Photos and text by
Gary Rosier
Ronald O’Donnell of Port Orange, Florida owns this rare ’61 Chevrolet “Bubble-Top” Impala SS. It had been featured within on Hot Rod Hot Lines ‘For Sale’ listings previously, but purchased from Ron’s good friend Paul Damm not long ago. Paul had become quite I’ll, and quickly wanted it to go to a good home. Ron had plenty of Toy’s already and while not interested in adding another vehicle to his stable at the time, purchased it at the urging of his good friend- it was so nice- he said, how could he refuse!
Ron has quite the history with automobiles, having worked for “The Big Three”; AMC and Chrysler in particular for over thirty years. Being from the Detroit area originally, he had raced on the streets of Detroit as a kid; particularly in one fast ’62 Corvette on Telegraph and College Rd’s- very popular hangouts back in their day of A&W Root-beer Stands and more as so popularized in movies like “American Graffiti”.
The 1961 Chevrolet Impala was a full size six-passenger vehicle make no mistake. Its rear roof pillar and over-sized rear window was unique to the ’61 and is so very desirable today. A few 62 Impala’s were built using the left over rear windows from ’61 but only Biscayne and Bel Air were the models in ’62 that saw these applications according to most publications you read.
In 1961, the base price for the Impala “Bubbletop” coupe with the standard 170 HP V8 engine cost about $2,700. By comparison, a base 1961 Corvette roadster sold for about $3,950. Of course without the original 409 (360hp) which was available only in the Impala SS, it is still none-the-less a beautiful “restomod” that would be hard to duplicate as this car is so equipped now (and much more expensive!).
It had gone through a off-frame restoration and is laser-straight. No expense was spared. A Stage 4 Pro-Touring suspension was installed. The underside is as clean and detailed as everything up top.
Black is a very un-forgiving color and as you can see its many hours of preparation resulted in an outstanding presentation. Only some 453 examples of an Impala SS for this year were officially produced, so great care was taken in the restoration of this body year and very well appointed Impala SS interior.
Powered now by a Performance 454 with a 700R-4 trans, Aluminum Cross Flow radiator and 9 inch electric fan, the Chevy posi rear with 4:11 gears gets her going in a blink and comes to a safe stop via 4 wheel disc brakes. It rolls on Billett Specialties Wheels shod with 225-40’s up front and 245-35 20’s out back. Stainless Steel headers and Flowmaster Exhausts safely exits the sweet exhaust notes.
Its gorgeous red and white interior is a perfect example of the original Impala SS and so hard to find up front passenger “Grab Bar” just screams “look at me”! Yes, a few liberties vs stock were taken in its “resurrection” but its appointments; paint, trim, power and style just reaches out and grabs you. Delicious “Bubble-Top”…..ABSOLUTELY “BUBBLICIOUS”!
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