'Impalasaurus' Returns: Wild 1960 Chevy Bel Air With 632ci Still Drops 8-Second ETs

They say that legends never die – they just transform. Well, some of them also stay the same – and that's valid for the automotive industry, too. In particular, that's the truth about a wild ride that was executed for the delight of local quarter-mile dragstrip crowds.

But there's no need to take our word for granted – here's an eloquent example. The videographer behind Race Your Ride recounts the story of how, a few years back, he had the pleasure of stumbling upon a crazy race car with a storied past. "This unique vehicle – a wild wheel-standing 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air - had captured the hearts of fans, leaving an indelible mark on the drag racing scene."

According to the description, this ride – affectionately called 'Impalasaurus' because of its ferociousness, was built like this by the original owner, Steve Scott, from Harvard, Illinois. The story chronicles that he was one of the lucky few to share a passion for racing with his wife, Nancy, and they especially loved their beautiful 1960 Chevy Bel Air.

They were even a part of the Midwest Super Stock Mafia group, and that quickly gained them notoriety among automotive fans as the car was capable of powerful wheels-up performance and still nailed eight-second elapsed times. The channel's host admits that he's got a soft spot for the cars of the 1950s and 1960s, and he even owned a 1960 Chevy at one point – so his own nostalgia kicked in.

So, he quickly found out that Steve began his crazy journey alongside the Bel Air some two decades ago when the car was bought stock with a bench seat, 283ci engine good for 170 hp, and a two-speed Powerglide transmission. While initially it was supposed to remain a street car, the owner's vision ultimately made it a beast – he first swapped it with a 502ci crate engine, a Turbo 400 transmission, and a Dana 60 rear end.

The car debuted at Byron Dragway to begin its wild journey around quarter-mile dragstrips. Still, soon enough, it got treated to a new engine – a "naturally aspirated 632ci powerhouse," which ultimately earned it the nickname 'Impalasaurus' after Steve also performed a personal best of 8.39s. However, nowadays, there's a new owner behind the wheel, and the videographer couldn't help but wonder if Chevy's fate hangs in the balance or not when he sees it again at Byron.

Well, as it turns out, he does not need to worry about it. So, after a short walkaround presentation, we see the Bel Air line up for a quick solo run following the classic smokey burnout. The wheelie times aren't over yet, as it turns out, and the Chevy then roars down the racetrack to a very nice 8.77s pass at almost 129 miles per hour!