Bubble Top Big Block: 1961 Chevrolet Impala – SOLD!

When General Motors (“GM”) Launched its redesigned full-size “B” and “C” body cars for the 1961 model year, stylists worked overtime to minimize the pillars of the two-door hardtops.  What came to be known as “Bubble Tops” among Chevrolet enthusiasts were officially called Sport Coupés in Chevy’s literature. Regardless of the name, these cars’ clean lines and expansive glass area still look great today.

Unfortunately for us, but good for the seller is that they deleted their Craigslist ad just one day after posting it.  When you look at the pictures, you’ll agree this 1961 Bubble Top not only features a great color combination, but the Tri-Power-topped 348 cubic inch V8 will likely not leave the buyer wanting for more horsepower.

Currently offered for $50,000, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is slightly below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for third-generation 1961 Chevrolet Impalas of all body styles produced that year.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the Impala featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #2 Very Good” estimate of $37,900 and its #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $56,300.

Corresponding with GM’s launch of redesigned full-size cars for 1961, Chevrolet stylists elected to move the third-generation Impala to the “B” Body platform for the first time.  The new body styling was more trim and boxy than the 1958–1960 models. Sport Coupe models featured a “bubble back” roof line style for 1961, and a unique model, the 2-door pillared sedan, was available for 1961 only as it was rarely ordered.  Both rooflines lasted only one model year before Chevrolet switched to a two-door hardtop roofline designed to imitate a convertible roof.

Engine choices started with the small-block 283 V8 fitted with a two-barrel carburetor. The 283 was also enlarged to 327 cubic inches and offered in two versions offering either 250 or 300 brake horsepower. 1961 was the final year of the 348-cubic-inch V8.

Impalas again featured premium interior appointments, and the dealerships could do plusher seats on customer request. And more chrome trim outside, including a full-width aluminum-and-chrome panel to house the triple-unit taillight assembly. Due to reliability problems, the optional Turboglide automatic transmission was discontinued, leaving Powerglide the only automatic transmission available until 1965.

The The US Auto Industry YouTube Channel features this very weird 1961 Chevrolet Impala commercial:

The seller of this 1961 Chevrolet Impala Bubble Top for sale let their excellent pictures do the talking as this high-quality restoration appears to have quickly grabbed the attention of a buyer willing to pay the fifty large requested.

Here’s the seller’s brief description:

Show or go: What would you do with this restored 1961 Chevrolet Impala bubble top for sale?  Please comment below and let us know!