For better or for worse, “they don’t make them like they used to” is a term that no doubt applies to GM’s Chevy Impala SS from the 1990s. Doug DeMuro recently had the opportunity to check out a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS and regardless of whether or not you’re fan of this all-American sedan, it’s certainly interesting.
The Impala SS was the company’s seventh-generation of their big sedan produced between February 1994 and December 1996. It was essentially a high-performance version of the Caprice sold at the time and a decent performer.
Powering the Impala SS was a 5.7-liter V8 engine delivering 260 hp and 330 lb-ft (447 Nm) of torque. That’s not a lot for an engine of this size, particularly when you consider that just a few years later, the Honda S2000 arrived with up to 247 hp from its naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Nevertheless, the Impala SS was relatively brisk, capable of hitting 60 mph (96 km/h) in 7 seconds, not bad for a vehicle of this size and weight.
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The example reviewed here was painted gloss black, like the vast majority of Impala SS models produced, and looks to be in very good condition. DeMuro adds that nice examples can sell for upwards of $30,000 nowadays.
An interesting exterior detail is that the only Chevrolet logo is found in the front grille as the rest of the badges are the jumping Impala badge used to denote this car as ‘special.’ The Impala logo is featured on the C-pillars, center caps, and the trunklid.
What are your thoughts on the Impala SS; is it a collector’s car in the making or one best forgotten?