Auction Pick of the Week: Lingenfelter-Modified 1995 Chevrolet Impala SS Six-Speed

In the early 1990s, things looked grim for the large family sedan. The minivan was rapidly gaining territory as the American family hauler of choice, chomping away at a space once utterly dominated by the big-bodied automobile. As the Big Three sought to adapt to changing market tastes, little thought (and money) was granted to the platforms that underpinned four-door, big-motored vehicles with bench seating for six and trunks for another few. They realized that smart money might drag aging platforms into another decade of service, even if it would potentially be their last.

But before the big sedan’s curtain fell, General Motors sought to give its aging B-body platform, which had just been redesigned in 1991, one last shot of sizzle. At the 1992 Detroit auto show, The General debuted the Impala SS concept, resurrecting a name that had been dormant for more than 20 years. The brainchild of designer Jon Moss, the Impala SS concept boasted blacked-out bodywork, big-block V-8 power, and a menacing stance. It was an immediate hit, so much so that GM opted to greenlight production of such a beast.

By the time the Impala SS reached production lines in 1994, the car’s formula had been softened quite a bit. Gone was the 510-cubic-inch big-block; in its place, a detuned version of the 350-cubic-inch LT1 V-8 found in the contemporary C4 Corvette. Though the LT1 lacked the punch of a big-block, it still produced 260 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, figures good enough to propel the two-ton bruiser to 60 mph from a standstill in around 7 seconds.

Blessedly, the river-stone-smooth bodywork, which was essentially cribbed wholesale from the slow-selling Caprice and treated to heaps of black paint, remained. Underneath that bodywork was a chassis that remained virtually unchanged since it’s inception in 1977 for the third-generation Caprice. To match the performance of the LT1, the Impala SS scored the 9C1 police car package which provided an upgraded and lowered suspension, a high-capacity cooling system, dual exhaust, a transmission cooler, and larger disc brakes for the rear. A limited-slip differential was also fitted, as were gorgeous 17-inch cast aluminum wheels.

The overall proposition of the Impala SS struck a dying, perhaps dormant chord with American buyers. When production ended just three years later in 1996, more than 69,000 units had found their way onto our highways and byways.

Five-figure-production runs do not a rare sleeper muscle car make, but this 1995 example, currently offered on Hagerty Marketplace, boasts a little something extra under the hood that will help it stand out: The car’s LT1 V-8 has worshipped at the altar of Lingenfelter, a storied name in the world of aftermarket GM performance. It now boasts a displacement of 383 cu-in and a handful of other upgrades that juice output to a claimed 440 horsepower.

Other drivetrain upgrades include a Tremec T56 six-speed manual transmission in place of the 4L60E automatic, 4.10 rear gears, a two-stage clutch, a Borla stainless steel exhaust, and more. When this car was cataloged for Hagerty Marketplace, its odometer showed just 54,445 miles.

It’s a well-equipped example elsewhere too, boasting convenience features such as a power antenna, leather seating surfaces, a PASS-Key II theft-deterrent system, an adjustable steering column, a power trunk opener, and much more. The only stated imperfections, according to the listing, are a bit of peeling clearcoat on the roof, hood, C-pillar, and driver’s-side doors.

To many, the Impala SS marked the end of an era in automotive history. If you’re into those “last-of-their-kind” vehicles, this example is a blue-chip piece. Add in the extra helping of power and that sweet six-speed, and this might just be the perfect rendition of a sleeper muscle car. The auction comes to an end on Monday, November 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET, giving you a few days to get your ducks in a row before you toss a bid or two into the fray.

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