1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

I got this car from my grandmother ten years ago. It had 70,000 miles on it and no problems whatsoever. I drove it for five years before smashing in the front end. The timing chain then broke and I pulled the engine out and rebuilt it, intending to restore the car completely. While I was in law school it sat in storage in Utah, rusting away to the shell you see below.

I would still like to restore it. I drove it from Salt Lake to LA last week with zero problems. I'm mechanically inclined and want to do this cheaply but also do it well... I'd like any general advice, suggestions on colors and modifications, and any resources that you know of. (I've already thought of the portrait of the virgin mary on the hood and the gold rims.) If anyone knows of another forum that this would be well suited for, please let me know. Thanks.

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/5773/p10100753fl.jpg http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/6162/p10100731vq.jpg http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/5628/p10100788uv.jpg http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/2717/p10100664qt.jpg http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5761/p10100853zd.jpg http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/9867/p10100816it.jpg

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

You want to low-ride-duh it, eh? You could also Starsky & Hutch it.

God I love those bench seats. Miss 'em.

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

Actually I want to keep it fairly stock, but don't mind changing colors etc... I'm not planning on dropping it or putting a four barrel in it or anything. I was joking about the gold rims.

These bench seats were the best for oh so many reasons. Most of them female related.

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

[ QUOTE ]
(I've already thought of the portrait of the virgin mary on the hood and the gold rims.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yuck and double yuck.

Blue is what I initially thought.

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
(I've already thought of the portrait of the virgin mary on the hood and the gold rims.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yuck and double yuck.

Blue is what I initially thought.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't bother with any stupid ass designs like that. Dark blue with some sort of black trim seems like a great idea to me. Try to keep it as stock as possible.

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

this is a sweet ride, and other posters telling you to go for a classic look hit it right on the head.

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
(I've already thought of the portrait of the virgin mary on the hood and the gold rims.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yuck and double yuck.

Blue is what I initially thought.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't bother with any stupid ass designs like that. Dark blue with some sort of black trim seems like a great idea to me. Try to keep it as stock as possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's a blue one I found on Ebay: http://i21.ebayimg.com/03/i/05/a7/04/80_12.JPG

Auction. I think I would go darker than this. I also think a dark green would look good.

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

[ QUOTE ]
this is a sweet ride, and other posters telling you to go for a classic look hit it right on the head.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you sir.

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

It would make a nice lawn ornament.

Re: 1971 Impala (regaining my youth)
 

Don't do it!

Spend your time and money on a car that has a good resale value. This project seems like a big waste of resources. Sell it and find something in LA with less rust and not as beat up.