AMERICAN ICONS KENNETH SPEARS’
CONTENTS
...................................................1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA ..................1962 CHEVROLET SPORTS COUPE IMPALA .............................................1963 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS .............................................1965 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS ................................................................1987 FORD BRONCO
1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA
The production Impala debuted in the fall of 1957 and wore en vogue quad headlamps, a wide mesh grille and sporty faux air outlets on the roof and fenders. With the Impala's copious chrome trim and impressive visage, the fanciest Chevrolets bore more than a passing resemblance to the Cadillacs of the day. The story was similar inside, where the Impala's colorful three-tone seat fabrics, sporty drilled-spoke steering wheel and ample chrome trim created a "rolling jukebox" effect.
1962 CHEVROLET SPORTS COUPE IMPALA
The Impala's Super Sport option debuted in 1961, and it continued into 1962 with the sports-car assist bar, aluminum side-molding insert, and SS identification. Chevrolet described the 1962 Impala as 'a rare combination of qualities' with 'a new look of richness.' Each Impala model had its own roofline, including the Sport Coupe with 'exclusive convertiblecontoured' hardtop.
1963 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
Simply saying that business was booming for Chevrolet by the close of 1962 would be an understatement. The automaker was number one in U.S. vehicle sales, and its parent General Motors had claimed over 50 percent of the market. The Beach Boys even released a song about Chevrolet's famed high-performance engine option entitled "409."Chevrolet's latest weapon in the sales wars was the "JetSmooth" riding 1963 Impala SS, featuring a handsomely redesigned body. Though the stylish convertible-like hardtop silhouette remained, straight A-pillars modernized the roof design.
1965 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
Despite that great sales success, Chevrolet decided to revamp the styling for 1965 and came up with another winner; sales of 1.7 million topped even the 1955 landmark, when more than 1.6 million cars were sold. In 1965, Chevrolet's full-size offerings were the freshest from the division in a decade. They were about 120 pounds heavier than their predecessors and, with a new semi-fastback design, were a radical departure from anything seen before.
1987 FORD BRONCO
For the Bronco’s 4th generation, the previous years’ trend toward aerodynamic design forged ahead, with sculpted edges (both inside and out) replacing boxy corners. On the engineering side, new powertrain and safety updates took center stage. Affectionately known in enthusiast circles as the “brick nose,” the 1987 Bronco boasted a more aerodynamic silhouette than its “bull nose” predecessors. Right angles and jutting edges gave way to dynamic sloping lines for the body, bumpers and mirrors, and headlights were flush with the front end. A revamped interior featured rounded surfaces in the dashboard, instrument cluster and climate controls.
