Spotless 1968 Impala Packs Nearly 1,000 Horsepower!

Looks like a clean 1968 Chevy Impala fastback with some custom wheels, but the turbo LS delivers 842 wheel horsepower.

Many restomods combine modern power and some modern design cues with classic lines, but this 1968 Chevrolet Impala fastback maintains the stock look while packing monster power. This old school Chevy two-door was posted to the LS1Tech Marketplace by “alocker” and if you want a clean 1968 Impala with big, modern power, you are going to have a hard time finding something better than this.

Inside and out, it maintains the classic look with the exception of a slight drop and some modern, classic-looking wheels, but the drivetrain has been beefed up to compete with today’s high performance machines.

Introducing the Impala

When the OP posted this immaculate 1968 Impala for sale on the forum, he provided a ton of background on the car, along with why he is looking to sell, how the car is currently financed and, of course, he shared an elaborate mod list. We have trimmed some of the information out, but if you are a serious buyer, click here to get all of the details in the sale post.

I’m on the fence about selling but have been thinking about it for awhile. It would help my finances out to free up the cash.

I have owned it since October of 2012. I purchased it from the owner of a bodyshop who painted this car as his own personal project. The paint is a very nice Tuxedo Black that drops jaws everywhere. It was painted about 10-12 years ago and I polish it every other year. The car was originally a 327/250 HP Powerglide 10 bolt car. I still have the complete numbers matching drivetrain available if the buyer wants it.

This car has been sorted over about 4,000 miles and runs great. Currently tuned on E85 to run up to 19psi. That produced 842 RWHP on a Dynojet. My wife loves to drive it and it’s a pussycat off boost but when it comes in, you better be pointed in the right direction. My wife and 3 young boys love to cruise in it. The full size body style makes a big difference in interior comfort. I’ve had Chevelle’s and they are actually pretty tight compared to this. I’m 6’2″ and the 6 way power bench gets the seat perfect. The car has a lot of custom touches while keeping the Factory feel. It has some unique one off features like the intercooler housing using stock parts and the customer cup holder in the Strato-Bench armrest. The secret horn button 2-step and switchable boost activated exhaust cutout is fun too! Everything works except the ammeter in the dash, I have a gen light hooked up though in the factory spot. Even the key buzzer and lighter still work great.

U14 Factory Tach Dash with working temp, oil, tach, and speedo.
Strato-Bench seat with 6-Way power adjustment
6.0 LY6 with Gapped 1st and 2nd rings.
823 Square port heads with valve job
LS3 Intake
ARP Head Studs
LS9 Head Gaskets
JFR 218/224 Rectangle Port Turbo Cam
Custom Dewitts Radiator
BTR Valve Springs
Borg Warner cast S475 T4 1.25 83mm with race cover-Ceramic coated turbine housing and hot side
4L80e built by me with a Jakes’s Stage 3 kit (300m input shaft, billet front hub, Sprag, Rollerized)
JFR Yank PY3400 triple disk converter
4″ Aluminum driveshaft with billet yokes
12 Bolt with US Gears 3.31 Ratio and Detroit Tru-Trac
Dual ZL1 Fuel Pump Modules
Vaporworx/Pressureworx PWM boost referenced fuel pressure control module
ID 1000 Injectors
Innovate SCG-1 Wideband/Boost controller
Spec fuel pressure gauge
JGS-500R Wastegate with heavy spring
JGS 50mm BOV
Garrett 12x24x3.5 air to air intercooler
Viking Double Adjustable Shock all around with coil overs in front
Helwig Sway bars
Tubular front control Arms
Umi adjustable rear upper control arms

It’s hard to price a car like this. There are not many clean 68’s out there let alone one with a drivetrain like this. I’m throwing $39,500 as a starting point and always willing to entertain offers. The car does have a lien through my local credit union. Good news is they finance classic cars and I would be happy to help you get it financed through them also making it an easy transaction. My current rate is 2.99%. I have actually used this car as a bank for other finances because it does not depreciate. A newer Vette or Camaro won’t have that feature.

The OP also included a ton of pictures, several of which we have included here. Again, there is much more detail, including pictures, in the sale thread.

Classic Look, Modern Power

If you like the look of the 1968 Impala fastback in its unaltered state, this car is a masterpiece. It sits a little lower than it would have in stock form and it has modern wheels, but the wheels have a classic look that fit with the old school lines.

On the inside, the owner has added an adjustable bench seat, so it looks era-correct, but it offers more comfort than an actual bench seat from the 1960s. There are a few gauges added under the dash, but the factor gauge cluster is original-looking, as it the dash, the door panels and the carpeting, with tons of red and chrome.

In short, this Impala looks like a clean, restored show car, but the real story is under the hood. With 842 horsepower, this classic Chevy has to be insanely fast. We aren’t sure how much traction it will get with the relatively slim rear tires, but it has to pull like a beast through the mid-range.

If you have ever thought about having a classic Impala that will beat modern muscle cars with a turbocharged LS engine, you aren’t likely to find a better option than this 1968 Chevy fastback.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com