The Big Chevrolet's were all new for 1971 and bigger than ever. While just an eighth-of-an-inch longer overall than the 1970 models they replaced, and a scooch less wide, a 1971 Impala was nearly eight-inches longer than the first Impala in 1958 and more than a foot-and-a-half-longer than the seminal 1955 Chevrolet. And the seeming year-in, year-out bulk up wasn't so much by plan, as Car and Driver's Patrick Bedard put it, but by a lack of restraint. It didn't matter to me; I was all of six-years-old when they came out and thought they looked fantastic. I still do. Especially the two-door coupes like this 1971 Impala Sport Coupe that popped up on Facebook Marketplace. Asking price is 15-grand. Gulp!
Might seem funny to call something like this a "sport" anything, but from 1958 through 1979, taking 1976 off, the Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe was an important part of Chevrolet's lineup even if there really wasn't anything "sport" about it.
What distinguished an Impala Sport Coupe from lesser Impala two-doors was its rear windshield or what some automotive cognoscenti refer to as its "back light". It was either wrap around, bubble-like or, in the case of the downsized, 1977-1979 models, angular, truncated and just plain bizarre.
Chevrolet also offered what they called the "Custom Coupe" that featured a more formal, almost notchback style rear window; I will not call it a "backlight". Above is a 1972 Custom Coupe. Essentially a debased, two-door Caprice, the "Custom Coupe" was sold alongside the "Sport Coupe" from 1968 through 1975. The Sport Coupe taking a siesta for 1976 before reappearing in 1977 through 1979. The Custom Coupe was "sunset" after 1976.
Given a choice between a "Sport Coupe" and a "Custom Coupe", I'd take the "Custom Coupe". I prefer the "Custom's" inverted convex rear window and I love the subtle nuisance of the sculpted trunk lid. I think it looks "sportier" than the Sport Coupe too.
With regards to this car, average retail on these right now is around $10,500, which seems fair, high retail is $18,000. At 15-large, seems they're splitting the difference. I don't know about this thing. Sure, the body looks great, I love what appears to be the factory hue on it, no idea if it's a repaint or not but you would almost have to assume it is, but look at the rear end - why's it sitting so low? There's no mention in the ad that it has an air suspension or the rear coil springs, no leaf's back there, have been chopped or are broken.
What really scares me is the rebuilt engine. Poster of the ad brags Holley EFI has been an added, it's got AFR heads, which are freakin' expensive, Howard Rattler cam, long tube headers, Borla exhaust, 3.42 posi-traction and on and on. Someone's got bucks in this thing. However, unless there's receipts and any warranty is transferable, I'd walk, make that run away screaming. Fifty-plus year-old engines were never meant to be as high stressed as todays rebuilds can make them - this could blow up as easily as movie theaters make popcorn. I'd rather buy this car with the tired old 350 it was born with and go from there.
As we say in music radio, you can't get hurt by what you don't play. Same is true when purchasing an old car, you can't get hurt by what you don't buy. If I were you, I'd keep looking for something that's way more original.
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