Dov
Rosenberg
Education Portfolio
Chevrolet and the Impala
1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 2000
1958
Chevrolet introduced Impala to compete with Cadillac and was an instant success with the American public
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1960
Launch of the Corvair, the first American production car with all-around independent suspension
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1962
Introduction of compact Chevy Nova
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1964
Mid-size Malibu series offers sedan, hardtop, wagon and convertible models
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1966
Debut of luxurious Caprice model. Chevrolet is first to build more than 3 million cars and trucks in a single year
1967
Chevrolet unveiled Camaro, an instant success, making up 10% of Chevy sales for 1967
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1968
The "New Generation of Cars", the Camaro SS was launched
1969
Four-wheel-drive Blazer sport utility vehicle introduced
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By 1970, Chevrolet offered more different styles and sizes of cars than ever before. Economical Novas, sporty Camaros and Corvettes, midsize Malibus, the muscular Chevelle SS454, luxurious Caprices, and the Monte Carlo "personal coupe." The Impala however, still ranked number one on the sales charts.
1971
For 1971, the Impala was dramatically new, luxuriously styled and bigger than ever before. True to tradition, the style borrowed heavily from Cadillac, especially in the front.
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1972
The slightly revised '72 Impala featured front and rear bumpers. Standard equipment included power steering and power front disc brakes. Most buyers now ordered air conditioning. The most popular full-size car in automotive history, sales of the Impala reached 10 million. 1972 also marked Chevy's introduction of "light utility vehicles."
1973
Suddenly fuel costs were a major consideration due to the oil crisis. Impala sales slowed significantly after 1973, however the Monte Carlo won Motor Trend's "Car of the Year" award.
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1977
By 1977, Americans had been demanding a lighter, more efficient full-size car. The "downsized" 1977 design boosted Impala's sales once again and the design remained relatively unchanged through 1985.
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1986
Chevrolet did not manufacture the Impala from 1986 to 1993
Present Day
Today, Impalas, like most cars on the road, are made of light-weight composite materials. Combined with a computer-integrated powertrain system, the Impala is more fuel-efficient than ever.
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