965-70 platform.
Some points.
1. That is a blanking plate where the optional clock would be.
2. The knobs under the dash are AstroVentilation.
The lower knob opens the traditional cowl vent. The uoope knob opens the vent at the end of the dash.
3. The shoulder belts are over your head clipped to the roof roof rail. Separate buckle for lap and shoulder belts. The 3-point belt we know today was patented by Saab in 1959 and U.S. automakers didn't start using them till the mid-70s.
The music to the video made that really cool 🤣👍🏽
Great to see a car that was made when I was 5. Those things were heavy, they were sharp and they were often unforgiving. Still, I love them.
The Small Block Chevy (SBC) came in multiple displacements. The 350 cu in (5.7L) is the most common, but they made different sizes. All 350's are SBC's. not all SBC's are 350's.
Minor point of clarification - All *Chevy* 350s are SBCs. Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile also had 350s in 1970 that were unique to their divisions and had nothing in common with the Chevy 350 other than displacement.
I took drivers ed in a similar Chevy sedan It had absolutely no steering feedback and the power brakes worked well they were very touchy. The huge car wallowed through the corners and drifted down the road from side to side. And yet that was the type of car teenagers used for behind the wheel training I found it a bit terrifying.
Could you turn the wheel with the pinky on your left hand?
The first car I ever drove w as a 1970 Impala drivers ed car. I can't say much about the steering or handling as I had nothing to compare it to.
On our 3rd day of class our brave teacher let us take it out on a four lane highway. In just a few moments I was driving this beast at 70 mph. I was thrilled.
I think they went from pleasant to terrifying with worn shocks, worn tires, and touchy brakes, from neglect.
The 350 cu in (5.7 L), with a 3.48 in (88.39 mm) stroke, first appeared as a high-performance L-48 option for the 1967 Camaro.
The 350 V8 came with 3 speed Turbo Hydramatic transmission and the shoulder belts are in the ceiling.
Both were available, Powerglide was the cheaper option
@@doctorzaius4084 Mom and Dads 1970 Bel-air was a 350 V8 with the 2 speed Powerglide.
@@doctorzaius4084 Makes sense as this car is a base Impala, thanks!
The famous valve guide prob of the 350 Chev V8. But a mechanic told me it was the geometry of the engine that .Once I quit smoking in morn, 50- 60 sec later it wasnt so bad on gas .Yah I shldve listen to Dad ,Just get rid of it .by I settled for a monster Sz 77 LTD 2 that wasn't as bad on gas as it looked .351/ 400 Midland . Qt oil 350 miles , not great .good day .
I did not realize the 2 speed Powerglide was an option for the 350 V8 in 1970.
They had to powerglide transmission option till 1972
Shoulder belts for two front passengers are present, but separate. If you look up above the door, you'll find them folded there. A pain to use... but they're there.
As a teenager in the mid 70s I had my grandfather's 1970 Buick Electra to drive. It also had the separate lap and shoulder belts, and I wore them. Yes, they were aggravating to buckle two separate belts and the shoulder belt was rather confining as there was no retractor, but they were most effective one night when I was in a head on collision with a drunk driver. I walked away with bruises from the belts and cut and scrapes. The unbelted drunk driver was carried away with massive injuries.
I remembered my dad owning one of these and how big it was to me, especially at a very young age. I, also, remember him owning a 1977 Dodge Royal Monaco; talk about a big car, but he was always saying how much gas these large cars would consume and started to go to small cars as time went on. However, you couldn't beat how luxurious these huge boats were to ride in. Good memories!
My first car was a 69 Impala. I was 20 when I got it in 1992. Lots of great memories in that car. Complements of my Auntie Frankie, the muscle car queen in the family!
Hey Zack !!...........That '82 footage at the end is so dope !!! I see where your spirit came from now in your Dad. Awesome !!!!!! ;-)
Anyone else ever use a bumper jack as seen in the trunk?
I think they are a classic blend of ease, but terror if the car shifted for any reason.
Dad did on our 1970 Bel-Air to switch from snow tires to summer and vice versa. He never had an issue with the jack
The key is to chock the tire diagonal from the one you’re working on.
@@craigchally5942 Dad always did that.
Yes I used them. Important to be on a level surface.
Yes, but only on a trailer that fell off of it's jack block from time to time. It was the only high lift thing we had and was notably safer to use on something that wouldn't crush you if it fell off the jack.
I grew up with the wagon version of this...1970 Chevy Kingswood....butternut yellow with black vinyl interior and a Chevy 400 ci V8. The wagon was better equipped with a 3 speed THM, not the 2 speed powerglide. Also had air conditioning which was very powerful. We had the three row bench seats so we could seat 9 people. Lots of family vacations on that car and it stayed in the family for almost 10 years....
If I recall, the glove box door lid has molded cup holders....pretty shallow and would fail the bottle test.
Loved the review. When I was 17 (in 1982) I bought my 1970 4door hardtop for $75 - an amazing bargain at the time. Seeing the end video brought back some great memories. Mine had the speaker cutouts in the read deck - impactful for when I smoked the tires and the smoke came in through those holes. The gas gauge didn't work, so I always had to "guesstimate" when I had to fill up - which I failed multiple times. An amazing car for the era, great torque, performance, and an outstanding bargain at the time. The last of the big HP cars before Federal intervention pulled the plug on HP and ramped up emissions!
Mom and Dad had a 1970 Chevrolet Bel-Air which was the same car just a trim level down. They had it from the late '70's to October 1985. Theirs was brown inside and out.
Sorry, but your dad's car was actually a 1970 model. The raw footage from 1982 may make it a bit hard to tell, but there are details we still can make. Like the taillights, which look like vertical bars, present on the 1970 Chevy, but they were square in 1969. At the front, the bumper of the 69 was more of a "wrap-around" type, with thicker chrome sides and top of lights and grill then what we see in the 1982 images. Still liked your video, though! Cheers!
I'll let him know!
Here's the 1969 Impala!
ruclips.net/video/GGy1xtt3Wh0/видео.html
@@ShootingCarsthe thing in the gauge cluster you said kinda looks like a clock is a place for an analog electromechanical clock which was optional equipment.
I got a 71 Chevy Impala...
That's not a power glide transmission
That's a turbo hydramatic transmission.
A little history of the TH 350 and TH 400 those transmissions power Rolls Royce Cornish car's.
I was a bullet proof transmission
Loved the bonus of your dad’s film at the end.
I had a '70 impala custom coupe. 350-300hp. transmission was a 350 turbo. It was the first car I had owned with killer airconditioning. power disc brakes and steering. The 15 inch corvette rally wheels helped the looks somewhat but I bought it for commuting. The rally wheels came with the car.
I do love the 1970 impala's looks. I also love that they didn't make the wheel arches circular. That means it looks good if it's riding high, riding low, slammed, whatever. What drives me nuts about modern car styling is that the wheel arches are circular, so if you don't have the wheel smack dab in the middle of the arch, it looks wrong. So every lowered car looks broken.
We had one in the family, exact year I think. These had a great ride, but, of course handing was so so. This era of GM transmissions was stupendous- long lasting and butter smooth shifts.
Indeed, if you walked on it, shift would happen at about 60 mph they were no slouch
I was almost surprised to see the black interior, there were two distinct beige/brown interiors on offer for the '70 Impala - "Saddle Tan" and "Gold". That along with blue and green. I don't think the 2-tone paint was a factory option but it may have been (vinyl tops were notorious rust traps).
The '67-'70 big Chevy is the most underrated design in that 40 year run they had with great looking big cars. The true definition of a land yacht.
My Uncle (Dad's Brother) bought a 1970 Impala Black on Black $3000 brand new in Chicago.
My Grandmother had the exact same 1970 Chevy Imapla in Green Mist with a dark green interior. Upon her passing in 1981, the car was left to my Mother and I sold the car to a friend of mine for $400 in the early 1980's. My parents came to get me and we loaded it up for my trip home in 1984 as I graduated college, which was 275 miles away. The car at this time was still very dependable. My friend got a steal as the car had under 100,000 miles on it. My Dad wanted to get rid of it as he replaced it as our family daily driver. Very good memories of that car with the 350 engine in it.
NIce realy cool . Great you to take up a basic version like many had not just the fancy conv and coupes BIG + for that . LOve the old video from 82 :) Keep up the the good job . :)
I grew up with one of those as our family car, which eventually became my first car. Ours was a 454 with a four speed though, in a four door hardtop, with the same AM only radio, no ac, and no power steering, no power brakes, (drum brakes all around).
It got great gas mileage too, on smooth flat pavement being light on the gas, you could muster around 11 mpg, but gas then was only a buck or less.
The car in your dad's video is also a 1970, the 1969 model had short wide rectangular tail lights. (I've owned both years).
I sold the 1970 in the mid 80's, it was rusting badly and had close to 100, 000 miles on it by that time. The lack of ac also made me look elsewhere. I replaced it with a 21,000 mile 1969 Caprice that a neighbor sold me for $400 cash. That had a 327 V8 and a TH350 automatic.
It also had a factory record player and 8 track, with a 6 speaker stereo option. The 1969 was a two door hardtop in dark green.
They were okay cars, sort of hangover models from the 1965-66 body style. What came after them was worse, larger, heavier, slower.
Of all my big Chevy cars, my two favorites were my 1952 four door sedan, and my 1963 Bel Aire with an inline 6 cylinder. Those two ran the best and never rusted.
The 1969 and 70 models were terrible when it comes to rust, the gulley around the windows held moisture and the windows were known to all but fall out from rust.
Front edges of the hood and back edge of the trunk would rust though, lower quarter panels, lower fenders, and rocker panels all rusted through rather quickly on those, the hardtop models all had roof rust issues due to poor painting procedures.
The sedan models faired the best rust wise for some reason, likely because they had more conventional seams and construction.
After being born, my first car ride home from the hospital was in a 70 Caprice 2 door hardtop. No, I don’t remember the experience but, since the car was around until I was about 5 years old, I do have some memories of it. Back then, it didn’t seem all that large compared to some of our neighbor’s contemporary Cadillacs. The car was light gold with a vinyl top and gold cloth and vinyl interior, and I recall the wheel covers had matching gold in them as well. I recall it was sold and replaced by a Chevy Vega and I remember thinking that seemed silly to have traded a much nicer car for something so small and uncomfortable; little did I know at 5 just how bad that trade really was!
This car and every one like it ARE something special because without their production and sales, every glamour SS, Hemi, Boss, etc. would not have existed.
That car is quite plain for an Impala, the Bel-Airs and Biscaynes for 1970 must have been unbearably plain-jane.
So nice to see an everyday, and hence realistic, car reviewed.
The clip at the end of your Father and his Impala was awesome.
The Impala shown with your father was also a 1970, not a '69. The '69 model had a bumper which wrapped around the grill.
Fun nostalgiac video. Being a basic, pillared Chevy sedan with the clock option deleted, I imagine the 35O came with the two barrel carburetor. They were substantial with the 2-speed Powerglide once they got moving but the 4-barrel was more effective in those free-breathing, high compression years. 197O was the zenith for these cars as the in '71 the chassis became less rigid and the engines began to be strangled by primitive anti-pollution solutions. It appears from the taillights that Dad's Impala was also a '7O. The '69s had three small, squarish taillights that spread horizontally on each side across the bumper.
Pretty cool to run across that vintage video from 1982 of your dad, of which you do look alike. That car in the 1982 video is also a 1970 Impala. The 1969 model had different headlights and taillights. I used to have a 1969 Chevy wagon with the Powerglide transmission in the mid 80's while going to college.
Already love your videos! Great review as well! Nice for future-videos: you already get a go-pro for POV, it would be really nice to have talkless 1 or 2 minute clip with pure driving audio in the future. Even in older cars, a bit like of an ASMR so you will. Would be great i guess 😎👌
Would love to hear the car starting up. Such a big deal, and no one ever includes it in their video. Every car on the planet, mostly with carburetors, it was the sound we all waited for. We all held our breath for a few seconds until it started. It told so many things; the state of tune-up on the car, the skill of the driver (knowing how to engage the automatic choke, how much gas to give it, and then how much pumping while cranking was employed), and lastly, what make of car it was if it was one of your neighbors and you were wondering which one through your open window. And Zack dares to deny me that, LOL.
100% agree to that 🤠😎@@new2000car
Mercy! I thought with the 350, it would get the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, not the Powerglide!
I thought the same thing.
Your dad's car is also a 1970, not a 69. The 69 had a loop around bumper in front, similar to some Fuselage Chryslers. In back the 69 had 3 square taillights on each side, not the stripes of the 1970.
My grandmother had a 1970 slick top Impala with a silver exterior and blue cloth/vinyl combo interior. Loved that car! It was large, smooth, and very comfortable. As a kid, sitting in the enormous back bench seat was an unforgettable experience. I really loved its design - especially the back taillights which were only offered that model year. Unfortunately the Impala was totaled around 1990; it got t-boned while parked at a convenience store. I often think about it and wish we still had it today.
You could actually option these out like a Cadillac if you ordered it. You could get a multitude of engines all the way up to the 454. You could get power windows, power locks, split bench seat with power driver's seat, tilt wheel, air conditioning, even cruise control.
Awesome family video at the end. Drive a new car today thru a puddle and the electronics would go short out & insurance would total/ salvage title it . Back in 1970, you could knock down 4 tress on the way home and only have a bent bumper. Can't say that today for plastic cars held on by clips
I had a 68 impala. I used it as a grocery getter, it has a 327 and it was a great car. But I thought it was too big, too much wasted space. But very simple to maintain.
What you drove here is a grocery getter, school run vehicle from that time period, that is not the correct carberator and probably not the correct intake considering the stripped down nature of the vehicle.
Oooo Had a hubcap pop off the og roadmaster I had in early 00s. Had to search thru someone's front yard in the dark to find it.
Your dad's was also a '70 -- it had the three vertical tail lights on each side. The '69 had three horizontal tail lights per side.
My grandfather had a '70 Caprice. It was cream with a brown vinyl top and cloth interior. It sported the rally wheels. He ran raised white letter tires. I had a '77 Malibu Classic sedan. It was powder blue over white. Blue cloth inside. I ran the wheelcovers on this featured car on my Malibu with raised white letter tires. It had a two barrel 350.
The crank window thing is wild. What is there to understand hahaha? You turn the crank the windows go down. I grew up during the late 80s and 90s so I still remember these 70s chevies being around. Beaters mostly, but plenty around. I used to get this and the 71-72 Cutlass confused because the tail lights look similar to me.
Grandma had the exact same exterior color combo 1970 Impala except it had A/C and gold not black seats. The seat fabric back then was high quality stuff. Kinda a satin sheen about it and formal like something a suit jacket might be lined with
Our family had a luxurious 1970 Caprice coupe in the same Fathom Blue color as your dad's. BTW, the video from 1982 of your dad's car was also a 1970 Impala. Hate to bring it up, but the '69 front had huge edges surrounding the headlights and horizontal taillights, not vertical. (I googled to make sure) 😆
7:52 I'm impressed that they made 3 slits in the bumper corners to house the turn indicators I'm sure those are.
@ 3:32: They can get bent. That made me LOL so random and unexpected! :)
I remember my Dads 70 Impala. Green 2 door Green interior 350 and 3 speed col shifter no AC and AM radio
I'd like to hear the performance numbers for every engine thanks
Such a brave thing to do, to tackle a review of this gorgeous 1970 Chevy Impala, with a workhorse 350 Small Block and the equally delicious 2-Speed Powerglide automatic, and then have to be as fair to every kind of fan of this automobile and as much as humanly possible! You must have been the recipient of the "2023 Balls of Steel" award in modern, creative journalism, as "Impala," strictly from a journalist's perspective and as a subject for conversation, elicits opinions of every temperament and temperature that you can shake a stick at!
And thank you very crucially, for covering the BEST era of the GM B-Body, the early success of the 1965-1970 Singer Sewing machine era of at first, just with practical-influences before the 1967 model year, when ALL GM products were double-dipped with L.S., I mean, Beetle-infusuon styling! And they were sexy and desirable to both the men and the women! (You know, something Toyota now does) 🤪!
🐰
I owned a Two door 70 Impala I still regret getting rid of her.
1970 was the last year of this generation pf the Impala. In 1971 the next generation of the Impala and it's GM larger stable mates came out. The 1970 was a 60's design that first came out in the 1965 model year.
I had a 70 Impala sport sedan and loved it! It had a 350 with a turbo 350 3 speed automatic transmission. Mine had A/C. It was so cold, flakes came out the vents! Mine had the identical black interior.
Looks like some mods under the hood. The Holley carb, Weiand intake and Mickey Thompson valve covers are nice improvement to the 350!
Yes, also has a very very mild cam.
What a cool car indeed! We didn't realize how awful those vinyl tops were back then, just promoted rust issues. So, that money saving painted white top was actually a very wise decision. No one can argue that the chevy 350 was a great engine. And, like you say, it had plenty of power to handle that two speed powerglide tranny without much of a performance loss. I grew up with these cars, and really like the styling, even on this "post 3dr model". I remember when my parents bought our first nice car, a 69 Caprice coupe with a 396. Wish I had that car today... Oh well, we didn't appreciate great cars when we had them
We found a 1970 Impala Custom Coupe 350 V8, 4 barrel carburetor, factory built high performance sometime in late 1980s that was awesome. Fast and great handling car.
There's a strange bond that you form with these old Chevys. There is absolutely nothing great about them, but you tend to love them anyway. I cannot explain it. My first car was a hand-me-down '74 Impala 350, 2 bbl, TH350 hardtop, that was 14 years old when I inherited it, was half rotted out, ran on 7 cylinders due to a soft cam and I loved it to death! I was 4 when my dad bought it new and I still remember that day. Silky silent ride, strong vinyl new-car smell and all. I remember getting yelled at, that day, for putting my feet up on the back of the front seat. I said "but my shoes are new", he yelled "so is the car!"
Actually the car does have shoulder belts. They are up along the headliner near the B pillar
A two speed automatic must be smooth as heck because there's only one shift from stop to highway speed. They must be really taking advantage of the slipping in the torque converter.
The 2 speed is God tier.
The 2 speed powerglide was not a very efficient transmission, but tough as nails.
writing is fun bc i just wanted to write half a sentence but now i’ve spent the last 15 minutes researching the dimensions and layout of the back seats of 1970 chevy impalas to figure out whether or not an individual could realistically fit a 1978 breezer series i in there given the back seats were completely empty
Hope my back seat shots helped!
funny to have someone review a car that's more than twice as old as him. we were kids when these cars were new. Such a different time
We have a 4 door sky blue 1965 impala. I loved it
Awesome review!
Wow. Your Dad was a filming enthusiast. Not cheap back then!
Awesome video of your dad and his impala! Now we know where you got your passion for cars from …
i remember 1971 was a big improvement in looks of impala. nicer body and interior and more modern looking dash.
The 1970 Chevy had separate shoulder belts that hung from the roof.
My dad had a basic 70 Impala with no window frames in the middle.
My dad did too light green with a dark green vinyl top
I'm the same age as your dad and that video cracked me up. i was in my friends 70 T 37 LA Mans in the winter and i went to light a firecracker before i rolled the window down and there was no crank on the window so it went off in the car, we smoked to much weed in that thing, you could scrape the windows and make hash. 1982
I was born in 1982! Looks like ancient times 😂😂
What’s the song playing during the 1982 segment?
As the former owner of both 1969 and 1971 Chevy Impalas (both purchased brand-new), I have the unfortunate duty to inform you and your father that what he refers to as a 1969 Impala is really another 1970. For 1969, full-size Chevys had a wrap-around front bumper, with bumper both below and above the grill. The car in your dad's 8mm movies has just a single bumper, just like the car you reviewed. Also, your dad's car has the same front side marker lights in the bumper as the 1970 car, and the same type-style for the "350" engine size 12:54. The 1969 had separate front side marker lights just behind the vertical part of the wrap-around bumper, and the engine size was at the top of the light.
That dual stripe spare tire could be original to the car... that style white wall tire was standard on GM cars for only 2 years, 1970 and 1971.... Our 71 Pontiac Catalina came with dual stripe whitewalls from the factory
Looks like a bias ply tire too!
First GM cars that offered airbags were in 1974 so yes, airbags were on the drawing board at that time
They were invented for all of the drivers that didn't notice the shoulder belts on the headliner and just wore a lap belt, if they even buckled up at all.
There's four generations of the small block chev really, the 90s one is gen 2, and the ls stopped mid 2010s. They are Lt motors now
Those were nice cars. I can't recall ever seeing one with e power glide, I thought the base transmission was a turbo 350 by then. Shoulder belts started in '68 or '69, but nobody used them. 1969 was the LAST Impala SS. The car your dad is driving is also a 1970.
I love my 1970 impala convertible. I put a ls3 and in mine and 4 wheel discs. Qa1 suspension and control arms will be next. Things a beaut