Inspired by pictures of a custom Caprice, Chevrolet executive Jim Perkins ordered up a custom B-body show car for the 1992 Detroit Auto Show. Debuting as the Impala SS, the 500 cubic inch V8 powered monster was such a phenomenon that within 18 months GM had the first Impala SS street car in Chevrolet showrooms. For just three short years in the mid-90s these modern muscle cruisers tapped into a trend that most of us didn’t even know existed: the hot, full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan. Now, 17 years later, their instant collectability ensures that they STILL trade hands at original sticker price or more. For the initial 1994 model run, only 6,303 of these ‘large and in charge’ cars made it down the production line and this one, with only 1,189 miles on its odometer, is a showroom new super low mile time capsule that is a close to perfect as a factory built car can get. If you’ve been looking for a museum quality, unmodified show car that you can call us in ten years and thank us for, DO NOT wait to pull the trigger on this one!

Included with the car is two copies of the original window sticker which break down as follows:

1994 Impala SS 4-door sedan: $21,920

NO COST STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

• 5.7 Liter V8 (260 HP) with sequential fuel injection
• 4-speed automatic transmission
• Full coil lubed for life suspension
• Full perimeter type frame
• Power steering
• Rear wheel drive
• 3-point front and rear outboard lap and shoulder belts
• Brake/transmission shift interlock
• Driver and passenger airbags
• Passkey 2 anti-theft system
• Base coat/clear coat paint
• Dual electric mirrors
• Stainless steel exhaust
• Tinted glass
• AM/FM stereo radio with seek-scan, cassette and digital clock
• Cup holders
• Air conditioning
• Color keyed floor mats
• Front and rear reading lamps
• Intermittent wipers
• Low fluid level lights with oil change monitor
• Power driver’s seat
• Power locks and windows
• Power trunk opener
• Speed (cruise) control
• Tilt wheel
• Visor vanity mirrors

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT: $1,116

• Impala SS package: $00
• 5.7L V8 SFI engine
• Leather 45/45 seat with full floor console
• Leather wrapped steering wheel
• 4-wheel disc anti-lock brakes
• Custom ornamentation
• Full size spare
• 17 inch aluminum wheels
• All season 17 inch black wall radial tires
• Rear decklid spoiler
• Decarbon shocks
• Heavy duty coiling
• Ride and drive suspension
• Limited slip axle

Preferred Equipment Group 1: $860

• —-Passenger’s side six way power seat adjuster
• —-Remote keyless entry with trunk release
• —-Twilight sentinel headlamps
• —-Power antenna
• —-Automatic day/night rearview mirror
• —-Rear window defogger with heated outside rearview mirrors

Electronically tuned AM/FM stereo radio: $256

• —-Seek-scan
• —-Digital clock
• —-Compact disc player
• —-Coaxial front and extended range rear speakers
• —-Delco-Loc II

TOTAL VEHICLE PRICE: $23,036

In 1994, you could order a brand new Impala SS in any color you wanted as long as it was black; and coming from a brand that was synonymous with Dale Earnhardt race cars and custom Jon Moss creations, I can’t think of anything more fitting. With absolutely no rain spots and no fading, this stealthy street bruiser’s basecoat/clearcoat paint is in spectacular shape and it likely hasn’t seen much of the sun or rain during its entire 17 year existence. Under that paint, 100% factory sheetmetal provides an OEM level of fit and finish that creates a mint condition muscle car which looks, feels and drives just like it rolled off the showroom floor.

The hotter and meaner B-body Impala SS enjoyed a lot of body-colored trim and radiused rear wheel arches which eliminated the complaints people had about the Caprice’s ‘bloated’ shape. At the front of the car, a unique single bar grille sits between clear twilight sentinel headlamps and displays a like-new chrome Chevrolet bowtie. Behind that grille, the cars smooth black hood and fenders flow to 100% original factory windows that are bordered by a power antenna and ’94 Impala exclusive door mounted mirrors. At the sides of the car, integrated chrome window trim and newly revived for 1994 Impala emblems sit above gloss black door guards and flush, blacked out door handles. Above the rear tires, ’94 Impala exclusive rear fenders that bend around the rear corners of the car wear slick body matched “Impala SS” scripts in their traditional location behind the rear tires. Above the rear fenders, a subtle decklid spoiler is stretched across the car’s large trunk which features a centered chrome Impala emblem. At the sides of the trunk, bright and clear tail lights that catch our photo room lighting in exactly the same manner as the cars contoured bumper look good and work great. Averaging only 70 miles per year, this car has obviously never been abused, wrecked or repainted, and it presents as a collector piece that has been a protected toy from DAY ONE.

A car that looks this evil couldn’t have just any engine, either. The original Impala show car in 1992 was powered by a 500+ cubic inch big block, but the street car had to use something a bit more production-friendly. The solution was easy; just dip into the Corvette parts bin and pull out a 350 cubic inch LT1 engine, slap on some durable cast iron heads, throw in a different camshaft that improved low-end torque to move the cars large mass and, voila! The Impala exclusive LT1 generates 260 horsepower (versus the Corvette’s 300) and a neck-snapping 330 lb./ft. of torque just off idle. Of course, you have to make sure the car’s accessories communicate with the new engine properly, so a higher output electrical system and a high capacity reverse flow cooling system were also added for the sake of drivability. These engines are virtually indestructible, and with good maintenance practices, over 100,000 miles is not uncommon. What else would you expect from a package that was routinely hammered by police forces and taxi drivers across the country? It fires up instantly, idles smoothly, runs like a new car and sits in a 100% OEM engine bay that is completely original from its factory ribbed cover to its engine mounts.

Backing up the cars torque rich LT1 is GM’s reliable 4L60E electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission that is equipped with a factory transmission cooler. Show cars have been seen with 6-speed manual transmissions, and kits are available to retrofit a 6-speed from an F-body into the Impala SS, but from the factory, your only choice was the slushbox. Behind that transmission, a set of 3.08 gears combine with a limited slip differential to provide easy high-speed cruising and surprisingly good fuel economy for such a large car. Holding that tough drivetrain in place is a larger gauge metal frame that, along with the cars sport tuned suspension was lifted directly from the Caprice’s hugely successful 9C1 police package. At the front of the car a traditional double A-arm suspension benefits from quick-ratio power steering, a larger front stabilizer bar and DeCarbon gas pressure shocks. At the back of the car, a rugged 4 link suspension includes a second beefy stabilizer bar and reinforced springs that were borrowed directly from the Corvette. The result is a remarkably agile 4000-pound luxury car that rides an inch lower than its Caprice counterpart and is surprisingly composed in the twisties. Standard four-wheel, 12 inch diameter ventilated disc brakes and 4-wheel ABS handle the stopping duties, and the factory dual exhaust system allows the hot engine to breathe, but retains a quietness and civility that is perfect given the cars luxury sport mission. At the corners, striking 17 inch brushed aluminum wheels ride on fresh 255/50 BF Goodrich Comp T/A radials, and everything in between is 100% original with no signs of damage, rust, or other issues.

For 1994, the Impala SS interior received some welcome upgrades from the already luxurious Caprice cockpit. The basic layout is stalwart 90s General Motors design, with simple, easy-to-use switches and controls in an ocean of gray and black. Leather was the only choice in the Impala, and in this car it remains in excellent showroom fresh condition. Part of the Impala SS package was embroidered “SS” logos in the front headrests and a traditional Impala logo at the center of the rear bench, and both look factory new with no staining or picks. The carpet shows few signs of use and has been protected by factory carpeted floor mats since new, and above the seats, a contoured mouse fur headliner shows no signs of staining or fading. The Impala exclusive leather wrapped steering wheel is more akin to the wheel in a Camaro than a luxury car, and excellent looking padded door panels are trimmed with chrome button for the cars power windows and power door locks. Behind the steering wheel, a pristine dash houses digital GM gauges, controls for the cars climate system and an optional stereo system. Behind the cockpit, a tidy trunk holds an original jack and spare tire in front of plenty of cargo space and a useful factory cargo net.

Documentation for this Impala includes two original window stickers, the cars original dealer invoice, a copy of the original dealership’s receipt of payment, the cars original temporary tag, the cars original owner’s manual and audio CD, a complete three owner history, a sales brochure and random articles and information about the car and clubs built around the car.

It’s really astounding how rock-solid the prices on original unmodified Impala SS have been, and as more and more of them are modified or just plain used up, they’ll likely continue to gain value. Add in the fact that this is by far the lowest production year and you have a showroom fresh Chevrolet that could see some excellent appreciate in the future. If you’ve been looking for some clean modern muscle to show and have fun with, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better car than this essentially brand new 1994 Impala SS. Call now!