Parked and Forgotten 1972 Chevrolet Impala Is a True One-Owner Convertible Gem

While the yearly sales declined, the Impala remained the main sales engine catalyst for Chevrolet at the start of the next decade.

The 1972 model year is living proof. The Impala dominated sales in the full-size series, shipping over 587,000 units. The Caprice, which debuted in 1965 as an Impala version and was promoted to a stand-alone series a year later, finished the year second with 178,500 units.

The Bel Air, which brought home the bacon during the '50s and eventually gave birth to the Impala in 1958, received only 41,900 orders. The Biscayne, now in its last year on the market, totaled 20,500 units.

Customers who walked into a Chevrolet dealership in 1972 were first offered the base 250 six paired with a three-speed manual transmission. However, it didn't take long before Chevrolet gave up on the straight-six and went all-in on the V8-powered Impala. Some estimates indicate that approximately 1,500 Impalas rolled off the assembly lines with the lazy six-cylinder unit, but the actual number is unknown.

The V8-fitted Impala made more sense for American buyers after over a decade of struggle with "oddities" like six-cylinder-powered Super Sports. The new lineup included a 350 V8 as standard, with the power rated at 165 horsepower (the net numbers). Customers could also pick from a long list of options, including the more powerful 400 and 454.

The Impala in these photos left the factory with a 400ci engine, and the same unit is still in the car. I hate to start talking about this once-gorgeous Impala with the bad news, but the engine no longer starts. Anyone can easily determine why by clicking the photos in the gallery – the car has been sitting for a long time, and the engine was one of the victims of the tenure off the road.

However, while the engine is no longer running, the under-the-hood chapter still brings good news. eBay seller jasper10354 says the engine turns over, so a good mechanic should be able to get it up and running – make sure you inspect it in person before committing to a purchase so that you can evaluate your chances for fixing the engine before throwing your money out the window.

This Impala checks all the big boxes for a solid restoration candidate, starting with its body style. The car is a convertible that spent its entire life with the same owner. As a one-owner Impala, it has obviously been abandoned for a while, and the seller explains on eBay that the car was parked in 1991. The owner later forgot about the car, keeping it locked in the garage without regular maintenance or drives. You can imagine what this means for a vehicle whose place is on the road, so the engine issues are not surprising.

The paint on the body is no longer the original finish that Chevrolet sprayed before the Impala waved goodbye to the factory. The owner says "it's been repainted once," but you'll need to spray a new coat of layer if you want an Impala in tip-top shape.

The good news is that this Impala has never been apart. It never served as a donor either, so it's complete, with the air conditioning compressor sitting in the trunk. The dash is also complete and has the original radio.

The odometer also reveals good numbers, which makes sense, considering this convertible has been sitting for over three decades. The car has only 40K miles on the clock, and it's believed the mileage is original, albeit you should closely investigate this claim, especially considering the engine is no longer running.

The only mysterious bit hides under the car. An Impala sitting for decades could come with rusty floors and similar damage in the trunk, so you're recommended to put this car on a lift to inspect the undersides. The owner doesn't share any specifics regarding the floors, but they claim that the rockers are solid.

A 1972 Impala convertible in such good shape and with so many original features is rare, and this is the reason so many people are fighting to take this car home. The auction started last week and is now approaching its end, with 25 bids recorded eight hours before the bidding closes. The top offer is $12,400, and considering the auction comes without a reserve, the Impala will go to whoever sends the highest bid.

The car is parked in Manahawkin, New Jersey, and considering the engine no longer starts and runs, you should also take care of transportation if you submit the winning bid. The auction will end later today, so this is the time to decide if this Impala should be your next big project.