Sleek styling, a big V8, and rear-wheel drive make the 1994-1996 Chevrolet Impala SS a modern classic.
Let’s face it. Every decade has its share of less-than-awesome vehicles. The 1990s are no exception and were littered with bland small cars and hatchbacks. But a lot of cool cars came out in the ’90s, too. The Chevrolet Impala SS was one of them.
Although it certainly wasn’t the only car that GM built on the B platform, it definitely was the most attractive one. Just take a look at this 1996 model that GatewayClassicCars is featuring in its latest video. It doesn’t need a lot of chrome or a bulging hood or flashy wheels to get attention. It’s dark, wears minimal brightwork and tonal “Impala SS” badges, and rides low on understated five-spoke wheels wrapped in Nitto NT555 tires, according to Gateway. Even though it’s a 23-year-old car, it’s immediately recognizable. There’s no mistaking this bruiser of a cruiser for anything else.
Under the hood, there’s an honest-to-goodness V8. No EcoTec 4-banger or V6. Just 5.7 liters of naturally aspirated LT1 goodness that produces 260 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque, which is routed through a 4-speed automatic and the rear wheels.
The interior isn’t the most exciting color, but it appears to be in great shape and has cushy seating for both rows of passengers. Just below the analog tachometer and speedometer, the odometer shows this Clinton-era legend has only covered 93,562 miles, which is a little more than 4,000 miles a year.
There have been other Impalas since the mid-1990s version of it, but none of them have Corvette power or the badass edge that this model has. It was a turning point for the legendary nameplate, which has never been the same. The good news is that not all of these SS models have been hermetically sealed in garages or wrecked. In addition to this 1996 model, which is going for $15,995, Gateway has six other Impala SSs for sale around the country.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
