Back in the mid-1960s and 70s, spotting the infamous SS badge on a Chevy was an indicator of performance and raw power. Nowadays, that infamy has faded, though it still garners a fair amount of respect among the car community for what it was able to achieve during its release. Among those Super Sport relics is the Chevy Impala, a sedan produced that first debuted in the 1950s.
When U.S. standards tightened up around emissions and economy in the 60s and 70s, many beloved big-engine models of the past fell to the blade of regulations, with most automakers focusing on lowering emissions and adhering to the new standard. This caused former drag demons and track weapons to become boring family cars that would fade into obscurity as automotive innovation saw the improvement and benefits of modern mechanics.
Chevy, however, wasn’t ready to discard the hard-earned respect gained by the Impala SS, and in 1994 revived the sedan with modern fittings and an LT1 engine, similar to the engine found in the Corvette of the same era. The 1995 Impala SS sold for a low retail price and offered respectable performance for the time, leading to them being driven hard, modified, and pushed to their limit. As such, you’d be hard-pressed to find an example in good condition, yet these V-8-powered sedans represent a key segment of GM’s history.
Chevy Impala SS Had An LT1 Corvette Engine And Sport Suspension
In 1985, Chevy discontinued the Impala SS due to the setback big-engine models experienced during the time. Ten years later, the Impala SS would return as the high-performance model of the Caprice Classic, a rather clunky full-size sedan. This news didn’t sell well at first since the Caprice was rather uninspiring, even though it was used extensively in government envoys and police units.
To the community’s delight, the 1994 Chevy Impala SS made its predecessors proud, delivering a sleek and sporty ride with a brutish V-8 and upgraded suspension, transforming the clumsy Caprice into a worthy sports sedan. The 1990s era Impala only ran from 1994-1996 yet left a lasting impression on the car community and pop culture, as the 1996 Impala SS in particular has since become a cultural icon.
1996 Chevrolet Impala SS Notable Upgrades
- 5.7-liter LT1 engine
- Sport suspension
- “Police Package” springs
- Anti-roll bars
- Limited-slip differential
- 12-inch vented disc brakes w/ anti-lock control
- Carbon monotube shocks
The 1996 Impala SS featured a 5.7-liter LT1 V-8 engine, aside from a few minor tweaks, this was the very same engine found in the C4 Corvettes of the 1990s. The LT1 engine produced 260 horses in the SS and 330 pound-feet of torque.
1996 Chevrolet Impala SS Performance Specs
|
0-60 MPH |
7.5-Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
150 – 158 MPH (owner claims) |
|
Engine |
5.7-liter LT1 V-8, |
|
Horsepower |
260 |
|
Torque |
330 Pound-Feet |
|
Curb Weight |
4,221-Pounds |
|
Layout |
Front-engine RWD |
|
Transmission |
4-speed Automatic transmission, |
|
Bodystyle |
four-door, five-passenger sedan |
Along with the LT1 engine upgrade, the 1996 Impala SS also received the “Police Package” springs and anti-roll bars, sport suspension, and carbon monotube shocks, allowing the large-body sedan to tackle deep corners. The stiff suspension limited body roll, as the ‘96 Impala SS was a long vehicle with a large trunk and ample engine-bay real estate. Unfortunately, the length of the Impalas from this era didn’t translate to interior volume, as the passenger space resembled that of a smaller, economy sedan.
The 1996 Impala SS Puts The Focus On Performance, Not Amenities
The exterior of the 1996 Impala SS bears some of the design language found on the 1990s Caprice Classic if the Caprice were put on a diet. The Impala’s low-profile profile and minimal contouring, along with the lowered ride height, made for a sleek sedan that maintained a composed appearance. The aforementioned large trunk and engine bay area are reminiscent of the past Impalas from the 60s that cruised the strips like ornate land yachts.
A small, yet tasteful rear spoiler sits atop the trunk, and though it doesn’t add much to the performance of the vehicle, it gives the modest body design a splash of sportiness. Keeping with the minimal flair in the 1996 Impala SS is the badging and emblems. A single Chevrolet bow tie adorns the front grill, while the iconic jumping Impala logo is proudly displayed on the rear, and on the rear fender quarters, boasting the retro-styled “Impala” name to drive home the lineage.
The interior offers modest amenities and a fairly plain design layout, as it becomes clear that GM’s focus was to produce a high-performance bargain car, limiting the quality and interior flair. From the hard-plastic door panels and dash to the unassuming steering wheel and lack of interior volume, the 1996 Impala SS didn’t blow buyers away in terms of comfort and pizzazz. The SS did include front sport bucket seats, though, just don’t plan on sitting comfortably on long drives.
Chevrolet Impala SS And Its Pop Culture Impact
From 1961-69 the SS emblem adorned some of the fastest, most stylish, and best-equipped cars Chevy sold. Early models with the phenomenal 409-cubic-inch engine dominated drag strips, NASCAR tracks, and Pikes Peak. Sales of the speedy sedan were up, and the public loved the recipe Chevrolet cooked up, with the Impala SS 409 even being immortalized in song courtesy of The Beach Boys.
The 1996 Impala was seen by many as the spiritual successor to the Buick Grand National, as with the GN, General Motors took a rather unassuming sedan with modest performance and cranked it up to 11. These models may not be able to keep up with the Cadillac Blackwings and Hellcat Demons, but they definitely made waves upon release by changing the perception of their respective predecessors, and the sports car/sedan landscape of the time, and have maintained a loyal fan base since the early days.
Though the Impala made another return in the early 2000s after a brief hiatus, the sedan was noticeably less amusing than the previous SS models. Standard front-wheel drive took a layer of fun away from the Impala SS and the V-8 never saw the engine bay of this model ever again. The Impala was officially discontinued, again, in 2020. The average price for a used example currently sits at $22,412, which represents excellent value, given not just the amount of car you get for the money, but also the pedigree that comes with this generation of the Impala name.