| Chevrolet Division
General Motors Corporation Detroit, Michigan |
| Engine |
385-hp, 427
cu. in. V-8 |
| Transmission |
3-speed automatic |
| Steering |
Power-assisted |
| Suspension |
Heavy-duty |
| Brakes |
Disc F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Excellent |
| Noise Insulation |
Good |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Very
Good |
| Shift Smoothness |
Very
Good |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Very
Good |
| Response |
Good |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Very
Good |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Good |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Good |
| Fade Resistance |
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Very
Good |
| Driving Position |
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Very
Good |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Good |
| General |
| Vision |
Very
Good |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Excellent |
| Weather Sealing |
Very
Good |
| Trunk Space |
Good |
|
The Chevrolet Impala,
in SS 427 guise, is what all of the king-size Chevrolets should
be. Then they could bring out a genuine sports model that might
more nearly deserve the SS appellation. The
"Super Sports" label, in Chevrolet parlance, has
come to mean nothing more than a combination of trim options.
Only when the "427" is added, along with a lot of
other high-performance suspension goodies, does it really
begin to mean what the enthusiast expects it to mean.
Our test car had a 385-hp, 427
cu. in. V8, 3-speed automatic transmission, heavyduty suspension,
"rally" wheels with 6-in. rims, disc brakes and
a limited-slip differential. Thus equipped, it came very close
to being what we would like all American cars to be. It also
had GM's wellorganized Comfortron ventilation system, stereo
tape, AM/FM radio, fiber-optic light monitoring system, electric
windows and seats, and disappearing windshield wipers, which
brought it close to being what Chevrolet would like all American
cars to be.
It stopped and handled well,
considering its great bulk, and it was smooth, deadsilent,
and deceptively fast. It is the only full-sized Chevrolet
that really gives its driver any feeling of security or well-being
on a country road-and as nice as that is, isn't it too bad? |
