Why you Ought to use Traveler’s Insurance on Luxurious Trips
Styling changes to the 1969 Chevrolet Impala and other full-size Chevys gave the line a bigger, more imposing look. Wheelbases remained at 119 inches — just three inches longer than four-door Chevelles. Reshaped fenders bulged around each wheel well. The 1969 Chevrolet Impala and other full-size cars were redesigned to give them a sculptured look on their bodysides and a slightly longer appearance overall, but kinship to prior models was obvious.
While the Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet Caprice Classic sedans continued to anchor Chevy’s full-size lineup, the Chevrolet Caprice Classic coupe returned to the ranks for 1984. The Caprice Classic coupe had been dropped at the end of the 1982 model year. Windshield wiper controls were moved from the dash to a more convenient location on the turn-signal stalk, while the optional cruise control now allowed incremental speed changes of one mph at a time. Other changes to Chevy’s big rear-drive cars were fairly minor. Powertrains remained much the same as before, with a Chevy-built 110-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6 standard in coupes and sedans (a similar Buick V-6 again went into California cars). The 1984 Caprice Classic coupe, was the sole two-door vehicle offered in the full-size Caprice/Impala line and garnered nearly 20,000 orders for the year.
New windows lacked ventipanes but promised greater visibility. Biscayne again served as the lowest-priced full-size model — and looked the part. Most Chevrolets got hidden wipers. Plush new interiors also helped attract buyers. The formal Custom Coupe, previously a Caprice exclusive, became available as an Impala. Retractable headlights cost $79, but few were sold, despite the clean front-end look they helped create. Bel Airs continued to lure middle-of-the-roaders, but Impala overwhelmed the sales charts, as it had for years. Standard front ends had a new face, while rear bumpers held triple “horseshoe” shaped taillights. Astro Ventilation was supposed to pull in outside air without having to crack open a window.
As usual, they were the top sellers by far, with 889,600 built (including an impressive 185,523 Super Sports). Engine offerings ranged from a 140-horsepower six through V-8s of 283, 327, and 409 cubic inches, the last described as “especially saucy in highway passing situations.” V-8s whipped up from 195 to 425 horsepower, and top engines could get Delcotronic all-transistor ignition. Picking a powertrain wasn’t easy — not with seven engines and four transmissions to choose from. The 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS and other full-size cars got rounded bodysides, a higher beltline, and an aggressive rear-quarter bulge that year.
