I remember the first time I saw a 1991 Chevrolet Caprice. It rolled up in a resplendent champagne/sand kind of color, with those weird not-quite-wire wheels that they used, with darker brown interior and the smooth idle of…well, I didn’t care what it had underneath the hood. The car, in my eyes, was about as outdated and obnoxious as an ornate waterbed. And the chances were really good that the two tons of fun that had been driven up to the house by a couple who probably got the preaching of a lifetime for doing the Charleston behind the church when they were younger floated down the highway in the same manner. This wasn’t a car, this was a soap-shaped Jell-O mold with a Chevrolet badge. What happened to the crisp, boxy Caprice? Something awful, that’s what.
Fast forward to 1994. I never saw the concept car that Jon Moss put out for Chevrolet. I just saw a familiar yet radically different car drive by my mom’s Omega on the highway and I about broke my neck to get a second glance. It was Caprice-shaped, but it’s attitude was far and above from what that soggy lump of plastic had been the last time I cared about one. It was low, it had menace, and it had some healthy pipes as it cruised by. And no more fender skirts, hallelujah.
The 1994-96 Chevrolet Impala SS is a strange one to pin down value-wise. Stock, there’s plenty of them. Badly modified, about the same. Good, well-modified ones? You’re looking at one. How about a Golen-built LT4 that’s sitting at a nice, healthy 383 cubic inches? How about 3.73s in the axles out back, SSBC brakes, or Hotchkis suspension? Take it from me, Impalas like this one are worth your time. The room of a 1980s brick, the aero of the 1990s, the last vestiges of real old-school comfort, and now, a revised grunt-factor. New, they came with 260 horsepower LT-1s, good for the day but not even close now. This beauty won’t disappoint.
Bought one new in ’94. Still have it. Great cars.
I never had an Impala, however I did own a 94 and 96 Roadmaster Estate Wagons. Now I\’m not a GM fan, but these 2 cars were incredible machines. Large, smooth riding and very comfortable. They also were extremely reliable. That LT1 Chevrolet 350 (5.7 liter to the uninformed) and 4L60R4 automatic was the perfect match for these cars. They were smooth, reliable and had more than enough power. Driven sainly you could get 25-26 miles to the gallon on the highway with them. Personally, I wish just about any of the 3 U.S. automobile manufacturers would still build cars like these.
Yes, I know, supposedly there is no market for them. That\’s a shame in many ways. Vehicles have gotten too complicated. Some models for each manufacturer have been utter disasters. My Roadmasters both succumbed to Wisconsin Winter rust at nearly 300,000 miles. I remember the vehicles my parents drove being used up pieces of junk at 60,000 miles. Yet many of us believe those were vehicles from a golden age.. Wonderful cars we recall through rose colored glasses. Many had no power steering, no power brakes, no A/C. The radios were usually AM only. If they had automatic transmission they were only 2 or 3 speeds, though some early 60\’s GM had 4 speed automatics. Standard transmissions were usually a column mounted 3 speed manual. A 4 speed manual was a desirable option.
I believe most vehicles built today are far superior to those built even 20 years ago. Some are of course disastrous, but that\’s true for every generation of automobiles. Some are praised for their styling, features and quality. Some are flops, for whatever reason. If you have one you like and it\’s reliable, then by all means, enjoy it.
I like the custom interior quote which are mid-90’s Bonneville seats. Can’t argue with that since I have them on my Caprice. The electric waterpump idea s not a good one.
This color is my favorite among the three that were available.
Taxi cabs will never be cool.
My dad had a 94 and a 96; my brother, a 95. These cars were great on the open hwy and were built like tough cop cars: to take the punishment of every day driving.
Have a 94 Roadmaster with LT1. 180k on the clock and runs as good as the day it was new. I cringe at the quality of their new car construction. These were tried and true GM cars!
Bought a new 1996 Impala SS! Loved that car! Owned it for 4 years, drove like a Dream!
I also bought a new ImpalaSS in 1996. Was a great car, and we drove it everywhere. Great power and fuel mileage. Made BIG mistake to trade it on a new Trailblazer in 2002. Would like to have it back!!
My very first car was a black 96 ss… My dream car and u drive it into the ground, but that\’s what your supposed to do with a first car rite lol.. Then 2 years later when I blew 2 cylinder I sold the black one n got the burgundy one with low miles n very clean all around.. I loved that car but then all good things must come to an end.. Long story short I now have a new Nissan sentra and miss the he\’ll out of my impalas.. Best cars ever made
I agree with Bryan on my first time seeing the new, bulbous version of the Caprice. It was the complete opposite of the box on a box design. It was blue and I immediately thought GM’s inspiration was a sperm whale with tires.
But by 1996, they got the Impala SS looking really cool. But, in GM’s typical fashion, they got a vehicle finally sorted out and they then immediately stop building it.