Lean, Clean & Green – This 1962 Chevy Impala is a Simple, Stylish Cruiser with Timeless Appeal
Some builds earn attention by breaking every rule. Others stand out because they show what can happen when readily available parts, strong vision, and great craftsmanship come together. Chuck Reich’s ’62 Chevrolet Impala belongs in the second category. Recently finished by Will Posey and the crew at Big Oak Garage, this full-size Chevy has been turning heads this season thanks to its clean, simple, straightforward style.
Chuck found the Impala at the 2018 Goodguys event in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a solid, 53,000-mile, two-owner car and an ideal foundation for the refined cruiser he envisioned.
In the early days of custom cars, builders had to be resourceful. They scoured junkyards, military-surplus outlets, swap meets, and wrecking yards for parts that could be adapted to make an old car faster, better looking, or more comfortable. Steering boxes, brakes, engines, rearends, and suspension pieces often came from unrelated vehicles and required plenty of fabrication before they would gel together.
Thank goodness we live in the modern restomod era. Like many custom cars today, Chuck’s Impala is a thoughtfully integrated assembly of high-tech aftermarket parts. Nearly every major mechanical component beneath Chuck’s old Chevy can be purchased off the shelf. That doesn’t make the build easy; it simply shifts the real differentiating factor to how the car is styled, assembled, and refined by the people bringing it together.
The foundation is a Roadster Shop SPEC chassis engineered specifically for GM’s full-size platform. Instead of updating the original X frame, the SPEC chassis provides an integrated structure designed around modern steering, suspension, and drivetrain dynamics. The chassis allows the Impala to work as a package rather than a collection of unrelated upgrades. It gives the Chevy a planted, composed feel while preserving the character Chuck wanted. Whether cruising through town or covering Interstate miles, the car was built to be driven and enjoyed.
Baer brakes provide the stopping power. One-off wheels from Pyramid Design measure 18×8 inches up front and 19×10 inches at the rear. They are wrapped in 235/40R18 front tires and 285/45R19 rear rubber, creating the perfect ride height without overpowering the body’s clean early-’60s lines. The larger rear combination fills the quarters, while the front setup keeps the car looking light and properly proportioned. The removal of the chrome rocker trim tidies up the silhouette just so.
Power comes from a Chevrolet Performance 6.2-liter LS3 V8 rated at 495 horsepower. Ultimate Headers feed a Borla exhaust system, giving the Impala a muscular bark without losing its polished character. A U.S. Radiator cooling system keeps temperatures cool under the collar. Backing the engine is a Bowler-built 4L80 automatic transmission controlled with a Lokar shifter. Together with the Roadster Shop chassis and modern suspension, the powertrain inhales interstate miles with ease.
Getting the Impala to this point was not easy. “I initially commissioned another shop to handle the project, but the business closed in the middle of the build,” Chuck says. “I was left with a painted rolling shell and the difficult task of finding someone willing to take over another builder’s unfinished work.”
That’s where Will Posey and the team at Big Oak Garage in Gadsden, Alabama, came in. “Taking on a partially completed project can be harder than starting from scratch because every earlier decision must be inspected, understood, and sometimes corrected,” Will says. “My crew and I accepted the challenge, completed the wiring, installed and sorted the mechanical systems, handled final assembly, and brought the Impala together as a cohesive finished car.”
The custom-mixed exterior color plays a major role in the result. Although not an OEM shade, it remains faithful to the metallic hues Chevrolet offered in the early 1960s. The color complements the faux convertible roofline, broad quarter panels, shaved fuel-filler door, and restrained trim, giving the car a period-correct presence without making it look like a stock restoration.
Inside, Recovery Room Interiors created a custom cabin using Moore & Giles leather. Custom seats provide modern comfort, while Dakota Digital gauges place clear information in front of the driver. A one-off steering wheel adds a handcrafted focal point. Vintage Air climate control makes the Chevy comfortable year-round, and Lokar handles and pedals continue the coordinated hardware theme. Big Oak Garage made sure the interior equipment worked as cleanly as it looked.
After an uncertain midpoint, Chuck’s Impala received the direction and craftsmanship it needed to cross the finish line. The parts may be available to anyone but selecting them wisely and making them work together is what separates a collection of components from a finely finished cruiser.
Photos: Damon Lee
