When some people find out I'm a "car guy", they want to know, "what's your favorite"? That's like asking me what my favorite finger is; I have many "favorites" like 1971 and 1972 Chevrolet Impala Sport and Custom Coupes. Push comes to shove, I'd want a Custom Coupe, but I wouldn't kick a "bubble window" Sport Coupe like this '71 out of my garage.
These cars pay homage to another favorite, the "bubble top" Impala of 1961 fame; Chevrolet built an Impala "Sport Coupe" of varying degree of attractiveness through 1974, they brought it back from 1977 to 1979. The Impala Custom Coupe came out in 1968 that had the same rear roofline as the more formal looking Caprice. Poe-tae-toe, poe-tah-toe? Not if it matters to you. Impala Custom Coupes, like the Sport Coupes, were hard tops through 1973.
The big Chevrolet's were all new for 1971 and they were bigger than ever. Stem-to-stern, they were seven-inches longer in length at 220-inches compared to the 1970 models riding on a ginormous 121.5-inch wheelbase, up two-and-a-half inches over the 1970 models that were no midgets. With the advent of five-mile-per-hour "safety bumpers" in 1973 and 1974, these would grow to up to 223-inches long.
A "South Carolina" car, this is a very original oldie with a price-reduced asking price of $16,500 down from $18,000. The owner wants to sell it rather than store it, perhaps they're willing to bargain. Seeing what it needs, you might be able to work that to your advantage. Poster of the ad says that "low ballers" need to stay away and "save their scams". Same time of person who claims they'll ignore you if you simply ask, "is this still available".
A/C needs work, paint is thin in some areas, engine is tired. Dash is cracked. All pricey fixes best left to professionals rather than us garage-hack, DIYer's. I'd budget at least two-grand for the AC, $7,500-$10,000 for a decent paint job, the dash? Who knows. Good luck finding someone to do that too. And do it right.
Years ago, I really wanted one of these, but it never made sense either as a "daily" or as a weekender. I've always had a sizeable commute and being terrible on gas, which actually made these reasonably affordable in the '80's, they weren't practical. As a weekender, they don't do anything above and beyond what even my janky, 300,000-mile RAV4 can do to make them special. Sorry, I like my weekender to do something more than simply look good.
With the cost of admission and what it would need to get it up to snuff, I know the willowy handling and unsupportive seats would stoke that annoying buyer's remorse voice in my head. I can hear him now whispering evilly, "what have you done?" I'd prefer not to go there. That and my wife chiding me, "how much money did you spend on this thing?"
Better to want for something and never get it than experience the chill of buyer's remorse. Helps me sleep better too.
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