1963 Impala, with 12 miles on odometer, still showroom ready
Nebraska is normally a pretty quiet place. Yet in September of 2013, the town of Pierce was buzzing with thousands of visitors from all over the world.
The draw was an auto auction of hundreds of vintage and classic Chevrolets, many bearing unbelievably low mileage. The vehicles were the unsold inventory of Lambrecht Chevrolet.
The dealership closed in 1996 after nearly 50 years in business. Two eager gear heads who traveled to Nebraska to check out all the auction action were brothers Gary and Dave Leidich.
“We've restored Chevys for many years,” Gary said. “We went looking for parts cars.”
Skeptical of the vehicles' conditions, they figured the best they could leave with were some decent pieces or components. The majority of the vehicles had been stored for decades out on a field behind the dealership. After arriving at the auction and getting a closer look, the Leidich brothers quickly changed their minds.
“The vehicles stored indoors were in quite good shape,” Gary said. One particular rolling time capsule that caught their eyes was a dusty and dirty 1963 Chevrolet Impala.
A peek inside revealed an odometer showing just 11.4 miles.
“What probably kept the mileage so low was the late build date,” Gary said. The two-door was assembled in Janesville, Wisconsin, on Aug. 3, 1963, and arrived in Pierce on Aug. 6.
“Later that fall the new models would be coming in. This one didn't sell so was put in the back corner.”
The Impala had never been prepared for sale by the dealer. Leidich found protective plastic still partially covering the seats and the front carpeting was rolled up and stored in the trunk. In fact, the Chevy had never been titled until Leidich bought it last fall.
After the purchase, the vehicle was trailered back to the Leidiches' garage back in Concord Township, Ohio. “We wanted to make it showroom ready and operational with the minimum amount of intrusion to its originality,” Gary said.
All those years sitting had allowed some of the factory fluids to break down and corrode components. To get the vehicle road-worthy again, the Leidiches had the radiator recored, rebuilt the fuel pump and carburetor and resleeved the wheel cylinders, among other repairs. Surprisingly, the vehicle retains its original transmission fluid, spark plugs and even engine oil — all of which were closely inspected before being deemed fit for use.
The tires are also original and were simply inflated. To get the Impala gleaming once again, the car was washed, buffed and waxed.
Dave and Gary's brother-in-law, Tom Carr, did all of the cleanup and mechanical work during the light, nearly two-month, refresh.
“We simply love old cars,” Gary said. “We'll enjoy this one for a little while longer and then probably donate it to a museum so others can continue to enjoy it.”
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