1961 Chevrolet Impala
Most enthusiasts remember the famous Chevrolet Super Sport option cars as high performance firebreathers that the cops had trouble catching. However, the reality is that the original Super Sport option on the 1961 Impala sport coupe and convertible was mostly a cosmetic styling option.
The main feature of the option was a set of front bucket seats, a passenger grab handle and special upholstery. Outside, three special emblems with crossed flags and SS letters and red, white and blue wheel covers told the world you were driving Chevy's sportiest.
Under the hood, you could order any of Chevy's powertrains including the six. But most buyers opted for one of the V8s. Especially popular was the 348 big-block with either a 4-barrel or three 2-barrel carburetion. About halfway through the model year, Chevrolet released a 409 cubic inch , 4-barrel version of the W-series big block and another legend was born. The 409, celebrated on the road, feared by the cops, worshiped on the nation's dragstrips and in song (Ever wonder where the song "Giddyup 409" came from?), was fitted to a number of late-build Impala SS cars in '61. The exact number is unknown. When the 409 was installed, the car received other special equipmment--4-speed transmission, Positraction rear axle with 3.36:1 gear ratio, tachometer, heavy duty cooling system, heavy duty metallic brakes, heavy duty suspension including a beefed up frame, power steering with a surge damper, and 8.00 x 14 narrow stripe whitewall tires.
Early factory literature advertises Powerglide as an option, but collectors believe none were built with this transmission. Fewer than 500 Impala SS cars were built in 1961 and even fewer were fitted with the 409, making that combination one of the most rare collector cars.
Here are some more facts that I found! Some are repeated above, but still interesting and helpful!
A midyear option on the 1961 Impala was the Super Sport.
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Available on all Impala body styles, it consisted of upgraded tires on station wagon wheels, springs,shocks and special sintered metallic brake linings.
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Power steering and power brakes were included.
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Engine choice was limited to the four larger-output
V-8s: three single four-barrel 348 ci engines,
two rated at 305 hp and one rated 340
hp, and a 3x2 barrel version rated at 350 hp.
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The highest-output engine available on the Impala was the
new for 1961 409 ci V-8. A bored and stroked version of
the 348, it was rated at 360 hp on a single four-barrel
carburetor and was known as the Turbo-Fire 409. A true
performance engine, the 409 came with an aluminum intake
manifold, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, a solid-lifter
camshaft and an 11.25:1 compression ratio. A total of
142 cars got this engine in 1961.
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In the interior, the SS Package consisted of a passenger's
side grab bar(for your poor passanger to hold onto when
you floor it) with Impala SS script, a 7000 rpm
steering-wheelmounted tachometer, a shifter plate for four speed
manual equipped Impalas and a dash panel pad.
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The Impala SS could be identified by SS emblems on the
rear fenders and trunk lid. Wheel covers were unique, featuring
three-blade knock-off-type spinners.