UP NEXT
Still unique today, we take a look at one of the very few modern sports cars produced in the Netherlands.
Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter featuring the very latest from Petrolicious. Don’t be left out—join the ranks of those who Drive Tastefully.
Already a member? Log in
We're glad you're back.
Not a member yet? Sign up
We'll get you back on track.
Films:
1961 Chevrolet Impala: Dan Gurney’s American Export
Pretty amusing story about taking a police specification Impala, and leading the pack with a group of Jaguars. A 3.8L engine is only 232 cubic inches. So with almost 2X the displacement, of course Gurney was out in front. The Impala had a wider wheel base than the Jags, and that would have helped keep the car flat in the turns. The picture of the Impala leading a whole group of 3.8 Jags is at 4:27. The width of the Impala compared to the Jaguars shows clearly in this photograph. The Jags didn’t have a chance.
Interesting that Dan Gurney would choose the 348-409 engine family to power the Impala, given its rev limitations and that its main attribute was of course torque. As a racing application, the 409 maintains a more romantic and iconic perception, than its actual performance , or often lack of in history. A very fun car none the less, driven by a racing legend.
Wasn’t Gurney limited by class rules to one of the engines with sufficient numbers in production, in that specific chassis, to meet homologation requirements? This was ‘saloon car’ racing after all. The 409 engine certainly seems to have been equal to the job. After all he did get pole position, and he was out in front. On a shorter course like that, with tight turns, torque would have been important in pulling out of the corners.
Great story. NO Comments. No offence meant but this gallery doesn’t really appreciate when an old American machine beats ups on their ideas of what once was. If ya can’t beat em BAN em I guess.
A great car, driven by a monumental driver in Gurney and proper restoration. Good on the owner for the way he has presented the car.
I guess an Impala can outrun a Jaguar.
