*1965 Chevy Impala (Foose)*

[Zippi]

I won't be starting on this kit for a while but this 65 Impala body has been my test body for paint so I decided it's time to go ahead and build it as it's been in the drink one to many times.  Like all my kits I like to pull everything out of the box and go through it to see if there are any missing or broken parts.  I saw the 409 CID engine decals and got excited but it does not have it.  Since Chip Fosse's "Impostor" 1:1 is setting on a 2008 C6 Corvette Chassis I assume this is a 6.2L LS3 engine.  Really like the 409 as a friend of mine back in the day had a white 64 with the 2X4 Rochester carbs from the factory.  Can't mistake the engine with that distinctive head shape.  Any comments on the kit from someone that has built it? 

Edited May 26, 2021 by Zippi

[Can-Con]

The kit is not supposed to be the "Imposter" Impala It's supposed to have the look of an Impala that was on the show. 

The kit is just the regular '65 Impala kit with wheels decals and some engine dress up parts added. The engine is a '65 era 396 big block, not any kind of an LS.

Here's a link to the page I got the pics from.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/1965-chevy-impala/

Edited May 26, 2021 by Can-Con

[Zippi]

Thanks for the info and link Steve. 

[misterNNL]

The Imposter Impala actually was a brand new 2009 Corvette purchased off the showroom floor from a dealer near Foose's shop. It was stretched 7" then cloaked in the Impala skin after said skin was selectively shortened by 14". One of my favorite customs.

[stitchdup]

If you want to build the imposter this might help, at its unveiling foose had a stocker with the cuts marked on it for comparison. This is the only pic I could find but every cut was marked on one side

[Zippi]

Thanks for that pic Les.  I pretty much do box stock.

[afx]

 

[slusher]

I don’t think the engine on the tree is a 409 friend….

[kruleworld]

18 hours ago, afx said:

Youtube

i see the drawing behind Foose is probably a rear axle, but it looks like a sketch of a Star Destroyer...

[Zippi]

Thanks for all the info fellows.  Yeah....no 409 Carl but it's a slick looking car.  

[bisc63]

The convertible version of Revell's '65 Impala had the 409 in it. Last year for the 409 in a passenger car, and fairly rare in '65.

[slusher]

6 hours ago, bisc63 said:

The convertible version of Revell's '65 Impala had the 409 in it. Last year for the 409 in a passenger car, and fairly rare in '65.

Rusty I really admire the knowledge some of the men on this forum knows. I will remember that.

[bisc63]

A lot of folks were surprised at R/M's choice to put the 409 in the kit because it was so unusual. Many (including me) would have been happier with an equally detailed 327 for a change. Heck, not EVERY car needs to be a big block!

[slusher]

3 minutes ago, bisc63 said:

A lot of folks were surprised at R/M's choice to put the 409 in the kit because it was so unusual. Many (including me) would have been happier with an equally detailed 327 for a change. Heck, not EVERY car needs to be a big block!

the heads and valve cover doesn’t look like a 409 but I may be wrong, you men know more the me..

[bisc63]

7 hours ago, slusher said:

the heads and valve cover doesn’t look like a 409

You may have the lowrider version, which contains a 396. The bone stock convertible has the 409. Here's a sprue shot and some cool informative reading:

 

[papajohn97]

Hey Bob, I’m with you on the 409 love. One of my favorite kits is AMT’s ‘62 Bel Air, particularly the most recent SS “Northwind” SS drag version. Besides a nice 409 block, this kit includes additional carb, manifold and exhaust header options as well as other race parts. This is one of AMT’s better kits and I highly recommend it if you’re into 409’s.

Ive always loved the lines of the 65 Impala, still looks futuristic to me 56 years later and is one of GM’s best looking cars IMO. I look forward to watching you have fun with this Foose kit. Cheers, John

[Zippi]

Thanks for all the info fellows.  I haven't really been working on this kit but I did go ahead and get the distributor wired and painted.  

[Zippi]

I got the engine assembled.  Not my best work but it works for me.  

[BlackSheep214]

Looking good so far. I used to watch Chip Foose’s creations on Discovery Channel(?). But the more I watched it, the more I hated his creations as the shows and episodes went on. 

[MarkJ]

Coming along nicely. Engine looks topnotch.

[TransAmMike]

Yep Bob, engine looks great!!?

[Bills72sj]

My younger brother owned a light metallic blue 65 Impala Super Sport. By the time that he got it in 1976 or so, it had a 350 SBC and a Powerglide. He beat on that poor car mercilessly. One of his favorite things to do was go "Drift busting" which is blasting through snow drifts before the snow plows could clear them away. You can't do that in today's cars. You would get an air bag in your face.

[doorsovdoon]

Beautifully done engine, very nice.

[Zippi]

Thanks fellows, I appreciate the feedback.

[slusher]

22 hours ago, Zippi said:

I got the engine assembled.  Not my best work but it works for me.  

Great looking engine Bob!