A Comprehensive Guide To Maintenance Costs, Reliability, And Average Prices

The Chevrolet Impala wasn’t just the most popular GM car, it was one of the best-selling American vehicles of all time. Made continuously from 1958 to 1985, with a brief reboot in the mid-1990s, and then from 2000 through 2020, more than 16.8 million Impalas have been sold. In 1967 alone, Chevy moved 575,600 units and, because of both the classic styling and legendary reliability, many of them are still on the road today.

Thanks to the sheer volume of cars produced and the overall coolness factor, fourth-generation Impalas (1964-1970) are popular with classic car hobbyists, pro-stock drag racers, and low-rider enthusiasts. A low-mileage all-original 1967 Impala delivers a relatively maintenance-free driving experience, while a fully-restored one can deliver decades without major repair costs. Detroit knew how to build ’em back then and these are some of the most solid cars one could hope to own.

This guide provides comprehensive information provided by the manufacturer. Top Speed sourced additional data for maintenance costs (CarEdge, RepairPal), reliability (Carsurvey.org), and average prices (Hagerty Valuation Tool, Classic.com).

Maintenance And Repairs

CarEdge reports that the average maintenance and repair cost for a Chevrolet Impala over 10 years is $6,524, which is 2.24 percent better than similar vehicles. They also note that there is a 19.26% chance that a major repair (over $500) will occur in a decade of driving. This is most certainly based on more recent Impalas, but the maintenance costs are based on oil changes, general tune-ups, as well as tire rotations, and replacements, so these numbers apply to a 1967 as well.

Most Common 1967 Chevrolet Impala Problems Reported

• Break caliper and pad replacement
• Alternator
• Water pump
• Carburetor
• Fuel line

Unlike a new car, a 1967 Impala is a classic, and technically an antique, so picking one up now doesn’t come with a factory warranty. They can either be a low-mileage original, a full restoration, or a project car. Restoring a car from the frame up doesn’t count as maintenance, but even rebuilding an old Impala can be cheaper than buying a brand-new performance vehicle.

Repairs And Pricing Info

Restoring a classic car can be a money pit, but Impalas are ubiquitous, so their parts are cheaper and more available than old Mopars. Costs can be kept even lower by doing the work yourself, which is usually how a project car works. If a restored Impala encounters a mechanical issue, there’s nothing on that car that isn’t easily fixed, plus it won’t break the bank.

Recalls And Safety Investigations

Both of these recalls came over a decade after the 1967 Impala was built and neither have anything to do with the quality of the car. The first involves rusted floorboards allowing exhaust fumes to enter the cabin, causing possible carbon monoxide poisoning. The second is that missing engine mounts can cause the engine to lift, which would stretch the throttle cable and make the car accelerate.

Reliability, Running Costs, And Expected Mileage

Carsurvey.org only has a single-owner review of the 1967 Chevrolet Impala, but that person gives the car high marks in reliability and running costs. The Impala owner also praised the durability of the vehicle. It is important to note that this particular owner is in Europe, and claims the Impala has done some “hard driving in German autobahns,” so that’s probably a big endorsement for the overall quality of the car. None of the other major car sites like J.D. Power and CarEdge have rankings for the reliability of the 1967 Impala.

Reliability Rating: 8/10

One 1967 Impala owner provided reliability scores on Carsurvey.org, totaling the average reliability to 8 out of 10:

The Impala owner replaced the water pump at 503,310 miles, the universal joint at 521,951 miles, and the engine at 540,592. Getting over a half-million miles out of these parts shows how insanely reliable the ’67 is.

Running Costs: 9/10

One 1967 Impala owner provided running cost scores on Carsurvey.org, totaling the average running cost to 8 out of 10:

The Impala reviewer made numerous comments on how cheap it is to replace parts on the ’67. Even in Europe, the owner was able to find and install Chevrolet parts affordably, which makes it more attractive in the U.S.

Highest Miles Reported: 559,234

One 1967 Impala owner provided the highest miles reported scores on Carsurvey.org, totaling the average miles reported to 559,234:

This Impala owner put 900,000 kilometers on the ’67, which translates into 559,234 miles. That also translates into one heck of a long-lasting and reliable set of wheels.

Pricing And Values

Valuation Highlights

These values from Hagerty are for the 1967 Chevrolet Impala two-door sports coupe with a 283ci V-8 engine. As is the case with all classic rides, what’s under the hood matters as Classic.com has cataloged numerous ’67 Impala SS427s selling for six figures. The average auction price for all ’67 Impalas is $40,872 with the highest sale at $132,000 and the lowest at $14,850.

What To Look For Before Buying

Purchasing a classic like the 1967 Chevy Impala isn’t the same thing as shopping for a new crossover SUV. Things like fuel economy, third-row seating, and advanced tech are not concerns. The biggest thing is finding the right balance between condition and price. They can be picked up cheaper if the buyer is willing to put some restoration time and dollars into it, or splurge a little more will return a car show-ready set of wheels.

First Thing To Look For

The engine is easily the most important thing to look at with a 1967 Impala. They came standard with the 250ci Turbo Thrift inline-six, which wasn’t turbocharged and should be a deal-breaker unless there are plans for a more powerful swap. The bare minimum should be the 283ci V-8, and obviously, the 327, 396, and 427 are more desirable. There’s no point in getting something as cool as a classic Impala if it doesn’t have some push under the hood.

Second Thing To Look For

Before purchasing a 1967 Impala, it’s important to do a quick door count. If it has more than two, it’s better to keep looking. The ’67 came configured as a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan, as well as a station wagon, and it’s not hard to figure out which one of those is the most desirable. Part of purchasing a classic ride is the expectation that it will increase in value and four-door Impalas are not remotely collectible.

Third Thing To Look For

If it’s a vehicle over 10 years old, the biggest worry is rust. 1967 was way before undercoating and rust protection were standard, so look for holes in the floor as well as the trunk bed. A design flaw of most cars from the ’60s and ’70s is that leaves and debris build up in the front fenders, becoming a moisture sponge that rots through the sheet metal. It would be smart to bring a magnet to make sure the fenders and lower doors aren’t mostly Bondo, hiding significant corrosion.

Is It Worth Buying A 1967 Chevrolet Impala?

In terms of classic cars, the 1967 Chevrolet Impala is an incredible bargain. If, as Hagerty reported, a pristine two-door coupe can be picked up for under $30,000, that leaves a lot in the budget to upgrade the engine. A factory-rebuilt 427ci V-8 can be had for under $10,000 and suddenly, this is a 100-point muscle car performance monster. Or, the Concours-quality Impala could be left alone for a classically cool, reliable daily driver that costs less than most new base-model vehicles.