America's Bicentennial Car - 1974 Chevrolet Impala Spirit Of America
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- The 1974 Impala Spirit of America wasn't the only special edition car that commemorated America's Bicentennial, but it was the only one that truly exemplified the "All American" car of this era. Watch the video to find out why the Impala Spirit of America was truly America's Bicentennial car.
I had one once white with the red interior. Two barrel 350 but the old girl moved out just fine. I bought it from the original owner who bought it when she was 17 and never drove it and garged it but didn't take care of it. I bought it off of her and had to spend quite a bit of money getting her running right I spent a fortune having her repainted. I was single and had money back then and then I garageed her and took her out only on the weekends. Then I got married and quickly my family grew and then we needed a car to drive and so into service she went just like Chevy wanted. She became my wife's everyday car with car seats lol. My wife was driven to our wedding at the church in her The two prettiest ladies in my life. I still have the pictures. Ahhh the memories. Thank you for this video. It was a wonderful walk down memory lane.
Chris S awesome history man wow 🙏🏼❤️
Nice!
Nice story thank you sharing!
There's nothing quite like driving a car that has a hood the size of a picnic table.
The chevy vert ? ??
Drove a '76 four door Impala all though college in the 1980's. Dad bought it from his company's fleet program in '79 for $1,700. Reliable as dirt and solid. Wish I'd kept it.
Big Impalas are what I remember seeing as a young kid back in the early to mid 70s. They were everywhere.
I had a '72. Good memories there. Easy to drive, almost easier to work on and good looking to boot!
Great cars, I spent the 1980's working as an automobile mechanic and while I think that all three of the American car company's made some great cars in the 70's I honestly thought that the one's from GM were the best of the three, it just seemed like their brakes, air conditioning systems, engines, body's and just about everything else was just a bit better then what came from the other two.
I took my first driving test in a 72 4 door. What a Boat! I passed with a 97!
@@67VW I drove my parents 73 Impala for my driver's license test and drove up the curb. Do you know they punch your permit with a hole punch when you fail lol 🤣
I've always found the 1974 Chevy Impala (and the Bel Air and Caprice) to be a very attractive automobile. I was nine years old back then, and I remember hearing about the Spirit of America editions at the time, although I never knew you could get them in blue as well as white. I also very well remember the "baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet" tagline, and back then the Chevy Impala was arguably the definitive American car!
I used to see plenty of Chevy Impala's when I was young but I have never seen or heard of The Spirit Of America until I watched this video. Thank You.
What a nice car, wouldn't mind having one myself!
They drive and ride unbelievably smooth
I know somebody selling one just like this 😀
My first car was a '75 Impala coupe. Loved the bench seat with the girlfriend! Miss that old car! Wouldn't mind having it today!
Nothing like a 70s car doesn't matter what car. The presence of the car itself on the road. Majestic.
Wow always loved the Spirit of America edition Impala.
Never knew that they were offered in Blue.
Learn something every time I watch this channel.
Thanks for the post.
I knew a fellow who owned the blue one,first and only time that I have ever seen one, didn't realize it was a SOA until much later, thought they were only offered in white.
Way before I was alive, it must have been great to be in America during its peak. Good people, lots good paying jobs, no debt.
4600 pound two doors were mandatory! I had a 74 Impala two door. Best car I've ever owned. HUGE engine bay, interior, trunk, and gas tank. Whatta car!
The U.S was struggling in the mid '70's. Recession, inflation, strikes, gas prices, taxes, crime, disco. Not the high point!
There were issues with the economy back then, but it was a wonderful time to be alive. Much simpler times!
Thank the Democrats for the way things have gone. Just follow their history back to 1965 and that's about when their destruction began.
@@discerningmind so true!
I remember that model! I know someone who owned one back in the 1970's. Thank you for sharing. This was quite informative.
I was 11 that yr , remember seeing the ads in magazines. I remember a blue Impala and a handful of of the white Nova's on the streets of Peru In. back then . Thanks for the memories.....
That was back when GM actually served the American people, who built their cars. 100% made in America!
100% made in North America. GM had many Canadian plants and used their parts in the vehicles destined for the American market. The opposite was also true.
Right
Yes. Now they make cheap junky cars and trucks. I will never buy one of their products. Never.
I love GM
Ironically this was the same era that GM was out sold by Japan & Instead of improving upon GMs Already Established Niche Market of Luxurious/Stylish, Big Displacement Engines & Great Riding Vehicles Back then they tried to Imitate Japan Just to get more Sales instead of staying True by waiting till The Japanese Cars got old.. That’s Why GM Cars are always behind Japanese Cars but GMs Trucks Are Better Quality & Sale Better Because That’s A Market They Invented & Stuck With, So that’s why GM Trucks are Ahead of Japanese Trucks! Lol Now GM Let Japanese Cars Takeover The Entire Segment!🤯😂
Great looking car. Especially with the blue and white interior.
I bought a Spirit of America Vega back then. White car with a white vinyl top, and the brightest red carpet you ever saw.
Alan Maier Learned your lesson about American cars! Didn’t ya?!
I'm with you ! And my mom had a 74 vega GT , bright orange with the black GT stripes . Never had any issues with it . Was a really cool car
Had they fixed the engine problems by then Alan.? Had friend who hpught a '77 Monza & by then Chevy had steel-sleeved the cylinders.
It was probably stripped and crushed at the Pick and Pull by 78 if it was an east coast car, by 81 if it was bought on the west.
You hit me in the feels, OCM! I sincerely miss my 1976 Caprice Classic, Marlene, that I purchased the day after my deployment home from Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Kept her for nearly 15-years before age and wear forced me to part with her. The 400ci engine and heavier trans both lived on in a local mechanic shops' tow truck for several years afterwards, however. Those were the days!
Although I grew up in the 80’s I never heard of a SOA edition until now.
The blue ones are the rarest. I remember seeing a white one in the junkyard and it had everything on it yet. 71-76 Impala and Caprice's are the forgotten Chevy's.
Many fond memories of my godfathers similar 75’ caprice, riding in the back seat listening to ballgames on the am radio. Smooth and quiet cars of the time.
Nice ole’ cars, if only Chevrolet got their stuff together now. Make some exciting for us Americans again.
I love the mid-1970's full-sized Chevys. Learned to drive in a 1973 Impala.
My uncle had a 1972 Impala 4-door hardtop with the 400 small block. Very quiet, with lots of power.
my mom bought the white hardtop! loved that car. I was 12 when she got it and my mom still had it when I turned 16 and was old enough to drive!
I have a 1974 impala spirit of America with the 400. I have had it for two years. I love this car.
Those were the Days! Thanks for another fine video!!!
LOVE IT!!! I had '72 Impala in High School inn '86. Tw door, big, beautiful and lots of fun!!!
0-60 in 9.5....FAST FOR THEN AND NOW FOR A HUGE CAR!!
Did the top of the dash split right down the middle, like my dad's and most others I saw?
@@terrymeadows1827 Not that I remember. I loved that car!
Nice 👍🏡🧑 I remember being 16 during the Bicentennial Celebration... The Impala body style was so cool... Even Schwinn had their Bicentennial Varsity and Sting-Ray special edition models...now are very collectible...Great era to be a kid 🧑🚲🏡🚗🏡🚘🛴
And now Chevrolet has the spirit of recalls and customer service . I had a 75 Impala and a Caprice . Both great cars . Ah the good ol' days .
I have a fully loaded 2017 Impala Premier with 40 thousand miles on it.
The 3600 305 HP V6 is a smooth running rocket.
So far no problems or complaints.
All the electronic tech and there is a lot of it works great.
I love this car! The '71-'76 generation Chevrolet Caprice/Impala was the best looking GM fullsize car of the 70's!
There was a couple of these that ran around in my hometown for years as well as a SOA 1974 chevy nova. The owners of the nova drove it for the rest of their natural lives. Around 20 years from the time they bought it in '74
Back in 1992. I had owned a '74 SOA Nova hatchback. Paid only $800 bucks at a dodge dealer not far from me. Needed attention since the previous owner just drove it. Tried to desludge the 5.7 two barrel since the underside of the valve cover were a frickin mess. Oil return holes in both heads were blocked. Did my best to tackle that. Added new plugs as part of the tuneup it needed badly. Ran good until the fuel barfed itself after rebuilding the carb. Had a whale of time removing the oil filter. Stuck a screwdriver into it just to remove that! This car was severely neglected when i bought it! Ran fine after all that work. Kept it for a few years then resold to a member of the Nova club who happened to own another SOA. Sold it to him for a thousand bucks thats all i asked for it! Now flash forward 28 yrs, man i wish i still owed it.
As a kid during these times all boys would flip the top of the air breather if 4 barrel equipped. When the passing gear was engaged it made a sweet sound.
label1877 I remember doing that myself too. Sure did sound like a hot rod when you floored that gas pedal.
We had one 1974 model 350 cu..i went with my dad to pick it up..brand new..white red dash board..he pd cash i recalled..as i recall that model yr..74 models had a big rust problem..it started to rust in the wheel wells rear ..in 1975..we lived in the chicago area..dad fixed it..we had that car till 1989..ran like a champ..
I had a black 74, 2 door with the concave back window I loved that car.
Beautiful designed cars back in the 70's. I had a 76 Olds Delta 88 that I loved.
A friend of mine had one. A beast of a machine.
As a little kid, I watched a guy demo a white 74 convertible Impala. The car was so pretty being white on white it caught my attention. The guy brought the car, drove off the lot to the light and stopped. The light changed and he started to move and got hit and totaled the car a block away from the dealership where I was standing.
There's a Nova Spirit of 76 that has been sitting at a repair shop near me in Ohio for about two years. Just sitting in the parking lot. Not a show car....but all there, solid, no rust through and appears to be all original including the stripes and decals. I'd never heard of these before, pretty neat history....
That's called a barn find, buddy. You should buy it...cheap, of course. Only 2000 made.
Davesnothere Man: Hey Dave. I’m in Columbus... where did you see it?
I remember seeing one on display at the General Motors pavilion at the World's Fair in Spokane WA in 1974. It was & still is one of the most beautiful cars ever built! I remember they had an airbag display with videos(movies back then!) of crash testing and slow motion airbag deployments. I believe they were an option on all 74-76 GM large cars. The whole thing was an incredible sight to see!
Them 2 door Impala bodies were Gorgeous 😎👍
i had one of those. drove it for a summer. car sure had alot of room. many good trips north to the beech and cabin. only had a 350 but it moved for a large car. lol
Most of them had 350s either 2 or 4 barrel. The 454 would make a nice towing package. but we were in a severe energy crisis in 1973 / 1974 and gas was in short supply.
I had a '73 Impala. Bulletproof. Ran the guts out of it, and it wouldn't quit. One of the best cars of the many I've owned.
I once owned a '74 4-dr Impala.
Nice family car.
Rode like a dream.
I still have my 74 impala forever
The thing I like about this channel is that it talks about the cars that tended to inhabit my mid 80s high school parking lot. Myself I had a 73 Caprice Classic for a while, and a 74 Cope De Ville while in HS.🙂
I'll second that. My first car was a 70 Firebird. Neat to see its kin in videos, especially as a lot of the 70s cars tend to be ignored.
Rusted out Cutlass, Bonneville, Monte Carlos in New England back in the 80s. Great rigs
My father bought a new 1974 Impala sport coupe in the Spring of 1974 at A.D. Anderson Chevrolet in Baltimore, MD. It replaced his 1968 LeMans coupe. My mother and I wanted a Spirit of America but dad said it was too expensive. He paid around $4200 for the Impala. I will never forget the salesman's name was Ed Sullivan. The Impala had power steering and brakes, A/C, auto trans and AM radio. It was dark green with a light green vinyl top and green cloth interior. Dad had fender skirts installed at the dealer. The skirts were a bargin at $75 painted and installed. It was a good looking car except for ugly wheel covers and the eggcrate grill was cheap plastic and very plain. The dashboard cover cracked and the rear body rusted almost immediately. Its 350 V8 burned a quart of oil every 750 miles. After 2 years of fouled plugs and oil use he removed the valve covers and discovered the right cylinder bank had no oil seals. It left the factory that way! He fixed it and the oil problem stopped. The rear window channel rusted out so bad the rear seat and the floor under the seat would flood during rain. He drilled 2 holes under the rear seat so the water could run out. We finally filled the window channel with silicon and stopped most of the leaks. The vinyl roof rusted underneath. He kept it 5 years and was really glad to get rid of it. It's sad the quality was so bad because the overall styling, especially the simi-fastback roofline which was the same one the Olds 98, Buick Electra and Cadillac Coupes used, was attractive. One styling feature of the Impala Spirit of America is very special. That is the halo vinyl roof. Only Cadillacs and the Buick Park Avenue had this. It was very up market. My mother's 1973 Buick Regal was much better quality.
When i bought my 79 impala the dealership still had his soa impala convertible fully loaded. It was sweet. Still got my 79 best reliable car i ever had.
You did a great job here as usual but the mere mention of 1974 American automobiles has me bawling my eyes out.
74 Impala SS 454 was a really nice ride. I saw one on the Johnny Londoff Chevrolet showroom floor. Brand new and would love to own it. Uncle Sam got in the way and the car was history.
I remember that time well, I went to check out the chevy's with a friend in '74 during the "hot dogs, baseball & apple pie" promo, and ate a few FREE hotdogs they were giving away to customers.
Beautiful cars. I had just started working at a Chevy dealer as a car porter at this time. The best part of the job was being able to drive all the different new and used cars. The Impala and Caprice were great riding cars. But of course driving the Corvette and Camaro was the most exciting. Thank you for the video. Really enjoyed it.
My father worked at a Chevy dealer during this time. All of the salesman and managers drove these cars so of course I did too. You are right about the Vettes and Camaros. But don't underestimate a full size big block.
Impalas were my dads fave everyday car, we had one growing up. It was such a smooth ride, very comfy too. I was just 5 years old, so my opinion was not mechanically informed.
A shame to see this model disappear after so many years
It's been cancelled before. Nothing is permanent.
@@williamjordan5554 good point.
They still make an impala
I have a Original 72 impala custom coupe and a 1974 impala💪🏾😁
@@Nostromo_1 - last Impala for the foreseeable future was the 2020 MY 10G w/FWD and a NA-3.6L V6 as its' sole powerplant.
Best automotive history Channel on UA-cam! Keep up the good work! 👍
The 1973/74 model years were low-points for the full-sized sedans, as the US was experiencing a gasoline shortage, along with a sharp rise with gasoline prices, starting in the Fall of 1973; where cars like this were getting 11 ~ 18 miles per gallon. In the western region I lived in, 10 gallons was allocated on _odd/even_ days, which corresponded with the last digital of the car's license plate. Long waits in line, with some people parking their cars in line the night before the gas station opened, were the norm. A striking aspect I recall from that era: During that gasoline shortage with long lines, people were civil and orderly.
Gasoline prices jumped from 25 cents a gallon to over 40 cents a gallon . . . which I realize sounds like a bargain nowadays; but minimum wage was $1.60 at that time.
Another quality video. I never knew about these cars at all. I really hope someone at Netflix or Amazon picks you up and makes your videos into some kind of channel. This is amazing content
I had the 2-door 73’ impala in red with a black vinyl top and houndstooth cloth interior and every 6 months it needed a turn-up to include new plugs . I tried in 75’ for 2 door chevelle .
My moms youngest uncle, which is old enough to be her cousin, bought one brand new and it still resides in their garage to this day in show room condition.
Have to admit I do not remember this package, but that is one sharp Impala. Thanks for sharing!
Ahhh my dad had a 1975 model red with black Vinyl top drove it from ny to north carolina where we moved to.
Now, GM ISN'T EVEN A SHADOW OF ITSELF, SAD
Now it is a shadow of a shadow.
It is sad, I have worked for GM at the dealer level for 30 years. In that time, the quality of what they make has mostly gone up tremendously. Unfortunately, they have failed miserably at making products that appeal to a wide range of people. Mostly pretty boring stuff.
@@stevehoch9528 I had a 2000 4-door 4WD Blazer that was a piece of JUNK! It was stored in the garage 6yrs & pulled out after my father died but I had to have trans rebuilt, the emissions sensors replaced, radiator replaced etc, etc, etc. Sold it 2 yrs ago for a V6 5spd long bed F150 with twice the mileage. Now problems yet!!
@@stevehoch9528 I don't care if a car is "boring." All I care about is its quality. AMC made excellent cars like the Rambler, Matador and Hornet: solid, dependable and affordable. But they were discontinued because of "outdated styling." Who cares? I would take any of them over today's GM cars.
@@davidlafleche1142 Interesting. I always thought AMC made the most awful, crude and hideous cars. Even the Pacer, whose exterior design was revolutionary at the time, proved a total failure for so many reasons. There is no accounting for taste, I suppose.
I've got a Spirit of America El Camino - we've found 6 survivors so far, no RPO code, lots of evidence they introduced at a dealer convention in April of 74. A southern edition of the truck.
I got a soa elky with the 454. Gonna restore it someday. I'm 3rd owner, dad was 2nd when it was about a yr..old
You videos are always so good. Thank you for another one.
Grew up with a family across the street. House was built in 1955. Lived there all their adult lives. He worked for GE for 40 yrs. Never went anywhere, never went outside. They owner 1 car. A Chevy Impala. they would trade it in every couple of years. For a Chevy impala. I remember the first was a '67. The last model was an "85. I moved away after that. wonder what they bought after '85 ?
OCM
Thanks for these clips.
I always note the low HP outputs of the cars you review from the 70's that were strangled with catalytic converters and other performance sapping additions.
The base 350 V8 had 145HP.
My last bike (Kawasaki ZX-10R) was rated at around 200HP and dyno tests showed it actually put out 186.
Amazing to think that the 350 V8 was rated at up to 370HP in 1969, but of course, they were gross SAE HP which tend to be over-stated.
Great info as usual. I guess you could also say that the 1976 Olds Cutlass was America's bicentennial car. It was the best selling car in the official bicentennial year.
Good point.
I had a buddy got one with the 454. It made for a nice sleeper.
They had a SoA el Camino as well. It's not widely known about, but there was a few that were made.
I remember a local collector had one of these before his passing..
My father bought a green four door 1974 Chevy Impala. First week we had it., I played with the new lighter, pushed it over and over again, until it became white hot and it melted through the green plastic dash and fell on the floor. Dad was livid.
74' Impala...brings back such fond memories. My grandmother had a white one when I was 6. Man I loved that big ol car ❤
Thanks fo keeping the videos flowing through tough times..
The "Spirit of America" Chevrolet Impala for the 1974 model year is one very attractive car from that model year; I enjoy seeing this edition from that model year.
I now wish I had one of these rare cars - and I mean this sincerely. I thank you for this video, my friend.
Got a convertible one in 1979.. white on white on white. Impala.1974 impala .
The 70s road boat era was pretty much the final chapter of over the top design in American cars. It was sad to see it end.
Gorgeous car I wouldn't mind having that either
Gorgeous car. Thank you.
I love the videos you put up I watch everyone twice over as soon as it goes up 🛠🇬🇧🛠
One of the things that made this car special also, was the fact that it was the last generation of Impalas that was available as a 2 door coupe, with quarter windows that tolled/powered down, creating an open coupe. The '75 had it too, but I don't believe the '76 did. I know the '75 was the last Caprice convertible and 4 door coupes. After that ('77 on) the full-size cars were limited to 2 & 4 door sedans and the station wagon. By the mid-80s even the 2 door sedans were gone.
I meant rolled/powered down. (typo)
We had the blue with blue/white interior. In 76 my mom and I were hit by a drunk driver at 11 a.m. Sadly the car was destroyed. We walked away with minor injuries which is amazing because he was doing 50 in a 35 and we were on a bridge. Which we were hanging over the edge of at the end. Great car though!
71-76 Impalas where some tough cars back then. I used to live in Minnesota and I used a lot of them for my winter cars. They would be rusted out and nothing to look at but they where always dependable. And being a big heavy tank like they where, plowing through snow and drifts was not a problem!! Wish I had one now!!
Enjoyed the video. Glad to see that you used the original add with one
"America" mispelled. There was a little press about that oversight.
Back in Jersey, I knew of a fella who had the Nova version and it had an econo-camping Hatchback Hutch? That was such a cool car!
A guy I graduated with in 1979 drove a white, 350, Impala Spirt of America to school. It was his parents’ vehicle, but he nearly had exclusive use of it once he first got his farm license. They purchased it new at the local Chevrolet/Buick/Cadillac dealership. He drove it for quite some time. The last time I saw it, many years ago, the rust was starting to rear it’s ugly head. 🙁
A good friend of mine had a 1974 Impala that looked very similar to the spirit of America model however was not. Nonetheless it was definitely an awesome car with a great ride equipped with a 350 CID with a 4 barrel carb.
my very first car in 1979 at 15 years of age
I was only 9 when those were introduced... But Dad was a Line Mechanic at the local Chevy dealer, and EVERYONE thought that those were a really 'big deal'...
Fun times that we'll unfortunately never see again.😣
I'd see some of these sprit cars when I visited Detroit. Michigan also had special bicentennial license plates.
I currently have a 1974 Chevy Caprice Classic which We call a Glass-House.....1974-1976 Impala/Caprice are referr to as Glass-Houses.I have a 350 Motor with the 4 Barrel....400 Turbo Tranny.I recently sold my 86 Cadillac Fleetwood and The very next Saturday...I had My 1974 Caprice Classic delivered to me in California from Nevada....had to get everything transferred to California from the state of Nevada....so had to go to the CHP(California Highway Patrol)and have numbers on the car matched,to have the transfer complete.....it's a 74 Model vehicle so no smog was needed which made it alot easier to have the transfer complete...in a smoother fashion💯💪
Interesting, never saw one in real life, I was 10 back then & remember the land yachts all the way up to the early 80s. The covering on the tail lights is hideous on the white version. Deep blue paint with white interior is a classy combo, after vinyl only the reverse was true, white cars with navy interiors.
The true bicentennial was the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Bicentennial. It was the last full size convertible produced in America at the time, and the last year of the biggest V8 offered by GM, the 500.
This was my first car! In 1997 i turned 16 and my dad bought me this car from an old man who bought it in 1974. Miss that car.
My Grandparents owned one and sold it to me a few years later. Sadly they lived in Ocean City NJ and the salt air near the ocean caused major rust problems..i eventually sold it to a guy who wanted the engine.
My mom used to have one... i remember it was HUGE, i use to call it “the boat”. I can still hear the engine sound and the smell of gas in the interior
Beautiful car. No way I could have owned this car since I lived in Canada in 1974.
Learn to drive on the 1974 chev impala and took my drivers license on that car through drivers ed. When I look back that was a huge car to parallel park and drive.
I always like that roof style better than the ones they had on the regular two door impalas
Thanks great job
When I got the notification I thought it's a Grandville, waiting for a video about it :)
@@turbojetpowered8299 YOU HAD ADJUSTABLE PEDALS!! Very rare. Wow. They didnt make to many with that option. Fun Fact- Jimmy Hoffa Was last seen in a 74 Grandville 2 door hardtop.
my favorite Pontiac 1975
@@cle-chi that's my car, 75 Grandville convertible.
All the GM brands had their own bicentennial versions. I went to the Detroit Auto Show that year - everything inside there was bicentennial this or that. I think Olds had a Toronado and Cadillac Eldo too.
I still have an official Oldsmobile Bicentennial yardstick they handed out there.