Michael’s ’65 Impala SS showcases a perfect timeline through well-over two decades of ownership, seeing it move from a factory hop-up with not one but two revisions of its driveline and chassis over the years. In bringing it to the next level each time, he used industry-leading performance parts to deliver cutting-edge handling, braking, and acceleration. Looking back to the start, Michael recalls the afternoon in where he first saw the bone-stock Regal Red SS convertible parked on the streets of Jacksonville, Florida. Totally taken by the originality of the car and knowing that Chevrolet only produced a small quantity of them (27,000 units being a handful looking at the total production numbers) he left a calling card on the windshield asking the owner to get back to him if it was ever for sale. Miraculously, 18 months later he received a call from the owner who told him it was a rust-free, numbers-matching big-block car and that he was ready to let it go. Without wasting any time, the deal was made, swapping cash for keys, bringing it to a new home.

The excitement of ownership ran full throttle for the first two years with the 396ci V-8 providing plenty of top-down enjoyment, however it left Michael wanting more in the power and handling departments. With a personal history dating back to his first car, a ’67 GTO, purchased with paper route money and rebuilding the engine all before he even had a license, he was more than ready to tear down the car and commence its first rebirth. After separating the body from the stock chassis he made performance suspension and brake revisions along with replacing the rearend and fabricating fresh mounts for a Chevrolet Performance 502ci big-block linked to a TH400 trans. From there the body and frame were sent off to Harbor Auto Restoration in Rockledge, Florida, to first blast and paint the frame satin black. Once the roller was returned, the team focused on stripping the original factory paint, revealing perfect rust-free sheetmetal. They then finessed the steel to perfection, set all the gaps, and laid down a flawless coating of PPG Blue Mist metallic, bringing it all to life.

When it came time for the business office, the factory dash was packed with new Dakota Digital VHX dials showcasing a black alloy background while a Billet Specialties Prism-series D-shaped steering wheel carves the course through an ididit tilt column and Vintage Air adds a cool breeze. For plenty of comfort on the long haul, Michael contacted Jeffrey Phipps Custom in Palm Beach to stitch the threads, which included fabricating a flowing front to rear console complemented by custom bucket seats wrapped in a combination of black leather and matching Ultrasuede. The team also wrapped the dashpad, crafted unique side panels, and completed the job with wool carpeting and a fresh convertible top. The completed car was then enjoyed for the next few years with Michael laying down plenty of miles until the itch for even more performance knocked on the door.

Up front you’ll find matching Rothspeed-fabricated steel anti-flex upper and lower control arms combined with billet spindles, JRi single-adjustable coilover shocks with remote reservoirs, Hyperco springs, and a 1.25-inch splined sway bar all working through Detroit Speed power rack-and-pinion steering. When it’s time to drop anchor, an ABS Power Brake master pushes fluid through NiCopp lines to Wilwood 14-inch Superlite 6R drilled-and-slotted discs with six-piston forged calipers in front matched to 13-inch Superlite 4R rears with drilled-and-slotted, discs and four-piston forged calipers. Linking it all to the street you’ll find a set of Schott Throttle-Series wheels, sized 19×10 front and 19×11 rear, wearing Michelin Pilot Sport tires P275/30R19 and P305/30/19, respectively. The Auto Shoppe was then enlisted to paint and refit the new chassis as well as fabricate an updated transmission tunnel to accommodate the upcoming LS driveline swap.