You don’t have to be a ‘Supernatural’ fan to take one look at this classic beauty and fall in love. The 67 Chevy Impala was more than just a prop on the popular TV show. Dean’s “Baby” had personality! The Winchesters’ home-on-wheels, storage space, and a demon-hunting machine are all rolled into one car. So, what makes this 60s hardtop worth the collectors’ interest beyond its acting chops?
In the early 60s, Chevrolet veered towards a subtle design. But the bright trim that adds a touch of luxury wasn’t the only stand-out feature of the redesigned models. Versatile and powerful with full-sized comfort – this is a car people loved to own in the 60s. And even now, it has many takers.
Rolled out during the 1965 – 1970 model years, the Chevrolet Impala (Fourth Generation) is one of the easily recognized classics today. The 15-season CW TV show Supernatural significantly impacted the 67 Chevy Impala prices, going through the roof. Fortunately, the Chevy Impala has what it takes to live up to its primetime fame.
The Chevy Impala in 1965
When the ’65 model came out, it set an all-time record with annual sales of over 1 million in the US. Rounded sides, hood contours, and curved frameless side glass with sharp windshields make it quite the looker. The interiors also got more chrome with the tufted and pleated upholstery.
Chevrolet banked on its wide-stance design, full-coil suspension, and adhesively bonded windshields for promotion. A full-width Girder-Guard perimeter frame and two-speed automatic transmission were added to the redesign. In addition, 3 and 4-speed manual and Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmissions were the other options. Along with the Turbo-Thrift, 65 Chevy Impalas had small-block and big-block V8 engine options.
67 Chevy Impala – The Upgrade
After minor upgrades in 1966, including a horizontal bar grille in the front and triple rectangular taillights, the Impala got its Coke-Bottle styling in ’67. The contours of the classic Coke glass bottle inspire the narrow center with flaring fenders of this style. In addition, the Sport Coupes feature a sleek fastback roofline, flowing unbroken in a line to the rear deck.
Here’s everything else that makes the 67 Chevy Impala a classic to look out for:
67 Impala Engine Power
Mostly a carryover from the ’66 model, the 67 Chevy Impala comes with a 250 cubic-inch Turbo-Thrift 6 and a 283 cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V-8 for the base model. After that, the 327 cubic-inch Turbo-Fire V-8 and the 396 cubic-inch Turbo Jet V-8 were the higher options. Finally, the top offering is a 427 cubic-inch Turbo Jet V-8 with 385 horsepower. The ’67 specs do not list the 425-horsepower version in the ’66 models.
The two-range Powerglide automatic from ’66 was replaced with the three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic for the big-block 396, 327 V-8, and 427 V-8 engines.
New Safety Features for the Impala
Complying with federal regulations, Chevrolet added side marker lights and energy-absorbing collapsible steering columns to the 67 Impalas. Closed models also have shoulder belts for improved safety.
Plush interiors for 67 Impalas
For most closed-body 67 Impala models, cloth-and-vinyl upholstery is standard. But all sedans and coupes had the option to go all-vinyl at extra cost, with multiple color choices. The vinyl trim is standard for 67 Impala station wagon and convertible models. Before the 1967 Chevy Impala, only sports coupes and sedans hardtops had all-vinyl trims in black.
Other ’67 Chevy Impala features
- Front disc brakes were standard for Impala SS-427s
- Stereo 8-track player
- Vacuum-power door locks
- Fiber-optic light monitoring
- Carpeting on the lower section of the door panels
1967 Chevy Impala SS
The ’67 Impala Super Sport has fewer decorations. Lesser models have brightwork. The grille, body-side, and rear fender moldings have black accents. The seating choices are a center console with vinyl bucket seats or a fold-down armrest with a Strato-Bench. Standard wheel covers feature the “SS” logo with a tri-color red, white, and blue ring.
Out of 76,055 Impala SS models, 2124 had the special performance package with RPO Z24, RPO L36 Turbo-Jet 427 V8, and special “SS427” emblems on the front grille and rear trim. These cars did not have “Impala” anywhere on the body and were marketed as Chevrolet SS427.
67 Chevy Impala on Supernatural
So, the big question is, which 67 Chevy Impala starred in Supernatural?
It’s a 1967 black hardtop, four-door Chevrolet Impala that stretches 18 feet. Dean Winchester’s “Baby” gets its (not so supernatural) powers from a 502 cubic-inch big-block V8. It has Hotchkiss suspension, bench seating, a cassette deck, a line lock, and a trunk big enough for a demon-hunting weapons stash.
However, “Metallicar”—as the loyal fans have dubbed it—is not one but nine identical cars used in filming. The crew maintains one “Hero Car” in good condition for the less-violent scenes. The other stand-ins have movable sections to fit cameras or are used for crashes and chases.
The 67 Chevy Impala is a great addition to the Supernatural storyline and adds to the show’s appeal. But the car has endured a lot over the 15 seasons. Winchester’s trusty black Impala always bounces back and drives out to AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” or “Back in Black.”
Renée Martin is a travel and car expert who focuses on road and air travel in the U.S. For the past 6 years, she’s been helping make driving and trip planning easier and budget-friendly for everyday travelers.
