Couple collects complete set of SS Impalas
Going fast was all the rage in the 1960s. Automakers were jamming performance parts into all their offerings — both large and small.
However, as the decade closed it became evident that lead-foots were more interested in buying smaller, nimbler vehicles. Even as the writing on the wall grew darker, Chevrolet still tried to squeeze out some full-size muscle machines in an ever-shrinking market.
The result was the 1967-1969 Impala SS427. These models have been overshadowed by a plethora of more compact, rubber-burning cars like the Chevelle, Nova and Camaro, but passionate enthusiasts like Arnold and Barb Boris are working to preserve their legacy.
The Kildeer couple has amassed an impressive Impala SS427 collection. “We simply love the full-size vehicles,” Arnold Boris said. “They roll down the road so much nicer than intermediate and compact cars. And the performance is exhilarating.”
The first acquisition to the Boris Impala fleet was a Marina Blue 1967 coupe. It was purchased from a seller in North Carolina in 1996. Even though it was in “really nice shape,” the body was stripped and repainted in the vehicle's factory Marina Blue paint.
In addition, its stopping power received an upgrade as the metallic “widow makers” were switched out for disc brakes.
With one in the stable and excitement high, the Borises wasted no time in 2000 heading to an Impala Convention in South Dakota. There, Arnold laid eyes on a 1968 SS427. “It was just over the top and even rarer than the '67.”
After returning home, Arnold scoured the listings, eventually locating his Grotto Blue 1968 convertible in British Columbia, Canada. The vehicle had been built in Tarrytown, New York, and then delivered to Stuttgart, Germany, where it remained for a number of years.
Getting the car back from Canada was quite an adventure. “It traveled by train into the U.S., cleared customs and then was trucked to Kildeer,” Boris said. The car was in great shape and only required a new paint job and minor restoration.
Impala No. 3 arrived in July 2003. “I was an addict at this point,” Boris confesses. “With the model's three-year run, I wanted representation all around.”
A lead led him to a 1969 coupe located in Mississippi. The Lemans Blue Chevy had been ordered by a dealership owner as a demo car and came loaded with a plethora of options. To correct a poor restoration, Boris had the car stripped, shoddy metal work repaired and the factory paint colors resprayed.
“I started to think how cool a '69 convertible would be,” Boris said, which led him to car No. 4. A tip in 2007 led him to Franklin, Ohio.
“Over the phone, the seller said 'The body is totally rotten but the frame is solid,'” he said. Enticed by the promise of a “totally rebuilt engine,” Boris planned his trip to purchase the Impala. A serious overhaul commenced to get the Dusk Blue drop-top back on the road. “It was quite a journey but well worth it.”
The fifth and final piece in the collection arrived in 2006. Another lead led Boris to Union Grove, Wisconsin, where the vehicle had been purchased from the original owner's wife. The Impala had been sold new in Nevada, leading to a rot- and rust-free project. A full restoration commenced and the Tripoli Turquoise cruiser was ready for the road.
“Our goal is to share these pieces of automotive history,” Boris said of frequently attending suburban car shows. “With the ultralow production runs, many spectators are seeing these cars for the first time.”
The Borises make sure to keep their museum-quality pieces in motion as “every one gets driven. Being able to shift the gears on a big-block, big car … there's nothing else in the world like it.”
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